Pillowell Early Years Group

Pillowell Early Years Group Pillowell School, School Road, Pillowell, Nr Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4QT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 April 2016 1 June 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 provides strong leadership, which has led to considerable improvements since the previous inspection. Self-evaluation is strong and demonstrates that there is clear drive for ongoing improvement from the manager and staff.  The quality of teaching is good. Staff use effective observation, assessment and planning systems to help each individual child make good progress.  Staff are good role models and have high expectations of children. Children behave well and develop positive relationships with staff and one another.  Children are happy and develop positive self-esteem through the frequent praise and encouragement given by staff.  Partnership working with the school is good. It helps staff to prepare children emotionally for school, helping them to have a smooth transition.  Partnerships with parents have improved and parents comment positively about the information they receive from staff. Staff encourage parents to get involved in activities

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This provision is good

and share information with them regularly about their children's achievements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff miss some opportunities to promote and extend children's early reading and writing skills in preparation for the next stage in learning.  Staff do not make full use of the opportunities to maximise children's learning in all areas outdoors.

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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

 extend learning opportunities to help children develop their early writing and reading skills in preparation for school  improve the outdoor area to ensure that all children can engage in an exciting range of learning experiences which highly stimulate and challenge their all-round development.

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Inspection activities

 Leadership and management discussions took place with the provider and manager at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed activities and staff interactions with children in the classroom and the outside learning environment.  The inspector looked at documentation, including a sample of children's records, planning and records, and checked the records of suitability checks for staff and committee members.  The inspector took account of the views of children, staff, committee members and parents spoken to on the day of the inspection, and of the provider's self-evaluation.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand their role and responsibility in protecting children in their care and are suitably qualified. Robust recruitment and vetting procedures help to ensure the suitability of staff and committee members for their roles. Since the previous inspection, the manager has implemented a training programme which has helped to strengthen further the quality of teaching and improved staff's confidence. Children's progress is tracked to identify any gaps in their achievements and to provide swift and targeted support. Actions and recommendations raised at the previous inspection have been addressed well. Managers regularly reflect on practice and identify further ways to improve.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know children well and have an accurate view of children's abilities and what they need to learn next. Resources and environments are attractive and stimulating. Children are engaged and keen to play and learn. Staff are well qualified and have a good understanding of how children learn. They know their key children well and plan enjoyable and engaging activities. Children are motivated and active learners. Children enjoyed singing activities using props to choose familiar songs and rhymes. Staff encourage children to count and use mathematical language. For example, as children explore wooden shapes they count the sides and describe colours and shapes. Staff interaction is of a consistently good quality and deepens children's knowledge and understanding successfully.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children work and play well together and form strong friendships. Settling-in arrangements and transitions to school are well planned and facilitated according to the individual needs of children. Children enjoy playing outdoors and benefit from being in the fresh air. Daily routines are well embedded, and children follow good hygiene routines and manage their personal care needs well. They develop good independence skills; for example, they prepare their own healthy snacks at snack time. Children follow the rules well and take responsibility. For example, they make a good contribution to tidying up.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children achieve well in all areas of their learning. They all make good progress from their different starting points. Children are confident, self-motivated and well prepared for their next stage of learning. They are independent, sociable and play happily together as they learn through exploration and discovery. Children share toys and are kind to one another, helping them learn to respect others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101716 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1016671 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 - 4 Total number of places 15 Number of children on roll 16 Name of provider Pillowell Early Years Group Committee Date of previous inspection 1 June 2015 Telephone number 07964 584 834

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Setting details

Pillowell Early Years Group registered in 1994. The setting is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 3pm, during term times. There are two members of qualified staff who work with the children. The manager holds an appropriate qualification at level 5 and the other member of staff holds a qualification at level 3. The setting in in receipt of funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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