Doddinghurst Community Pre-school

Doddinghurst Community Preschool Doddinghurst Village Hall, Church Lane, Doddinghurst, BRENTWOOD, Essex, CM15 0NJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 November 2015 10 November 2010

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The provider has not ensured that all legal requirements are met. Ofsted have not been notified of the persons who make up the committee.  The key-person system is not always effective. Although all children have a named key person, there are occasions when their care is not fully tailored to their needs.  The manager does not evaluate the impact of the quality of teaching to ensure teaching methods are consistently good across the pre-school.

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It has the following strengths

 Children's speaking and listening skills are effectively promoted. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations throughout the day.  Staff organise a range of suitable activities that are suited to the age and stage of children's development. Children are happily engaged in play-based experiences that they are interested in.  Children's physical development is promoted well. Staff provide a range of activities, both indoors and outdoors, with interesting and varied resources.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that an effective key-person system is in place for all children to support their individual needs 18/12/2015

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Due Date

 look more closely at the quality of teaching during planned activities and use this information to raise the standards of teaching across the pre-school. 18/12/2015

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff have a sound understanding of the procedure to follow should they have concerns about a child in their care. The manager is able to provide confirmation that all staff working with children have undergone Disclosure and Barring Service checks. However, Ofsted have not been informed about changes to the committee. While this is a breach in legal requirements, there is no adverse impact on children within the pre-school. This is because committee members do not work directly with the children. In addition to this, the manager has sole responsibility for recruitment and vetting. She follows robust procedures to ensure those who have access to children are suitable to do so.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Despite most staff having early years qualifications, teaching is not consistently good. For example, during a planned movement session, some staff miss opportunities to extend children's learning. This is because when children make comments about the effects the exercise has had on their bodies, staff quickly move on to the next song. This example illustrates that teaching is not consistently good. The manager has recently made attempts to introduce a system where the quality of staff's teaching can be observed and evaluated. However, this is not yet effective in highlighting where improvements can be made. The children's progress is monitored effectively by the key person and the manager. This enables staff to react to any gaps in learning. Assessments are shared regularly with parents and carers. This enables them to support children's learning at home. Children's physical skills are promoted well. Children have free access to the outdoor environment.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Here, they have opportunities to climb, balance and negotiate space.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are allocated an individual key person when they first start at the pre-school. However, the system is not working as effectively as it could be. This is because when the key person is not present, it is unclear who takes over this role. This means that, on occasions, children's care is not fully tailored to their individual needs. Children's behaviour is good. Staff explain to children about what is acceptable behaviour as they play. Children are encouraged to solve problems themselves, such as how to share the scooters. Children confidently suggest that they can use the sand timer to ensure that all of them have the same amount of time. As a result, children play cooperatively together and learn to be kind and polite. Children are encouraged to manage their own self-care needs.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most children, including those who receive funded education, make at least typical progress in their learning and development. Children develop useful self-help skills, such as confidently putting on their own coats before playing outside. This helps them to prepare for their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 508826 Local authority Essex Inspection number 855577 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 45 Name of provider Doddinghurst Community Pre-school Committee Date of previous inspection 10 November 2010 Telephone number 01277 822108

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Setting details

Doddinghurst Community Preschool was registered in 1996. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 1pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9am until 3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 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

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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