Cygnets (Whelnetham)

Cygnets (Whelnetham) The Old School Hall, Stanningfield Road, Great Whelnetham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 0UA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 April 2016 9 November 2011

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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 pre-school has an exceptionally strong and caring ethos that puts the child at the centre of everything they do. Staff ensure that all children have a happy and highly enjoyable pre-school experience.  The quality of teaching and learning is exceptional. Children make excellent progress from their starting points in all areas of learning, including children who have special educational needs or disability and those who speak English as an additional language.  The manager is inspirational and passionate about driving forward excellent practice. She leads the dedicated staff team exceptionally well. Together, they reflect and evaluate on the quality of the provision to ensure they maintain excellent outcomes for children.  Parents are valued partners and very enthusiastic to share their highly positive feedback about the pre-school. They feel warmly welcomed and are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning. This partnership contributes greatly to

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This provision is outstanding

children's success at the pre-school.  Partnerships with other agencies and additional funding are used extremely well to help ensure any gaps in children's learning are closing rapidly. The very strong links with school staff ensure that children are exceptionally well prepared for their move on to school.

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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 the excellent programme of training and qualifications for management and staff to build on their continued professional development and foster even greater achievements for children.

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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 manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including children's records, health and safety policies and procedures, risk assessments, staff qualifications and evidence of the suitability of the committee and staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to the committee chairperson, the manager, staff and children throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The pre-school offers exceptional provision for children. The inspirational and dynamic manager has very high expectations of herself and the staff, and they use every opportunity to encourage children to succeed at the highest level. Safeguarding is effective. The committee, the manager and staff thoroughly understand child protection issues and have a secure knowledge of safeguarding legislation. All staff have undertaken safeguarding training. They know the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child. Robust recruitment procedures, staff induction and supervision processes are in place, ensuring all staff are suitable. Excellent self-evaluation means that the committee, manager and staff are continually extending the service they provide for families and children. They fully recognise that continuing to raise the knowledge and skills of staff will promote children's development even further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is exceptional. Planning is highly effective and includes children's interests and next steps in their learning. The environment is extremely well presented and is equipped with a rich range of interesting and inviting resources. Staff are highly skilled in developing and extending children's learning through their interests, making the most of unplanned situations. For example, when children decide to put on a show about dinosaurs, staff support them in arranging the chairs and making tickets, using children's own ideas. Staff engage in children's play when invited and successfully ask questions that support their communication and language. They include mathematical language and ideas very well, helping children to understand the use of number in everyday life. For example, they use scales to weigh the ingredients when making biscuits. Staff make additions, such as using letter-shaped cutters, to extend children's literacy skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely happy and enjoy their time at the pre-school. They share warm relationships with the staff, which gives them a strong sense of belonging. Children behave exceptionally well. Staff are excellent role models. They have extremely high expectations of all children and celebrate their individuality. They encourage the concepts of kindness, courtesy and respect for others. Children's health and well-being are given high priority and they learn to make healthy lifestyle choices. Children develop an excellent understanding of their own safety. For example, staff encourage them to take responsibility for small tasks, such as helping to prepare snacks.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including those in receipt of additional funding, make outstanding progress from their starting points. They develop the skills they need in readiness for school. For example, they develop excellent early writing skills, become effective communicators and have a wealth of opportunities to develop their thinking skills. They consistently demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY298384 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 848853 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 75 Name of provider Cygnets (Whelnetham) Committee Date of previous inspection 9 November 2011 Telephone number 01284 386220

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Setting details

Cygnets (Whelnetham) was registered in 2005. It operates from the school grounds. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The manager has a degree in early years studies and holds early years teacher status. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Daytime sessions are between 9.10am until 12.10pm and from 12.10pm until 3.10pm. An after-school club also operates from 3.10pm until 5.30pm and a breakfast club runs from 8.10am until 9.10am. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who have special educational needs or disability and those who speak English as an additional language.

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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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