Lawford's Little Pumpkins Pre-School CIC

Lawford's Little Pumpkins Pre-School CIC Lawford C of E GM Primary School, Long Road, Lawford, MANNINGTREE, Essex, CO11 2EF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2015 20 July 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

 The quality of teaching is good. Children enjoy learning and staff provide fun and stimulating activities. They make effective observations of children which help them to identify what they need to learn next.  Children make good progress in their learning. Newly established systems to check their development help staff to identify children who may need more support.  Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children from harm. They teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, they discuss the dangers of the hot oven during a cooking activity.  Arrangements for self-evaluation are good. Managers use a range of ways to evaluate all areas of practice and to identify priorities for improvement.  An effective key-person system strongly supports children's emotional well-being. Staff form trusting and meaningful relationships with children, who feel safe, secure and confident in their care.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, children do not follow their interests as they cannot always make choices during their play.  Although staff get useful information from parents when new children start, they have not yet found successful ways to continue sharing information with all parents as children continue to attend.

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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

 provide more opportunities for children to make choices and select resources independently  enhance strategies to work more closely with all parents to support children's learning even more effectively.

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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 and providers. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  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

The manager has a good understanding of statutory requirements. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Thorough recruitment procedures help to ensure staff are suitable for their role. Training opportunities are supported well by the management team and staff are encouraged to build on their qualifications and knowledge. This helps to continuously improve the already good teaching practice. Staff reflect on their own practice, and managers gather feedback from parents, children and other professionals. This information is used to identify priorities for improvement. The pre-school has a strong capacity to build on its already good practice.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use effective systems for observing and assessing children's development. Parents contribute to initial assessments so that staff can quickly plan how to best support each child's learning. Staff get to know children extremely well and understand the different ways young children learn. For example, they provide mark-making opportunities outside for children who prefer to be outdoors. Children enjoy learning and staff plan appealing activities that engage their interests. For example, children delight in dressing as witches as they act out a familiar story. Staff support children's developing mathematical skills very well. For example, during a baking activity the children count and measure ingredients and time how long their cake is in the oven. Children's language development is supported well, particularly for those children who speak English as an additional language.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff offer children lots of praise and reassurance, which contributes to the high levels of self-esteem and confidence they display. Staff are courteous to each other and the children, and encourage them to think about each other's needs and feelings. This helps children to learn right from wrong, and they behave well. Staff give children small tasks and responsibilities, such as preparing snacks and changing their own shoes. This helps to promote their independence. Children are offered nutritious meals and snacks, and they have lots of fresh air and exercise as they spend much of their time outdoors. This helps staff to teach them about healthy lifestyles. High priority is given to supporting children when they move on to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, make good progress from their individual starting points, and some children make progress beyond that expected for their age. Managers identify gaps in children's learning and plan to close these. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Staff work closely with parents and other settings to identify and promote the key skills needed to succeed when children are ready to move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY409411 Local authority Essex Inspection number 849972 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 42 Name of provider Little Pumpkins Pre-School C.I.C. Date of previous inspection 20 July 2011 Telephone number 01206 391 412

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Setting details

Lawford's Little Pumpkins Pre-School CIC was registered in 2010. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8.30am until 4.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports disabled children and those with special educational needs, and children who speak English as an additional language.

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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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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