Tadpoles Pre-School

Tadpoles Pre-School Marks Tey Parish Hall, Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1EH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 September 2015 12 October 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff track the progress made by each child and are quick to identify any gaps in their learning or development. The excellent partnerships staff have developed with other agencies and professionals ensure the correct support is accessed quickly. This helps to close these gaps swiftly and enables children to make good progress in all areas of learning.  The quality of teaching is good. The experienced staff team plan a varied range of activities and outings that reflect children's developing interests and ideas. This helps them to develop their independence and self-assurance ready for future moves on to school.  Staff take time to plan a child-centred environment. This enables the children to enjoy a wide range of sensory learning opportunities through play and independent investigation.  Staff carefully listen to children and provide time for them to think and respond to questions when sharing their ideas. These interactive opportunities enable children to

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This provision is good

build on their developing language and communication skills, helping them to become competent communicators.  Rigorous monitoring by the manager and staff makes sure that all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage are effectively implemented in everyday practice.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff have not fully introduced a consistent scheme to encourage all parents and carers to share information about children's ongoing achievements at home. This means there is not always a shared approach to supporting children's learning and development between the pre-school and home.

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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

 extend opportunities for parents and carers to share more information about what they know in relation to their child's ongoing development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's development and progress. She spoke to staff and children.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed the findings.  The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of committee members and staff, relevant training certificates and a selection of policies and procedures.  The inspector obtained the views of parents and carers during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and reviewed the setting's self- evaluation documents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangement for safeguarding are effective. The manager and all members of staff are extremely vigilant in protecting children from harm. They each understand their responsibility in relation to minimising potential hazards and in identifying any child protection concerns. The recruitment of staff is carried out meticulously in order to ensure all adults working or associated with the pre-school are suitable to do so. The manager has high expectations of her staff. Regular supervision meetings provide opportunities to assess staff performance and identify areas for professional development. As a result, the staff team are competent and well qualified. Monitoring of the pre-school is undertaken by the manager and committee. Staff, parents and children are invited to share their views and ideas. This helps to ensure that any changes to the pre-school continue to meet their childcare needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make pertinent observations of the children as they progress towards the early learning goals. Staff take time to find out what children already know and can do when they first start attending. Children move freely around, both inside and outside. They actively explore how the seasons change. They enjoy walking in the park, where they collect natural objects to observe more closely when they return inside. Children are interested in how leaves turn different colours and they enjoy experimenting with different paints, mixing these to recreate their observations. Staff encourage children to describe what they are doing or what they have found. Simple mathematical concepts are naturally introduced during everyday tasks, for example, the children share out utensils or snack. This supports them to begin learning about one more than, or one less.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff act as good role models and children quickly learn about respecting each other and the pre-school rules. Staff provide plenty of positive praise, which raises children's self-esteem and supports their well-being. Healthy snacks are served and parents and carers support this by providing nutritious options in their child's packed lunch. This enables the children to develop a routine of eating healthily, which helps them to grow and thrive. Staff take time to plan varied and interesting activities so the children learn and have fun. Attention to providing child-height storage means that children can make personal selections safely.

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Outcomes for children are good

Staff are clearly aware of the needs of differing age groups. They thoughtfully adapt activities to meet children's individual needs. This approach helps to support every child's continuing good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402107 Local authority Essex Inspection number 872208 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 22 Name of provider Tadpoles Pre-School Learning Alliance Committee Date of previous inspection 12 October 2011 Telephone number 07712335363

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Setting details

Tadpoles Pre-School was registered in 1993. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9.20am until 12.20pm with an optional lunch club until 12.50pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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Setting details

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