Castle Pre-School Ltd

Castle Pre-School Court Lane Junior & Infant School, Hilary Avenue, PORTSMOUTH, PO6 2PP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 April 2015 26 February 2009

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This inspection: Good 2

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

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the pre-school. They are welcomed by warm, friendly staff who meet the children's welfare and learning needs successfully. Children develop strong bonds and trusting relationships with the staff.  Children are confident and motivated to learn. Staff offer a wide variety of play and learning experiences. These help children to make good progress and prepare them for the next stages in their learning.  The staff team demonstrates a strong commitment to providing good-quality provision. Staff attend training events for their professional development, which has a good impact on the learning experiences they offer children.  A strong partnership between the pre-school staff and parents ensures that key information is shared between them that helps ensure children's needs are met.  Children are safe and secure in the pre-school. Staff safeguard them well. All staff have

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This provision is good

a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities.  Staff use good-quality teaching methods as they interact at the children's level, actively listen and respond to what the children tell them. They ask lots of useful questions to extend the children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children's progress in mathematics is not as effective as in the other areas of learning.

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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 the educational programme for mathematics ensuring that rich, varied and imaginative experiences are planned for this area.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and the children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including safeguarding procedures and looked at children's assessment records.  The inspector observed staff interaction with the children during activities inside and in the outside area.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector and manager undertook a joint observation of a planned activity.

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who attend. This is good

The pre-school is organised to provide a stimulating learning environment, with access to well-resourced areas that children explore freely. Children take pleasure in their learning. They achieve well in relation to their starting points on entry. Children are encouraged to count and use numbers in a variety of ways. Some are starting to recognise shapes and name colours, but staff miss opportunities to use early mathematics, such as mathematical language, often during activities to develop children's learning further. The staff understand how children learn and develop. They gain eye contact with the children before talking and encourage children to listen to what is being said. This approach contributes to the building of good relationships and listening skills, helping to prepare children well for school. Children learn about the natural world. For example, children thoroughly enjoyed planting seeds and discussing how they would grow. Children are

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who attend. This is good

developing good communication skills as they chat happily to one another and to adults about their interesting activities.

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good

Staff make good use of the wide range of resources. The indoor and outdoor play areas are well organised to ensure that children can choose to take part in a wide variety of activities. Children's physical skills are developing well. They enjoy running, jumping and stretching their muscles. Children behave well. They are learning to share and take turns and play well together. Staff teach the children about good hygiene routines. They help the children to become independent and gain the skills needed to move successfully to the next stage in their learning. Staff meet children's physical care needs well.

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provision is good

The manager and staff team work well together, making effective use of their qualifications. They implement requirements to a good standard. They all have a strong commitment to maintaining good-quality provision, having addressed recommendations from the previous inspection. This has led to improved outdoor provision for children. Documentation and records are completed effectively to ensure children's health and safety needs are well met. All staff take responsibility and use vigilance and risk assessments to check children's health and safety is maintained inside the pre-school, as well as outside. Staff use effective methods of checking and self-evaluation to identify good practice and areas for development. Staff take the time each day to talk to parents about their children's experiences. Good partnerships with professionals and other settings the children attend contribute to children making good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY378932 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 986299 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 29 Name of provider Castle Pre-School Limited Date of previous inspection 26 February 2009 Telephone number 07724 110966

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Setting details

Castle Pre-School opened in 1997 and registered with Ofsted in 2001. It is located in the grounds of Court Lane Junior School, in the Cosham area of Portsmouth. The pre-school is open from 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during school terms. The pre-school committee receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are three staff employed to work with the children; all hold a relevant childcare qualification. The manager has a Foundation degree in early years.

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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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