Small Wonders Pre-school

Small Wonders Crownhill Meeting Place, Lennon Drive, Crownhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK8 0AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 June 2015 3 July 2012

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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

 A well-balanced educational programme, staff's effective teaching techniques and assessment procedures help children to make good progress in all aspects of learning.  There is a range of good-quality resources and activities for children to choose from.  Comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures are clearly understood and implemented by staff and designated individuals to protect children.  Staff make sure that children are protected from harm. Thorough risk assessments cover indoor and outdoor environments to keep children safe and secure.  Staff share useful information with parents and school teachers to help children to move on happily from pre-school to school.  Parents are very complimentary about the pre-school staff, the way in which the children make good progress and the good support provided for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Staff role model good behaviour and sensitively help children to behave well and to be

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make the best use of probing questioning to further challenge children's thoughts and responses.  Staff do not fully extend children's outdoor play experiences to enhance their all-round learning and development.

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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

 strengthen existing good teaching skills even further to challenge children's critical thinking  enhance outdoor play facilities to enable children to extend their play even further using their thoughts and ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the play hall and garden.  The inspector had discussions with children, parents and staff.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at observation files, tracking systems, the setting's self-evaluation form and a selection of policies and children's records.

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who attend. This is good

Children are keen and motivated to learn. They make good progress in their communication, language and literacy development. Children recognise their name, learn about sounds and letters, and practise writing as they use chalks and pencils. During role play in the 'farm shop', children write shopping lists and develop their knowledge of technology as they use cash tills and weighing scales. Children make good progress in early mathematics and have fun problem-solving as they use construction toys and pour water down pipes. The quality of teaching is consistently good, but staff do not ask probing questions to further challenge children's thoughts and ideas. Children develop a good knowledge and understanding of the world, for example, as they celebrate festivals and observe the life cycle of the caterpillar. Children enjoy early educational experiences that help to prepare them well for the next stage of their education.

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good

Each child has a key person who successfully coordinates their key child's learning and welfare. Children begin to form relationships with particular friends, to share and take turns. Children make decisions about when they are hungry and wash their hands in preparation for snack time. Parents provide a healthy packed lunch for their child if they stay for the afternoon session. Children have fun in the outdoor environment, which promotes their health and fitness. Although, on occasions, there is less choice of resources easily accessible outdoors. Children develop good physical agility, for example, as they climb and crawl with increasing control, move imaginatively to music and join in ring games. Staff allow children to take calculated risks and experiment. For example, as they manoeuvre large wooden blocks when constructing in the garden.

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provision is good

The enthusiastic manager leads the professional staff team in providing a good childcare service for children. She has attended safer recruitment training to further support the robust recruitment procedures. The pre-school has an accurate view of what it does well and where further improvements are required. Action has been taken to implement the recommendations from the last inspection to benefit children's learning and development. The pre-school team shows a good capacity for further improvement and has a clear vision for the future. The manager monitors the quality of teaching, planning and assessment procedures to ensure that children make good progress in all aspects of learning. This also helps staff to pick up on possible concerns and to narrow any gaps in children's learning in preparation for moving on to school. Parents engage in regular discussions about the children to ensure continuity of care and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141780 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 841490 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 48 Name of provider Small Wonders Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 3 July 2012 Telephone number 01908 263995

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Setting details

Small Wonders Pre-School registered in 1993. It is located in Milton Keynes. The pre- school opens Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 2.30pm, term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. All of the staff working at the nursery hold relevant level 3 qualifications and the manager has Early Years Professional Status.

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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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