Scallywags Pre-School

Scallywags Pre-School (Halwill) The Parish Hall, Halwill Junction, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5XR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 November 2015 30 January 2012

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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 key-person system is efficient and children are well cared for. Warm relationships between children and staff help to ensure children are confident and happy.  Staff are vigilant at all times to the safety of the children. All staff attend safeguarding training and know what to do if they have any concerns about a child's welfare.  Partnerships with parents are strong and help to ensure children settle well and feel safe.  The pre-school lead implements the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and other government requirements well.  The pre-school lead uses self-evaluation effectively to identify strengths and areas for development. She continuously monitors staff practice and reviews children's records.  Staff take children out in the local community regularly, such as to the post office to buy stamps to send letters. This builds children's knowledge of the world around them.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make the best of all opportunities to encourage the youngest children to explore their learning fully through carefully planned activities.  Children do not always have enough opportunities to develop their own creative ideas, make predictions and extend their thinking skills.  On occasion, staff do not always support the youngest children in their self-care skills in order to maximise their learning.

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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

 improve planned activities so that these allow children enough opportunities to develop their own creative ideas  continue to build on teaching strategies so that younger children consistently benefit from a good range of age-appropriate activities, suitable for their development stage.

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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 lead.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and a sample of relevant documentation, such as the setting's self-evaluation, and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector talked with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff receive regular training and understand how to promote children's welfare. They are aware of their responsibilities and ensure that children are always supervised. Staff are recruited and vetted using the pre-school's robust procedures. Leaders are vigilant in monitoring staff's ongoing suitability for their roles. Leaders provide regular supervision sessions with all the well-qualified staff, which helps to identify any areas that could be enhanced through further training and development. This contributes to the good quality care and education staff deliver. The pre-school lead uses evaluation effectively to reflect on practice, which enables continued progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff complete thorough assessments to help ensure all children move on to their next steps in development. They provide children with good opportunities to develop their early writing skills; children learn to use writing tools, including pencils. Staff provide good opportunities for physical development and meet children's physical and emotional needs well. Children enjoy learning to ride a variety of wheeled vehicles during outdoor play. Staff promote children's social skills well. There are opportunities throughout the nursery for children to practise their mathematics and literacy skills. As a result, all children are making good progress from their starting points. Children are eager to use their experiences and ideas in different ways; however, at times, staff do not give them time to do this fully during adult-led activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff use an effective key-person system, assisting children to quickly build strong and trusting relationships. This helps children to feel secure as they play and explore independently. Staff check the reasons for children's absence robustly and prepare children for school effectively. Children behave well and staff are positive and calm role models. Staff offer children opportunities to undertake physical exercise. Children show they are developing good physical coordination skills and can navigate the space safely as they play. Children learn to attend to their own needs, including washing their hands. However, occasionally, staff do not offer their support to the younger children to develop their self-care skills further. Children make friends easily and show sensitivity and kindness to each other. They are confident, self-assured and show a strong sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make at least typical progress in their learning and development, and some make better progress. Children learn to play cooperatively and have the key skills they need for their next stages in learning and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 106369 Local authority Devon Inspection number 824815 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 20 Name of provider Scallywags Pre-School (Halwill) Committee Date of previous inspection 30 January 2012 Telephone number 01409 221833 or 07792 085939

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Setting details

Scallywags Pre-School (Halwill) is a committee-run provision, which operates from the Parish Hall at Halwill Junction in Devon. It first opened in 1980. The pre-school is open Monday to Thursday between 9.15am and 12.15pm during school term times. A lunch club operates between 12.15pm and 12.45 pm on Monday and between 12.15pm and 1.10pm on Wednesday. There is an afternoon session on Monday and Wednesday between 12.45pm and 3.15pm. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs three members of staff, all of whom hold an appropriate childcare qualification.

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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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