Cobtree Playschool For Special Children

Cobtree Playschool For Special Children Cobtree Hall, Mote Park,, Willington Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8EB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 December 2015 6 May 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The management and staff work effectively in partnership with professionals and parents. This helps them to understand how to meet the care, learning and development needs of individual children.  The management team ensures that an excellent key-person system is in place. This supports children and their families to form exceptional emotional attachments with staff.  The management and staff provide an exceptional range of toys, resources and activities that reflect diversity. They teach children about differences and similarities in people.  Staff provide good quality teaching. They are encouraged to reflect on their practice during individual meetings. This helps them to find ways to improve their skills as they attend relevant training.  Outcomes for all children are good. They develop good physical skills appropriate for their stage of development in relation to their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the most of opportunities to further increase children's awareness of the importance of healthy eating and exercise, and occasionally help children instead of allowing them to do things for themselves.

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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 teaching skills to further encourage children to develop even better personal and social skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector discussed the playschool's self-evaluation process.  The inspector spoke with parents and staff.  The inspector observed staff's interactions with children.  The inspector sampled some documents, including children's learning journals.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team continues to drive improvements in the quality of the provision. They have met previous inspection recommendations. For example, they now make effective use of the self-evaluation process and consider the views of parents, children and staff. They are able to identify the strengths and prioritise areas for improvement. The management team regularly monitors children's progress. They share information about children's stage of development with professionals in other settings that children attend. This helps to support consistency in children's care, learning and development. Safeguarding is effective. The management and staff are aware of the procedures to follow to make any safeguarding referral to promote the welfare of children. They attend regular safeguarding training to help keep up to date with changes in government legislation.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are skilled and experienced in caring for young children. They use information shared by parents and that from observations and assessments to plan appropriate learning activities to help children achieve their next steps effectively. Staff encourage children to access a range of activities to support their interest. For example, they engage children in singing a variety of songs as they develop their understanding about numbers and their listening skills. They express their thoughts and ideas as part of developing their creative skills, and extend their sensory play. Staff share information about children's progress with parents, which helps parents to support children's learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are exceptionally motivated to join in activities and make choices about their play. Staff praise children's efforts and achievements. Children are aware of the appropriate behaviour and respond exceptionally well to changes in the daily routines. Staff act as excellent role models for children. For example, they teach children about taking turns and waiting, and children learn the vocabulary about feelings. Children show high levels of concentration and know how to keep safe in an emergency, for example, they take part in regular fire drills. Children excitedly use their imagination to explore the highly resourceful learning environment to support their self-confidence. Children benefit from activities such as eating healthy snacks and taking part in daily exercises to promote their physical well- being.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points and abilities. For example, they are developing good communication and social skills in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127120 Local authority Kent Inspection number 840615 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 17 Name of provider Maidstone Mencap Charitable Trust Ltd Date of previous inspection 6 May 2010 Telephone number 01622 670464

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Setting details

Cobtree Playschool For Special Children registered in 1968. It operates from a hall in Maidstone, Kent. It opens from 10am until 1pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, during term time only. It provides free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The playschool employs six members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 4.

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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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