St Mary's Pre-School

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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St Mary's Pre School St. Marys Church George Street Watford Hertfordshire WD18 0EG Our Reference EY217236

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Kelly Eyre, monitored your provision on 10/02/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 14/11/2013, we sent you a notice to improve. The actions you were set are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit the inspector talked with the nominated person, who is also one of the managers of the pre-school, and with the second manager. The discussion was about the steps taken in order to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. She observed activities and staff interaction with children, both inside and in the outdoor play area. The inspector looked at your records of staff recruitment and the checks carried out to ensure the suitability of committee members. The inspector also looked at action plans, children's assessment records and activity planning.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that the managers have worked together to develop a practical action plan to support you in addressing the issues raised at your last inspection. Your pre-school also has an appropriate self-evaluation process, enabling managers to review daily practice and the impact this has on the outcomes for children. This has further supported them in looking at how to address the areas for improvement identified at your last inspection. The inspector noted that their ongoing evaluation process helps to ensure that any improvements made are sustainable and continue to improve the provision for children.

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Outcome of monitoring

The pre-school's recruitment policy has been reviewed and updated and all staff records have been checked to ensure that they contain relevant information. Appropriate checks have been carried out on all committee members to make sure that they are suitable. All records have been suitably stored and you have ensured Our Reference EY217236

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Outcome of monitoring

that they are available for inspection. In addition to this, you have introduced a procedure whereby all committee members are clearly aware of their roles, with appropriate guidance for new committee members. These measures enable you to ensure that the suitability of staff and committee members is appropriately checked, thereby helping to promote children's welfare.

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Outcome of monitoring

The managers have started a procedure which enables them to monitor the progress of individual and groups of children attending the pre-school. This supports staff in identifying any areas where children require additional support. They have also adapted the planning procedures so that staff are now able to identify children's next steps and feed these directly into the planning. This enables the pre-school to better support each child's learning and development.

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Outcome of monitoring

Managers and the pre-school staff demonstrate a positive approach to their work and have actively used the support offered by the local authority. To this end, they have all attended additional training so that they are now more aware of how to adapt activities so that these meet children's needs and offer them each appropriate challenge. As a staff group, they have started to use their new knowledge in their daily work with children and this now requires a consistent approach over time.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection.

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Next steps

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your setting. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education Our Reference EY217236

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Action Due date Closed date

make sure the requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage are understood, so that recruitment of staff is robust, committee procedures are fully appropriate and records are complete and available for inspection 10/02/2014 10/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the monitoring of groups of children, so that achievements in relation to their expected levels of development are recognised and use this information in the planning of the educational programmes and children's individual next steps 10/02/2014 10/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure activities are adapted, so they are challenging but achievable for all children but especially for the older, more able children. 10/02/2014 10/02/2014

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