St Catherine's Pre School

St Catherine's Pre School St Catherine's School, Pymore Road, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3TR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 March 2015 8 December 2008

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff provide an extremely safe and highly stimulating environment, where children are eager to learn through play, exploration and meaningful experiences.  There is an extensive range of interesting resources that children access easily to extend their own play and learning.  Staff use a highly effective assessment system to monitor children's learning. This enables them to quickly identify any gaps and provide support to enable all children to make rapid progress.  Staff are skilful at using children's interests to extend their learning. Children are able to choose to play inside or outside, according to their learning preferences.  Children become increasingly independent in making choices and developing important self-care skills, which help to prepare them exceptionally well for school.  Staff make children's safety a high priority. They are extremely clear about child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they have concerns.

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This provision is outstanding

 Highly effective partnerships with parents and connected professionals enable staff to meet children's individual needs exceptionally well. Children with specific needs receive very good support to help them make rapid improvement in their learning.  The staff team strive for high quality provision. They consistently update their knowledge through training and other professionals encourage them to share their exceptional practice ideas with other providers. Children benefit from the expertise of staff and excellent management of their practice.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend opportunities for children to hear mathematical language in everyday situations.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities inside and outside.  The inspector talked with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out an interview with the manager.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, which included the pre-school's self-evaluation form, children's progress records and policies.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Children thrive in an environment where staff value their ideas highly and enable them to successfully lead their own play and learning. Staff are extremely skilled at extending children's learning according to their interests. For example, children were fascinated in the lifecycle of frogs. They competently used modern technology equipment to video tadpoles swimming and take photographs. Others enjoyed acting out real-life situations using real equipment. They spontaneously wrote lists and letters, developing a very good understanding of the purpose of writing. Staff plan interesting activities such as sewing, cooking and gardening, which enables children to acquire important life skills and confidence in handling tools and equipment correctly. Staff promote children's communication skills exceptionally well. They ask purposeful questions to encourage children to think, recall and solve problems. Staff plan small group activities to support

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who attend. This is outstanding

children's language and confidence. Staff successfully involve parents in their child's learning. For example, children borrow 'rhyme time' bags and share books and stories with their families. Children learn about numbers and measure in a variety of meaningful ways, such as voting for their favourite story and weighing ingredients for cooking. Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to extend children's mathematical understanding. for example by cutting toast into halves or quarters at snack time and talking about what they are doing.

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outstanding

The small staff team communicate and plan together effectively to meet children's individual needs extremely well. Children settle quickly and have a strong sense of belonging. They enjoy looking through their individual scrapbooks with staff, to help plan future activities. Children respond very well to tasks of responsibility, such as being the 'checker' at tidy-up time. Staff frequently praise children's efforts and achievements, which helps boost their self-esteem and confidence. Children learn exceptional skills in assessing risks when they take part in beach and forest school outdoor activities, and use real china at snack time. The regular 'Bake and Share' lunch involves children in food preparation, and practising social skills as they sit together to enjoy the result. All this helps to prepare them extremely well for starting school.

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provision is outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the requirements and how to promote children's high level of achievement. There is a shared commitment to continuous improvement. Highly successful self-evaluation includes the views of staff, parents and children. Parents say that they appreciate the effective communication about their children's progress. They enjoy the workshops, which extend their knowledge about aspects of their children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY241016 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 837135 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 41 Name of provider St Catherine's Pre School Committee Date of previous inspection 8 December 2008 Telephone number 07790 972280 or 01308 424441

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Setting details

St Catherine's Pre-school registered in 2002 and is run by a parent committee. It operates from a pavilion within the school grounds of St Catherine's Primary School, in Bridport, Dorset. The pre-school is in receipt of government funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 3.15 pm, term time only. The committee employs a manager, who has a degree in early years education and has Early Years Professional Status. There are four other members of staff who hold early years qualifications at level 3. There are very close links with St Catherine's Primary School.

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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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