The Cottages Pre-School

The Cottages Pre-School 54 King Street, LEICESTER, LE1 6RL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 August 2015 19 March 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 The area manager is forward thinking and knowledgeable. She inspires the management team and staff who are highly motivated and very enthusiastic. They are all dedicated to providing the very best for all the children.  Children show they feel extremely safe, secure and happy in the nursery and the arrangements for safeguarding are robust.  An extremely effective key-person system provides children with stability and helps them to develop positive relationships and gain confidence and self-esteem.  Children relish the inviting and highly stimulating resources and atmosphere. As a result, all children are eager to learn and are highly motivated.  Excellent information sharing between the whole nursery staff team, parents and other professionals involved with the children are very thorough. All children benefit extremely well from a coordinated approach to learning so that they develop to the highest level.

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This provision is outstanding

 Children's learning and development is closely monitored through precise assessments and includes all those involved in their learning. Consequently, planning is sharply focused and leads to children making rapid progress, taking account of their starting points. This means children acquire the key skills to prepare them for school.  Excellent relationships are in place with the many schools that the children will attend.  Staff seize regular opportunities to teach children about the diverse world they live in.  Recommendations raised at the last inspection have been very well addressed. The owners, managers and all staff demonstrate an uncompromising commitment towards achieving excellence in all areas.

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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

 continue to enhance the support given to all parents to help them guide their children's learning at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the different playrooms.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector accompanied staff and children on a walk to a local park.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the area manager.  The inspector held meetings with the area manager, the early years teacher and nursery managers.  The inspector looked at a wide range of documents, including planning, self-evaluation, a selection of policies and children's records.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector took account of the views of the parents through recently completed questionnaires, written notes and those spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The highly qualified staff team is very knowledgeable about child development. The quality of teaching is outstanding. Staff know what children are interested in because they constantly talk to them and watch them play. For example, children talk about their holidays and visits to the seaside. They visit the local park where they are excited to play 'on the beach' set up for summer. Back at the nursery, children skilfully use spades, count as they fill buckets and are amazed they can build sandcastles. Older children relish their visits to the forest where they build dens, paddle in streams and observe wildlife first hand. Everyday experiences become learning opportunities as they walk in the sunshine, observing shadows following them down the street and discover leaves changing through the seasons.

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outstanding

Children are exceptionally well cared for. They feel very secure because staff work closely in partnership with parents to ensure they receive continuity in their care and learning. Furthermore, well-targeted early interventions needed for some children are highly effective and strengthen this work. Parents are reassured because staff spend time discussing children's progress. They say when their children start school, teachers comment how confident they are and that the children are already one step ahead. Parents are encouraged to continue their child's learning at home. However, managers recognise that there is potential to build further on the support given to parents to help them guide their children's learning at home. Staff are extremely good role models and continually play alongside the children, talking together to extend children's vocabulary. Continual positive praise and enthusiastic encouragement successfully promote children's

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outstanding

self-esteem and exemplary behaviour. Staff expertly help children to be emotionally and socially ready for their move on to school, providing a seamless transition.

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provision is outstanding

The inspiring commitment of the owners, managers and staff underpins a shared vision for achieving very high standards. Staff are highly qualified, experienced and ambitious to continue their learning. They embrace the excellent development and training procedures and fully understand how this has a positive impact, which benefits the children extremely well. Highly effective arrangements for recruiting new staff, regular supervisions and appraisals supports excellent practice. All staff skilfully drive improvements by rigorously checking children's progress and enhancing the range and quality of activities and resources. For example, when children visit the museum and relish exploring a sensory room, staff replicate the activities in the nursery for children to further investigate and explore.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY375589 Local authority Leicester City Inspection number 858311 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 45 Name of provider The D.H. Nursery Ltd Date of previous inspection 19 March 2009 Telephone number 0116 223 6357

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Setting details

The Cottages Pre-School was registered in 2008 and is situated in Leicester. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, closing at Christmas and bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery receives funding for free early education for children aged three- and four-years-old. It supports children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Of the nine staff who work at the nursery, five hold relevant qualifications equivalent to level 3, 4 and 5. In addition, two hold degrees in early years.

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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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