Barn-a-b's Pre-School

Barn-a-b's Pre-School Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Chanters Hill, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8DN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 May 2016 29 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

 Staff are passionate about their work and give high priority to children's learning. They have high expectations of children and include good levels of challenge during activities. Children make consistently good progress in their learning and development.  Children have a good sense of belonging in their surroundings. Staff actively encourage them to make their own choices and decisions, which contributes to children feeling valued and respected.  Staff ensure that parents are kept well informed about their children's learning and development. Parents receive verbal feedback, attend regular meetings to discuss their children's achievements and can add their own observations to children's records.  The manager has a strong drive for continuous improvement. Self-evaluation is effective in identifying priorities for improvement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not use clear instructions when leading activities and children are unsure of what they need to do.  The systems for monitoring children's overall development do not consistently provide a comprehensive picture of where there may be gaps in some children's learning, to enable them to make even faster rates of progress.

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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

 provide children with clear instructions during activities to maximise all opportunities to extend their learning  build on systems to monitor children's development to identify any gaps in their learning more accurately, ensuring a consistent approach throughout the pre-school.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children inside and outside.  The inspector spoke with staff and the manager at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled documentation, including policies, children's records and the self-evaluation.  The inspector spoke to parents to gain their views on the day of inspection.  The inspector carried out two joint observations with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager ensures that staff keep up to date with safeguarding procedures, and that they fully understand their responsibility to protect children. Staff have many opportunities to discuss their performance during supervision sessions, and they regularly attend training to enhance their skills. For example, staff are implementing new speech and language sessions to help support children and their parents. Monitoring is developing to look at the progress that children make so that any gaps in learning close quickly. The manager and committee carry out regular reviews of each other's practice, to monitor the quality of teaching and learning. Parents comment very positively on the progress that their children make and the friendly, welcoming attitude of staff.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work with the parents when their children first start, to find out about each child's interests and stage of development. Staff know children well and have a good understanding of how children learn and the ways to support their development. Staff use effective observations of children's learning and ensure that planned activities enable children to enjoy a broad and balanced range of experiences that supports all aspects of their learning. Staff place a strong focus on encouraging children's early mathematical skills through practical experiences. For example, children count and compare shape and size as they play with play dough. Children confidently write their names and develop thinking skills as they play memory games.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff use a calm and consistent approach to managing children's behaviour. Staff continually provide children with praise and encouragement, which helps them to feel valued and respected. Children's emotional well-being is successfully supported, as staff create a friendly, welcoming and stimulating environment. Children develop physical skills well and learn to assess risks, such as using equipment in the garden. The key-person system is effective and all staff know children's individual needs. Children form positive relationships with staff and this contributes to children being happy, settled and content.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are encouraged by staff to develop a 'can do' attitude. They develop independence well because the staff use meaningful praise to encourage them to do things for themselves. Children know how to share, take turns and play fairly. All children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff prepare children well for their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411786 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1020987 Type of provision Sessional 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 23 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Barn A B's Christian Pre School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 June 2015 Telephone number 01271325060

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reference number

Barn-a-b's Christian Pre-School re-registered in 2010 when it moved premises. It operates from Our Lady's Catholic Primary School in Barnstaple, North Devon. A designated classroom is the base for the pre-school, next to the Reception class. Children can use the two classrooms and the shared outside play area. The pre-school is led and managed by a qualified teacher and a volunteer parent committee. They employ seven members of staff with level 3 qualifications, a level 2 apprentice, a teaching assistant and three administrative staff. The setting is open between 7.45am and 5.15pm on weekdays, term time only.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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