Merryfield Pre-School

Merryfield Preschool St Mary & St Peter's First School, Ilton, ILMINSTER, Somerset, TA19 9EX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 June 2015 12 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

 Staff provide a well-organised, rich and varied learning environment, which is well- equipped with an abundant range or resources. This is particularly evident in the outside environment where children have numerous opportunities to be active, create, explore and investigate.  Teaching is good, especially in promoting children's communication and language skills. Staff actively encourage children's involvement in most activities. They follow children's ideas and interests well, ensuring they fully support children's next steps through effective interactions and knowledge of individual needs.  There is good partnership working with the schools children will attend. This means staff prepare children well for their eventual move by promoting consistency in letters and sounds knowledge and so that children feel safe in a familiar environment.  Children are happy and confident in the small and friendly pre-school. They make

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This provision is good

warm, trusting relationships with staff who know their individual needs well.  Staff are enthusiastic and motivated to attend regular training. This improves practice and children's learning, such as den building, where children effectively solve problems and develop their imaginations.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always predict children's enthusiasm for learning and prepare activities fully for their involvement, meaning children have to sometimes wait a long time for their turn.  Staff do not consistently promote children's independence at snack time, such as encouraging them to prepare fruit or providing small jugs so they can pour their milk.

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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

 improve the organisation of focused activities to ensure children are always actively involved and do not need to wait too long for their turn  help children develop their independent skills more consistently at snack time.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children playing inside and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at convenient times during the inspection.  The inspector spoke with parents and considered their written views of the provision.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled documentation including self-evaluation, learning diaries, policies and procedures.

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who attend. This is good

Staff plan an exciting range of learning experiences across the educational programme. They use effective assessment arrangements to identify children's next steps and actively involve parents in their children's learning. This ensures children make at least good progress from their starting points. Staff use skilful questioning to promote children's thinking skills. For example, during their imaginative play, children observed that the astronauts fell out of the rockets when they blasted off. Staff encouraged children to solve this problem. Children decided to use string to make seatbelts, therefore demonstrating their understanding of safety. There is a strong focus on outdoor play. Children learn about nature and the world around them as they investigate mini beasts and grow their own fruit and vegetables. On occasion, planned activities are not thoroughly organised to ensure children do not have long periods of inactivity, such as when creating footprints for

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who attend. This is good

a Father's Day card. Nonetheless, children enjoyed the activity as they mixed colours and described how the paint felt on their feet, such as 'cold' and 'tickly', demonstrating good communication and language skills.

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good

Children thrive in a nurturing environment and behave well. Following training, staff reinforce behavioural expectations well, praising children for achieving their individual targets. Staff teach children about safe practices, such as how to hold scissors when they are walking with them. Children enjoy a healthy fruit snack. However, staff do not consistently promote children's independence at snack time. Staff remind children of practices to support their well-being, such as having drinks regularly and wearing sun cream when outdoors. Children climbed, balanced and swung outside, and commented on the effects exercise had on their body well.

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provision is good

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. All staff understand their responsibility to report any safeguarding concerns about a child. Recruitment, induction and appraisal arrangements are rigorous. Staff liaise effectively with other early years settings children attend to maintain a consistent approach to children's learning and development. Staff encourage parents to contribute feedback about the provision, for example, by using 'Two stars and a wish' forms. Parents comment positively on the small group, which means their children receive one-to-one care and attention. Staff are experienced in their roles and work well together as a team to monitor children's progress and gaps in learning effectively. All staff contribute to effective self-evaluation to drive improvement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 142953 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 841564 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 16 Name of provider Merryfield Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 12 November 2010 Telephone number 01460 52574 or 07818 214 045

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Setting details

Merryfield Preschool registered in 1990. It is committee-run and operates from the grounds of St Mary and St Peter Primary School in Ilton, Somerset. The pre-school is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 12pm, with the option of staying for lunch club from 12pm to 1pm, during term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for early education for children aged two, three and four years old. The committee employ a manager, who has a foundation degree and is currently working towards an early years qualification at Level 6. She is supported by two members of staff, both of whom have early years qualifications; one at Level 5 and the other at Level 3.

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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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