Sandymoor Pre-School

Sandymoor Pre-School Sandymoor Hall Community Centre, Otterburn Street, RUNCORN, Cheshire, WA7 1XU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 February 2016 26 February 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 manager and her team demonstrate a strong commitment to the continuous improvement of the pre-school. Instrumental progress has been made since the last inspection and they have worked hard to put improvements in place, which benefit children.  Staff are well qualified and have a thorough knowledge of how young children learn. Teaching across the pre-school is good.  Staff know children well and plan fun, engaging activities which children thoroughly enjoy. Children are motivated and engaged and make good progress in their learning and development.  Staff have formed strong partnerships with parents and keep them well informed about the progress their child is making. Parents are asked to make contributions towards children's learning records and are involved in their assessments.  Management and staff have an accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and are committed to driving further improvement. The

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This provision is good

views of staff, parents and children are sought and acted upon to enhance the quality of the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children's understanding of technology is not fully promoted.  Children's understanding of different cultures and the world beyond their local community is not fully promoted.

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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 explore and learn about technology  enhance the range of opportunities available to support children's understanding of the wider world.

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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 provider. 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 arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and her team have a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report their concerns. Robust recruitment, vetting and monitoring procedures help to ensure staff's suitability for their roles. Staff are well supported in their professional development. They have regular opportunities to develop their existing knowledge, in order to further enhance their practice. Staff access support from a network of professionals, including local authority advisers. This has helped highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-school and enhanced the quality of the provision. The manager and her staff team effectively monitor children's progress, in order to quickly identify and implement extra support where needed. Staff use very effective observation, assessment and planning systems to help children achieve their next steps in learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of children's individual learning needs and provide a balance of child-initiated and adult-directed activities. Staff help children to learn in many different ways and use effective teaching strategies to engage children in their learning. They have good interactions with children and encourage them to question, explore ideas, test their theories and have fun. Children gain confidence and are motivated to learn. Their mathematical understanding is developing well. Older children count confidently and begin to recognise numbers that are important to them. Children find their name labels as they arrive and use a variety of media to practise their early writing skills. Children develop their creative skills well through the many activities provided. For example, they enjoy making musical instruments and painting pictures, exploring texture, colour and sound.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's emerging understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle that involves physical exercise and a healthy diet. Children play outside regularly and the outdoor area helps to promote children's developing physical skills and confidence. At snack time, staff support children to feed themselves and make their selection from the snacks offered. This is one of the many ways that staff promote children's emerging independence skills. Children respond very well to the golden rules and boundaries in place. Children behave extremely well. They learn to respect each other and to share and take turns and are supported by staff who are very good role models. An extremely well- established key-person system and effective deployment of staff help children to form strong, secure emotional attachments.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress towards the early learning goals. Staff provide the challenge and support children need to succeed. Children's early writing, reading and mathematical skills are developing well, in order to support their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY273777 Local authority Halton Inspection number 1037384 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 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 24 Name of provider Moore Pre-School Nursery Committee Date of previous inspection 26 February 2015 Telephone number 01928 597710

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Setting details

Sandymoor Pre-School was registered in 2003. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm. 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

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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