The Ark Preschool

The Ark Preschool St Augustines Church Centre, Lychgate Park, Locking, Weston Super Mare, North Somerset, BS24 8DA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 March 2016 17 October 2013

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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

 Teaching is consistently good. Staff interact very well with the children, and extend their communication and language, as well as their understanding. This is particularly helpful for children who are learning English as an additional Language. All children make good progress from their starting points  Children behave well. They have good social skills, and learn to share and think of others.  Children take responsibility for small tasks and learn to work independently. For example, they pour their own drinks and chop their own fruit at snack time.  The manager effectively brings about targeted improvements that benefit children. She evaluates her setting well and has developed clear action plans. For example, she plans to take children to the newly acquired allotment to grow and harvest vegetables, to further extend their understanding of healthy lifestyles.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always use story time to its full potential, to ensure children make the best progress possible.  At times, staff do not offer children enough opportunities to develop their own ideas during art and craft activities.

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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

 review the organisation of story time, to promote children's learning as well as possible  offer children more opportunities and encouragement to develop their own ideas using creative materials.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's learning journals.  The inspector spoke with children and parents, and took their views into consideration.  The inspector observed staff and children inside and in the garden.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector conducted a leadership and management meeting with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and her team promote children's safety and welfare. They understand child protection issues and safeguarding procedures. The manager carefully monitors staff practice and identifies training programmes that have a positive impact on children's experiences. For example, staff have become more proficient at developing children's literacy skills through play, after attending a course on writing. The manager uses her qualifications and experience to good effect. For example, she builds strong and effective relationships with parents and other professionals to help children experience continuity in their care and learning. This is particularly effective for those children with additional needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are very keen and motivated to take part in the activities available to them. For example, children play in a make-believe garden centre. They plant seeds and build a pretend bonfire, and get really involved in the game. The manager and staff make detailed and evaluative observations of children's progress. They plan good activities in response to children's interests. For example, children enjoy finding out about different materials and mix water, sand and mud together in the garden. Children enjoy counting buttons and making patterns. They concentrate as they play and plan their work well. Children's progress is effectively tracked and any gaps in development are identified and targeted. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well and treat each other with kindness. Children benefit from lots of time outside and enjoy playing in a physical way. They transport buckets of water and get lots of fresh air. Staff have developed a strong and effective key-person system and this helps children settle easily. The manager and staff plan activities that teach children about their local community. For example, children visit the local pet shop and engage in role play and write messages back at the pre-school. Children develop positive attitudes towards each other and learn to take responsibility for their actions. For example, they share nicely and help each other with difficult tasks.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop very positive attitudes towards learning, and they are content and happy. Children spend lots of time exploring, and stay motivated and interested in the activities that are planned. For example, children engage in an elaborate game about their favourite film and make up a special dance along to the soundtrack. Outcomes for children are consistently good.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458572 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 1028382 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 19 Name of provider The Ark Preschool Committee Date of previous inspection 17 October 2013 Telephone number 01934 824353

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Setting details

The Ark Preschool was registered in 2013. It operates from St Augustine's Church Centre, Locking, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. The pre-school is open on Monday from 8.30am until 12.30pm, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm. The Wednesday session runs from 11.30am to 3.30pm. There are five members of staff who work with the children, three of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3, and one with Early Years Professional Status.

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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

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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