St Peters Thundersley Preschool

St Peters Thundersley Preschool St Peters Church Hall, Church Road,Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 3HG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 July 2015 10 October 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 provide a wide range of activities that promote children's learning. Consequently, children are enthusiastic learners who are keen to explore and investigate.  Staff build warm relationships with children. They know children well and form strong bonds with them. As a result, children demonstrate that they are happy, confident and feel secure in the pre-school.  Staff make their expectations for children's behaviour very clear. Children behave well and respond positively to the needs of others as they share and take turns.  Partnerships are a key strength. Staff establish strong and trusting partnerships with parents. They work closely with parents and other professionals to support children's individual care, development and learning needs.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Not all staff give children time to think about their responses to questions that they are asked.  Older children do not have sufficient opportunities to extend their learning outdoors.

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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

 give children sufficient time to consider their responses to questions, in order to develop their thinking skills, language and vocabulary  provide a wider and more challenging range of experiences outside, in order to support the active learning for older children and children who prefer being outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the pre-school and spoke with the staff.  The inspector and manager undertook a joint observation of a teaching activity.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector reviewed the provider's self-evaluation form.

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who attend. This is good

The pre-school provides a rich and vibrant learning environment, where children happily enjoy a stimulating range of activities. Staff regularly observe children and effectively use these observations to plan individual next steps in their learning. There is a good mix of adult-led and child-initiated play experiences, which encourages children to be active learners as they move freely between activities of their choice. For example, children are keen to select and share a book of their choice from the mobile library. The interactions between staff and children are strong. Staff talk to children and use questions to extend their communication and language skills. However, on occasion less experienced staff pose questions but do not wait for children's response. Children are not fully supported in developing their thinking skills as they consider their reply. Staff skilfully extend children's learning as they introduce simple mathematical concepts, such as shape and size. While

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who attend. This is good

constructing a wooden track circuit together, staff encourage children to talk about the colour, shape and size of the train set pieces. As a result, children enhance their early mathematical development and are gaining skills which help prepare them for their next stage in learning.

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good

Children receive a warm and friendly welcome to the pre-school. They demonstrate a positive approach to learning, supported by the cheerful interactions of the staff team caring for them. Staff support children's emerging understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle that involves physical exercise and a healthy diet. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise during outdoor play. They play outside on a daily basis, which promotes children's developing physical skills and confidence. Children choose from a range of physical play equipment, including wheeled toys, hoops and balls. However, there are fewer challenging experiences outdoors to fully support active learning, particularly for older children and those who prefer being outside.

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provision is good

The provider and staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures and are aware of their responsibilities. The manager monitors the educational programmes, ensuring that children's needs are clearly identified and continually met. The manager and staff team demonstrate a commitment to the continual development of the provision and continue to identify priorities for improvement. The manager monitors staff performance, both informally through working alongside the staff and more formally through annual appraisals. Staff are supported to attend relevant courses and gain additional qualifications to improve their knowledge and the quality of the provision for children. The manager uses regular staff meetings to discuss and share any ideas and practice issues to further promote effective outcomes for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 204000 Local authority Essex Inspection number 864073 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 35 Name of provider St Peters Thundersley Preschool Committee Date of previous inspection 10 October 2011 Telephone number 01268 774 205

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Setting details

St Peters Thundersley Preschool registered in 1999. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The pre-school is open five days a week during school term times from 9.15am to 11.45am, with additional sessions on Wednesday and Friday from 12.15pm to 2.45pm.

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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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