Castle Hill Pre-School

Castle Hill Pre-School Fort Hill School, Kenilworth Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 8JQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 May 2015 22 November 2010

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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

 The quality of teaching is good. Children are successfully supported in their self chosen activities and staff plan, engage and play well with the children, which in turn helps each child to achieve and progress.  Children are offered a very good snack, which is nutritious and offers a range of foods for the children to try. Staff are very good at supporting children's understanding of healthy foods as they discuss how fruit is healthy and that fish is good for you. This encourages children to try new foods and builds their awareness of a healthy lifestyle.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are strong. The staff exchange and value other professionals' opinions, talking with them and sharing good practice. Parents receive informative daily communication which promotes continuity of care.  The management team is proactive within its development plan and successfully uses this to address areas for improvement within the pre-school. This shows a good

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This provision is good

commitment to improvement.  Good procedures are in place for mentoring, supporting and training staff. Staff are offered regular training and have recently all updated their first aid qualifications which in turn will improve outcomes for children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The book area is not fully used by the children to its full potential, to aid and promote the children's enjoyment of books.

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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

 evaluate and improve the book area to ensure that this is used purposefully by the children in order to develop their early reading skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and quality of teaching in the playroom and outdoor play area.  The inspector observed documentation in relation to safeguarding, risk assessments and daily attendance registers.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and children's learning journals, and discussed these with staff.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.

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who attend. This is good

Children are happy and confident at the pre-school. They are warmly welcomed by staff and friends and settle to self chosen activities with ease. Children's communication and language development is effectively promoted by staff as they talk with them and use questioning to enhance children's thoughts and ideas. Listening skills are well enhanced during circle times as children exchange views and play command games. For example, staff give the children instructions on where to place their block, introducing good mathematical language, such as 'behind' and 'on top'. Children enjoy books with staff, where those able are taught to read and sound out letters. However, the children are not fully making use of the book area due to the organisation of this area. Despite this, children have good opportunities to write and develop their early reading skills as they explore with chalks and mark-make for a purpose.

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good

Children's health is well maintained as they play in a clean and welcoming environment. Children have regular opportunities to play outside and be active. They run, hop and hula hoop in the garden which allows children opportunities to practise and enhance their large physical skills. Children are developing an understanding of how to maintain their own safety as they use knifes for snack time and scissors for creative play. Children enjoy social meals times and wait patiently, which in turn aids their readiness for school routine. Children are developing a good awareness for behaviour as staff give clear explanations of why running inside is dangerous. Children have good opportunities to develop their independence skills, as they self select from resources and successfully do tasks unaided, such as helping to tidying up and wash up after snack.

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provision is good

The management team have a strong understanding of their responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. All staff have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children and they have all undertaken safeguarding training. Recruitment procedures are robust with clear induction procedures for new staff and all relevant suitability checks are in place. Daily risk assessments are undertaken prior to children's arrival, to help identify and address potential hazards, which in turn maintains a safe environment. Parents speech highly of the pre-school and are involved in the progression of the pre-school through their roles on the committee and through the use of questionnaires.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110024 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 987785 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 42 Name of provider Castle Hill Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 22 November 2010 Telephone number 01256 355 719

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Setting details

Castle Hill Pre-School Committee registered in 1990. The group operates from a portacabin within the site of Fort Hill Community School, in Winklebury, Basingstoke. The pre-school is open each week day from 8.45am to 3pm term time only. The group offer funding to children between the ages of two and four years. The group employs 8 staff, of these all hold appropriate early years qualifications, with the manager qualified to a level 5.

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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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