Merriott Pre-school

Merriott Preschool Evergreen Path, Merriott, Somerset, TA16 5RB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 April 2015 17 May 2011

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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

 Staff are extremely welcoming and approachable. They work well as a team and children thrive as they form strong emotional bonds with their key persons.  Staff take into account children's stage of development when planning activities. This means all children's needs are met. Assessment is precise and monitored closely by the manager, ensuring all children make good progress.  Excellent partnerships with parents, other early years professionals and outside agencies enable staff to meet children's individual needs effectively. Children with specific needs receive very good support.  Staff work well with the reception class teacher from the school to prepare children for their move to school.  Children benefit from the safe, well-organised, stimulating environment which means they enjoy their learning and are confident to explore.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not fully promote children's understanding of numbers and counting at small group times because they do not always use resources effectively to support their understanding.  Staff miss opportunities for learning at snack time because they do not encourage children to pour their own drinks or talk to them about the benefits of a healthy diet.

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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

 make better use of resources to promote children's understanding of numbers and counting at small group times  improve learning opportunities at snack time by teaching children to pour their own drinks and about the benefits of a healthy diet.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this had on children's learning, both indoors and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including, policies, children's progress records and staff recruitment records.  The inspector spoke to parents and considered their views.

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who attend. This is good

Staff help children to be motivated and eager to learn because they provide a stimulating environment and promote their learning through skilful questioning. Children enjoy exploring and solving problems independently, as they fill jugs and pour water into guttering. They use their imaginations as they plant 'magic' beans. Children become engrossed in story time because staff make these times active and interesting. Staff skilfully support children's communication and language ensuring all children make good progress. Overall, they encourage children to develop number skills and use mathematical language. Children accurately count how many children are present and write numbers on the white board. Staff closely observe and assess children's learning. They provide prompt and effective support so that children make good progress, preparing them well for their move to school.

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good

Children enjoy their time at pre-school. Staff are deployed well and are warm and caring as they interact with children. Consequently, children feel secure and are well settled. Children behave very well because staff help them by giving clear messages and explanations. The well-organised environment helps children to become independent as they confidently find the resources they need to develop their play. Staff promote children's physical care as they explain to them why it is important to wash their hands after they have been digging. Children enjoy challenging, physical play opportunities outside as they climb, kick balls and dig; and during adventurous forest school sessions, helping them to manage risks. Staff understand safeguarding procedures and know what to do if they are concerned about a child.

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provision is good

The well-qualified manager and staff work very well together and have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Supervision opportunities and robust recruitment, induction and risk assessment procedures promote children's welfare. Parents and carers speak extremely positively about the pre-school. The manager and staff attend training and are committed to continuous improvement, as seen by the excellent systems for sharing information with parents and other settings that children attend.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 162080 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 836856 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 57 Name of provider Merriott Preschool Committee Date of previous inspection 17 May 2011 Telephone number 01460 77922

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Setting details

Merriott Preschool registered in 2001. It is a committee-run group that operates from purpose-built premises adjacent to Merriott Primary School, in Merriott, Somerset. It opens from 9am to 3pm, five days a week during school term time. There are nine staff who work with the children, including the manager. One member of staff holds Early Years Teacher Status. All other staff are qualified at Level 3 and above. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two-, three- and four- years-old.

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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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