Explorers PreSchool

Explorers St Nicholas CE Primary School, Ash Walk, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0QD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2015 25 March 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 work together very well as a team. They frequently reflect on their practice and form clear action plans. This effectively secures continual improvement.  Teaching is good as staff plan stimulating, exciting activities which build on children's existing skills. This effectively motivates children and they make good progress.  Staff hold children's welfare as a priority. All staff attend safeguarding training and understand child protection issues and procedures to help protect children from harm.  Staff give a strong focus to developing children's language. They skilfully use sign language to reinforce children's words and consistently use challenging questions to encourage their thinking. This prepares children well for their move on to school.  Children behave very well. Staff are friendly and reassuring, and act as positive role models. They effectively encourage children to respect others and share their toys.

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This provision is good

 Parents comment that staff actively support and involve them with their children's development. Consequently, staff form positive partnerships with parents and effectively provide children with a consistent approach to their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not organise everyday routines and group activities well. They do not make the most of learning opportunities that arise or involve everyone.  Staff share information with other settings children attend. However, they do not actively develop this further to maintain ongoing two-way communication.

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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

 ensure all group activities and everyday routines are organised effectively to make the most of all learning opportunities for every child  strengthen the arrangements for sharing information with other providers children attend, to fully promote consistency in all aspects of children's care and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's interactions in their play and with staff, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector sampled documentation, such as operational policies and procedures and required records.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to at the visit.  The inspector viewed the pre-school website prior to the inspection and had discussions with management, staff and children.  The inspector undertook a joint observation of an activity with the manager.

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who attend. This is good

Staff have a good understanding of children's development. Management and staff monitor children's progress effectively and are quick to seek professional support for any specific individual needs. They clearly target children's next steps for learning within their play. This effectively motivates children and helps them gain confidence in their abilities. Children choose their play. At the inspection, they became engrossed in filling ice cube trays with water. They mixed the water with sand to make their 'cakes'. They carefully scooped sand into plastic cone shapes and talked about the ice creams they had made. As a result, children explored concepts of space, size and measurement, and developed their coordination and imagination within fun activities. Children became fascinated by the spiders, ladybirds and snails they found outside and enjoyed listening to a story. Staff plan meaningful activities to support these interests and encourage children's creativity and

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who attend. This is good

understanding of their natural world well.

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good

Children enter the pre-school happily and confidently move around chatting and playing with their friends. Staff plan activities for the outside areas so children benefit from frequently playing in the fresh air. Children enjoy climbing, crawling and balancing around an obstacle course. They sometimes walk across the wobbly log bridge in the school playground. This provides fun experiences for children as they develop their physical coordination skills. Staff provide healthy snacks and teach children about the importance of eating well. Staff organise activities that help children learn about keeping themselves safe in the pre-school and in their community. Staff are very caring and clearly value children as individuals. They get to know children and their families very well and effectively meet their physical and emotional well-being. Consequently, children feel secure and settled, and enjoy their time at the pre-school.

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provision is good

Management and staff have a good awareness of their responsibilities in meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Management understands the importance of assessing staff suitability through clear recruitment and employment procedures. Staff are supported well in their professional development through supervision and training opportunities. This helps them continually develop how they promote children's learning. For example, staff have undertaken relevant training to help them address the recommendations made at the last inspection. As a result, they now provide more problem-solving activities for children, which helps develop their mathematical thinking.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY253578 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 837199 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 22 Name of provider Explorers Committee Date of previous inspection 25 March 2011 Telephone number 07792240804

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Setting details

Explorers registered in 2003. This committee-run pre-school is situated in the grounds of St Nicholas Church of England Primary School in Henstridge, Somerset. The pre-school is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8.50am to 1pm, and on Thursdays and Fridays from 8.50am to 12pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged three and four years old. The committee employ four staff; of these, one holds a qualification at level 4, two hold qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2.

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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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