Playpen Pre-School

Playpen Pre-School Meopham Community Academy, Wrotham Road, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 0JW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 October 2015 28 November 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The management team has an exceptional understanding of working in close partnership with parents and other professionals. They consistently share children's achievements and next learning steps.  Staff are able to access timely interventions very effectively to support children's development through a rigorous monitoring system.  The management and staff complete meticulous assessments of children's progress. As a result, they are able to provide challenging learning opportunities that ensure children make outstanding progress from their starting points.  Staff provide an exceptionally good choice of play experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Children are enthusiastic and motivated as they play and use their imagination extremely well.  An effective key-person system supports children's emotional well-being extremely well. Staff are highly sensitive to children's needs as they form very secure relationships.

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff minimise possible hazards to children through a meticulous system of risk assessments and daily checks.

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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 strengthen children's excellent language skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector toured the premises.  The inspector observed staff and children's interactions and the care routines.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager and discussed the impact of teaching on children's learning.  The inspector sampled some documents, including assessment records, learning journals and the suitability checks.  The inspector spoke to staff, parents and children and discussed their involvement in the self-evaluation process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The management team discusses and identifies staff's development needs through a highly effective supervision system. They provide excellent coaching and access training that continuously strengthens the quality of teaching. They use the expertise of other professionals where necessary to help staff rapidly address and close any achievement gaps. The self-evaluation process is highly reflective and engages the views of parents, children and staff. Therefore, management is able to focus on highly successful areas for continuous improvement. All staff have an excellent knowledge of child protection issues to promote the welfare of children exceptionally well. For example, staff teach children how to keep safe when using the internet. Safeguarding is effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff's qualifications support their excellent understanding of how children learn and develop. Staff provide highly challenging and engaging activities to support individual children in all areas of learning. They use their exceptional knowledge of children's stage of development to extend their learning, such as asking thought-provoking questions. However, on occasions they do not use the best vocabulary for children to learn from, such as 'doggie'. Staff talk to children about their play choices as this encourages children's enthusiasm to extend their learning. For example, staff explained the life cycle of a butterfly and encouraged children to share their knowledge about other creatures. Children were thoroughly engaged as they used their communication skills and shared their awareness of the natural world. Consequently, children develop the skills they need for the next stage of learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff work extremely hard to encourage children's independence, such as attending to their hygiene needs. Staff are excellent as they model expected behaviours and encourage children to express how they feel. As a result, behaviour is exemplary. Staff provide exceptional resources and opportunities to promote children's growing understanding of people's differences in the wider community. They provide excellent support to help children learn the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For example, children routinely engage in physical exercise as they play outside. Staff help children learn about the need for a nutritious diet and the effect this has on their body. Children benefit from an excellent choice of healthy snacks and meals that support their physical well-being.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make outstanding progress towards the early learning goals. Some children exceed levels typical for their age. They are highly confident and independent in social situations, which is very significant as it supports their readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348751 Local authority Kent Inspection number 827614 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 56 Name of provider Playpen Pre-School Ltd Date of previous inspection 28 November 2011 Telephone number 01474 815 403

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Setting details

Playpen Pre-school registered in 2003 and is situated in Meopham, Kent. The pre-school opens from 8.45am until 3.15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 8.45am to 12.45pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, tem time only. The pre-school is funded for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre- school employs eight members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above.

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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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