St Monica's Nursery and Forest School

St Monica's Pre School St Monica's Close, Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 3AG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 March 2016 1 February 2010

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The well qualified and highly experienced staff team demonstrates an exceptional knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop. There is an extensive range of highly stimulating and challenging activities to promote children's learning at every opportunity. This supports children extremely well in making outstanding progress.  Children are extremely confident, self-assured and highly motivated to learn. They make individual choices in their play and continually extend their own learning. Their behaviour is exemplary as they work collaboratively together, sharing their thoughts and ideas.  Staff work tremendously well together and their engagement and enthusiasm in children's play are inspiring. Children develop strong emotional attachments with their key person and build very good friendships with their peers.  Staff value and respect parents as partners in their children's learning. They exchange

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This provision is outstanding

extensive information about children's progress and guide parents exceptionally well in ways to support children's learning at home. Parents' comments are overwhelmingly positive and partnerships with them are a key strength.  Children develop an exceptional understanding of how to manage risks and challenges, relative to their age. For example, they carry out their own risk assessments in the outdoor area. The development of their physical skills is outstanding, enabling them to manage their personal independence exceptionally well.

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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

 analyse the already effective monitoring systems even further to ensure all children continue to make rapid progress in their learning.

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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. She looked at relevant documentation, including the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector took into account the written views of parents during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The management team and staff take extremely effective measures to keep children safe. The entire staff team has a very clear understanding about safeguarding children and how to refer child protection concerns to the correct authorities. The manager's evaluation of the pre-school is sharply focused, extremely accurate and highlights plans to strengthen monitoring systems even further. There is a real pursuit of excellence in the pre-school. The manager and her staff team constantly reflect on how the provision can be further enhanced. The attention to very purposeful, ongoing staff supervision provides the manager with detailed information relating to staff's practice and interactions with children. Staff observe each other's teaching and support each other to reflect on their practice. This means they are constantly evolving and continuing to enhance the quality of teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Consistently high-quality teaching led by children's interests ensures that all children are engaged in purposeful play. Staff have an outstanding knowledge of children. They are systematic and meticulous in using observations to assess children's development and identify challenging next steps in their learning. Parents are invited to information workshops and stay-and-play sessions to find out more about how their children learn. Staff are natural communicators. They constantly pose challenging questions to stretch children's thinking and encourage them to talk. Children solve problems together and thoroughly enjoy collaborating with each other as they build an obstacle course and develop their plans to construct a space rocket. Meticulous planning for each child provides wonderfully exciting and fun activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Highly personalised settling-in sessions and excellent information sharing help to ensure children settle very quickly. Children are happy, relaxed and show high levels of confidence and self-esteem. Staff are wonderful role models for children, demonstrating polite, friendly and patient behaviour. Children are incredibly helpful, respectful and caring towards each other. They are provided with excellent opportunities to learn how physical exercise contributes to a healthy lifestyle. For example, children learn about the effect exercise has on their heart rate and how they must warm up and stretch their muscles before they begin their physical activities. Children thrive because staff recognise their efforts and offer praise for their achievements.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make outstanding progress in their learning and development from their starting points. They develop excellent social, communication and physical skills, securing the skills they need for their future learning and the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395744 Local authority Warrington Inspection number 1033107 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 35 Name of provider St Monica's Catholic Pre School Committee Date of previous inspection 1 February 2010 Telephone number 01925 269258

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Setting details

St Monica's Pre School was registered in 2009. The pre-school is organised by a committee of governors and representatives from the school. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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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