The Commons Pre-School LLP

The Commons Pre-School LLP Commonswood Jmi School, The Commons, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, Hertfordshire, AL7 4RU

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 March 2016 28 November 2011

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Staff have a superb understanding of how children learn. Their meticulous assessments help them to provide highly stimulating activities that are extremely focused on the individual needs of each child. Children make predictions and mix textures, such as jelly and cereals. They work out how to operate pipettes and solve complex mathematical problems. The quality of teaching is outstanding.  The strong skills of all key persons ensure that children form very warm and caring bonds with them. Children are extremely happy and demonstrate that they feel exceptionally secure and confident in their care from a very early stage. Home visits and sharing of photograph books help children make a seamless move from home to the pre-school and on to nursery and school when the time comes.  The leadership and management are inspirational. They are supported by a committed workforce. Self-evaluation is used extremely well to continually reflect on the service

p.1

This provision is outstanding

they provide. The team has successfully achieved the highest rating of a local authority special educational needs and disability quality assurance scheme, in addition to their accreditation award.  Staff form excellent partnerships with other professionals, staff from the host school and parents. They highly value parents as their children's first educators and involve them in every aspect of their children's learning. Parents describe the staff as, 'Phenomenal'. These extended partnerships help children to excel in their learning and make the best possible progress.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to extend children's experiences outdoors in new environments to promote their development even further.

p.2

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 manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager, group manager and co-owners. She also met with the headteacher of the host school and the early years coordinator of the local children's centre.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as children's development records and the pre-school's self-evaluation. She also looked at evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and also took account of their written views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a robust knowledge of the action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Roles and responsibilities are taken very seriously by the well-qualified team. Staff share with parents how they closely monitor children's absences and the swift action they will take, in line with new legislation. Staff have a real thirst to continue to extend their knowledge and skills. Regular robust supervision meetings and excellent training opportunities are tailored to specifically meet the needs of children attending. All staff share best practice at regular staff meetings. This helps them to support and extend children's learning experiences even further. That being said, there are plans to improve staff professional development even further to implement Forest School sessions and enhance children's outcomes to an even higher level.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have high expectations of themselves and for what children can achieve. They ensure that their teaching and high-quality toys and activities are presented in innovative ways to provide excellent challenge. They know precisely when to intervene in children's play to support and extend their learning. Staff promote children's communication and language development superbly. Children swiftly learn the meaning of new words in context to their play. Rich and varied activities help children to develop a superb understanding of the world. They confidently sing songs in different languages. Wonderful first-hand experiences, such as visits from a guide dog, help them to learn about the important role they fulfil to help others. Children develop outstanding literacy skills. They write their own name and have fun learning to link letters and sounds. Group time is a highly positive experience for all. Even children of a young age are completely engaged

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

and inspired to join in with exciting interactive stories that staff make come alive.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are welcomed in to the highly stimulating and vibrant, indoor and outdoor areas. They behave exceptionally well and demonstrate immense kind and secure relationships. Children spontaneously use impeccable manners and are highly independent. Staff teach children excellent hygiene routines and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Staff arranging for visiting dental practitioners to provide individual check-ups is one example of this. Children have superb opportunities to take part in a very wide variety of physical activities. Teaching highly motivates children to develop new skills. They persevere at perfecting their balancing skills as they cross the different height stepping stones. Immense fun is had by all during active music and movement sessions.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make rapid progress from their individual starting points. This includes two- year-olds in receipt of funding, disabled children and those with special educational needs and children who speak English as an additional language. The leadership team's sharp focus on monitoring children's individual progress and different groups of children, identifies any gaps as soon as they emerge. Excellent individual and highly effective plans are swiftly implemented to help children to continue to develop the key skills for school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY425329 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 850138 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 - 11 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 106 Name of provider Tina Covill and Claire Mason Partnership Date of previous inspection 28 November 2011 Telephone number 07766 407 317

p.4

Setting details

The Commons Pre-School LLP is one of three pre-schools run as a private partnership and registered in 2011. It operates from a building in the school grounds. The pre-school employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one member of staff with Early Years Professional status and one with Qualified Teacher Status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. A breakfast club runs from 7.40am to 8.40am, pre-school sessions from 8.45am to 11.45am with an optional lunch club to 12.45pm. Afternoon pre-school sessions run from 11.45am to 2.45pm and an after-school club runs from 3.10pm to 6pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language, disabled children and those with special educational needs.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5