Willow Bank Pre-School

Willow Bank Pre-School Duffield Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, RG5 4RW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 February 2015 14 March 2012

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Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Requires improvement The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Requires improvement The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Systems for sharing details of children's next steps in their learning and development between staff are weak. This means that staff interacting with children do not always know how to challenge them to achieve their best.  Staff reliably identify children whose learning and development is not at a typical level for their age. However, the management monitoring is not robust enough to ensure that staff challenge all children appropriately through timely interventions.

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It has the following strengths

 The early years practitioner ensures that most children access stimulating education programmes. Experienced staff nurture children's imaginations, inquisitiveness, and social skills.  Staff consistently give priority to the safety of children and support their growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy.  All staff attend regular training, which is helping to improve their knowledge and the quality of learning experiences they provide for the children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 implement a consistent and effective approach for key persons to share children's individual next learning steps with other staff, so that day-to-day learning experiences help all children to make good progress  where assessment indicates that children require additional help, ensure that this is provided as quickly and effectively as possible, both within the pre-school and, when necessary, by securing support from specialist services.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a wide range of activities across all areas of the pre-school and talked with staff and children about what they were doing.  The inspector reviewed documents and procedures relating to safeguarding and equal opportunities, and checked a selection of other policies.  The inspector sampled a range of children's records, the pre-school's planning, evaluation, and the information exchanged with parents and external professionals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and reviewed written communication from parents.  The inspector met with the leadership team.

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who attend. This requires improvement

A hard working team of caring staff provide children with interesting and varied learning experiences each day. Staff share weekly planning with parents, which helps to provide continuity in children's enthusiasm for learning and exploration of new topics between home and the pre-school. Staff routinely observe children's progress as they follow their own interests, target new skills in small groups, and gather as a whole team. Most children make good progress in their learning and development. However, systems for sharing children's next steps in learning with other staff and parents are weak. This means that staff do not always provide activities that challenge children, nor meet their individual needs. Staff reliably identify when children's development is not at a typical level for their age. However, they are sometimes slow to seek, co-ordinate and implement ways to help children progress quickly, to close gaps in their learning prior to their moves to school.

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requires improvement

Most children are confident and happy, as they easily access a wide range of interesting activities and learning experiences indoors and outdoors. Staff prepare plenty of opportunities for children to strengthen physical skills in the fresh air. They spark children's imaginations, creativity and sense of discovery. Children develop strong relationships with their key person, who provides encouragement, care, and teaching. However, the key-person system is not fully effective. The weaknesses in sharing information about children's needs and achievements means that, at times when the key person is busy elsewhere, other staff do not know what support to offer. Children do not therefore, always have the self-confidence to play with other children in the group. Parents' say they find staff approachable and that their children enjoy attending the pre- school. They are also generally pleased with their children's progress and the way staff

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requires improvement

were preparing children for school. Staff work closely with teachers in the local schools and regularly visit other early years settings when children attend joint placements. This helps staff provide reassurance and continuity of care as children move on to new activities and locations.

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provision requires improvement

The manager has appropriate systems to implement most of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, arrangements for establishing children's starting points and monitoring their progress over time are weak. This means the manger cannot be sure that staff challenge all children appropriately, through timely interventions and good quality teaching. The manager and local authority make it possible for staff to undertake a wide range of further training initiatives. This is helping staff offer more diverse, good quality experiences for children, who show considerable enthusiasm for learning. Staff model courtesy, fair play, and kindness to others and the children's behaviour reflects staff expectations.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 148695 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 841848 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 59 Name of provider Willow Bank Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 14 March 2012 Telephone number 01189 27 2338

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Setting details

Willow Bank Pre-school registered in 2001. The pre-school is open each weekday during school term time. Sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am and from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. A lunch club operates from 11.45am to 12.30pm. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three, and four. Of the eight staff who work with the children, seven hold relevant qualifications at level 2 and above, including one who holds Early Years Professional Status.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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