Brent Knoll Tadpoles Preschool

Brent Knoll Tadpoles Preschool 50 Brent Street, Brent Knoll, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4DT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 January 2016 12 January 2015

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3

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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

 The provider does not always gather information about new employees in enough detail and ensure that procedures to check the suitability of staff reflect best practice.  While children play within the pre-school, a door into the residential section of the setting is not always secured.  Staff do not always help children to develop their personal skills by explaining why they must follow instructions.

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It has the following strengths

 The provider supports staff well. She regularly observes practice and provides staff with feedback which helps improve the quality of teaching. Staff value the help and guidance they are given.  Staff provide a warm, welcoming and exciting environment which means that children are keen to come to nursery. Children are quick to take part in well-planned activities which support their good progress.  Children learn about and celebrate differences in culture and traditions. They find out about their local community through regular visits to, for example, the local church and school.  Excellent links with local schools mean that children transfer with confidence because they are familiar with the school environment and routine.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 strengthen knowledge and understanding of safer recruitment practices 29/01/2016

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Due Date

 ensure access to the residential section of the premises is restricted. 15/01/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 ensure staff provide clear explanations so that children understand the reasons for following instructions and develop their personal skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and its impact on children's learning.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector spoke with the provider, staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including records of the progress children have made, the setting's evaluation of their provision, policies and procedures and evidence of suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Staff work well as a team. They are committed to improvement; they attend regular training and undertake research projects to develop their knowledge and skills. The provider regularly monitors the progress that individual and groups of children make. She uses the information effectively to ensure that children receive the support they need and to check the quality of the curriculum. Staff are well trained and knowledgeable about what to do if they are concerned about a child so that arrangements for safeguarding are effective. They take steps to ensure that the pre-school environment is safe. For example, toys and equipment are of good quality and children are well supervised. However, the nursery is situated adjacent to the provider's home; children understand not to go through but the door between the two is not always secured.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children and their families well. They regularly observe and assess children's learning and work closely with parents to build a clear picture of what each child knows and can do. They use this information well to plan a good range of activities which help children to progress and develop. As children play, staff interact thoughtfully with them; they ask questions which help children to think about what they are doing and how to solve problems. Parents are kept well informed about how their children are doing. They appreciate the help they are given to support their child to learn at home, for example through the reading book loan scheme.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children settle quickly into the preschool and enjoy attending because they have close relationships with the adults who care for them. They behave well and respond immediately when reminded how they are expected to behave. However, staff do not explain clearly help children understand why they need to comply. The provider recognises the steps to take to ensure best recruitment practice although procedures to check that those who work with the children are suitable lack detail.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. Younger children develop confidence and settle easily in the setting. They quickly develop their speaking and communication skills. Older children are well prepared for school. They are developing early reading and writing skills as they learn about the sounds that letters represent, practice forming letters and recognise their own names. As they play they make good progress in learning about shape, size and numbers. Individually and in larger groups they follow instructions, take turns, listen and concentrate well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY357670 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1006278 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 - 8 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 22 Name of provider Brent Knoll Tadpoles Preschool Ltd Date of previous inspection 12 January 2015 Telephone number 01278 769126

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Setting details

Brent Knoll Tadpoles Preschool opened in 2004 and moved to its current premises in 2007. The pre-school operates from a room on the ground floor of a private detached property in Brent Knoll, Somerset. It opens from 7.30am to 6pm each weekday, term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school also provides out-of-school care for children up to 11 years old. A team of six staff work with the children. The provider, who manages the setting, holds a relevant foundation degree, one member staff has qualified teacher status and three hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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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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