Merry Go Round Pre-School

Merry Go Round Pre- School Jubilee Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 0QP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 October 2015 10 March 2010

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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

 The staff team works together well. They create an interesting and stimulating environment to extend children's learning and captivate their interest.  Children settle well on arrival. They happily seek out their friends or key person as they confidently explore the environment. This positively supports their emotional well- being.  Staff and management are secure in their knowledge of procedures to keep children safe and know what they would do if they have concerns about a child's welfare.  Children with additional needs and those who are learning English as an additional language receive effective support from knowledgeable staff. As a result, all children make good progress from their starting points.  Staff are skilled at extending children's language and mathematical skills during play. For example, they encourage children to count and identify shapes during activities and engage children in saying rhymes.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always fully extend their partnerships with parents to successfully gain information about children's home learning to help shape future activities.

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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

 strengthen partnerships with parents to encourage them to share and exchange information about their children's home learning to help tailor activities to their individual needs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children as they played in the indoor and outdoor areas of the pre-school.  The inspector spoke with staff, children, parents and committee members throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and a range of other documents including policies and procedures, and evidence of staff qualifications and suitability checks.  The inspector held meetings with the deputy manager and committee chairperson.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Management and staff have a secure understanding of their responsibility to safeguard children. They implement procedures and practices to support children's health, safety and well-being. Thorough recruitment procedures check staff's suitability to work with children to help protect them from possible harm. Regular staff supervision meetings support staff to develop and update their skills to improve the quality of practice. Staff are deployed well across all areas to supervise children and meet their individual needs. This enables children to play and learn safely. The pre-school management and staff reflect on the quality of their provision well to help identify areas for further improvement that benefit children. They have met the recommendations set at their last inspection and are committed to developing and improving their practice further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a good balance of activities that include those that adults plan and those that children choose. They sensitively join in children's play and use small group activities to extend children's learning and development. For instance, children chose which songs to sing, which they enthusiastically played musical instruments along to. They chose a number as a 'count in' before they started to sing each song. This supports their creative development and interest in mathematics. Children develop their hand to eye coordination and physical skills well. For example, they use scissors to cut spaghetti and pour water from one container to another. Staff complete regular observations of children's achievements which, overall, help them plan effectively for children's further learning. The manager and staff track and monitor children's progress well to help identify and address any gaps in their learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Settling-in procedures are flexible to meet children's individual needs. Staff develop secure relationships with children and parents to establish an effective key-person system. Children develop strong friendships with each other. Staff encourage them to be kind to their friends and play cooperatively, for example, they discuss the pre-school rules at group time. Children enjoy outdoor play in all weathers. They learn, for example, that they need their coats and wellies when it is cold or wet outdoors. They manage this task independently or confidently ask for help.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points. They learn to be independent in their personal care, for example, they make their own choice of toys and activities. They develop the skills required for their next stage of learning, such as school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY287735 Local authority Kent Inspection number 833714 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 23 Name of provider Merry Go Round Pre School Committee Date of previous inspection 10 March 2010 Telephone number 01304614425

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Setting details

Merry Go Round Pre-school registered in 2004. The pre-school is a registered charity run by a parent committee and is located in Sandwich, Kent. It opens each weekday from 9.15am until 3.15pm, term time only. There are five members of staff, all of whom have recognised qualifications including the manager who has a relevant degree. The pre- school receives funding for free nursery education for children aged two, three and four 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

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Setting details

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