Caterpillars Pre-school

Caterpillars Pre-school St Andrews Church Hall, Church Lane, Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1LW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 May 2016 19 January 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 management team monitors the quality of the provision exceptionally well. They are highly effective in driving improvement. Staff are extremely motivated, enthusiastic and demonstrate a strong commitment towards maintaining excellence in all areas.  Staff provide a superb range of activities, both indoors and outside, that promotes all areas of learning. They give thorough attention to planning for outdoors. This helps ensure that those children who learn best from being outdoors are able to do so.  Staff observe children as they play and engage them in exciting and purposeful play. Children's individual needs are at the heart of everything staff do. Children respond positively to the high expectations of staff and make rapid progress in all areas of learning.  Children's language and communication skills are given high priority. Staff skilfully talk with children and challenge their thinking. They engage children in conversation,

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This provision is outstanding

actively listen to what children have to say and skilfully extend and develop their vocabulary.  Children feel extremely safe in this exceptionally warm and welcoming pre-school. They develop incredibly secure emotional attachments to their key person and other staff.  Partnerships with parents are extremely friendly and trusting. Parents are actively encouraged to remain involved in their child's learning, both in the pre-school setting and at home. The key-person system is implemented exceptionally well, to help ensure that each child's individual care and learning needs are precisely met.

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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

 make the most of the opportunities available for staff to learn from their colleagues where they demonstrate outstanding teaching skills.

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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 spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and the provider.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation form and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector looked at activity planning, records of children's learning and a selection of policies and other records.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. This underpins everything that happens in the pre-school. Management and staff always strive for the highest quality of care and education for children. Plans have been identified to help less experienced staff learn from the outstanding skills of their colleagues, to continue to promote the highest-quality teaching. Management highly values their staff. A comprehensive programme of supervision is in place, to progress staff's professional development and foster a culture of mutual support. Staff are extremely enthusiastic about training and share their learning across the staff team. They make changes as a result of what they have learned, such as making changes to the layout of the playroom, to promote exceptional play and learning experiences for all children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff know children well. They are highly effective in ensuring that all children can participate at their own level. Teaching is of a consistently high quality. Staff are very engaged in the children's play and provide a varied and imaginative range of activities that meets the unique needs of every child. Staff are incredibly responsive to children's interests. They skilfully extend activities, challenging children's learning and motivating them to be eager to learn through play. When playing outdoors, children delight in thinking up different ways to use the physical play equipment, to create an assault course for their friends. They enjoy opportunities to look at books in the new outdoor classroom and take part in painting activities. Children readily attempt to write their name on their artwork. When playing with gloop they readily give meaning to the marks they make.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The pre-school premises are exceptionally safe and secure. Hazards to children are identified and steps taken to limit risks so that children can play safely indoors and outside. Children are gently reminded about keeping themselves safe, such as the safe use of the trampoline. Children behave outstandingly well and develop caring attitudes to others. They play harmoniously together and understand the need to share and take turns. Good behaviour and individual efforts are given meaningful praise. Parents hold staff in very high regard. They report that they highly value the caring nature of the staff and the broad range of experiences that supports children's confidence, independence and positive sense of themselves. Staff are very good role models who promote children's emotional well-being exceptionally well.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children's learning is checked regularly, to ensure that they are making very good progress across all areas of learning. This also helps to ensure that any necessary interventions can be sought if gaps are identified. Children are highly motivated and inquisitive learners. Transitions are managed well, supporting school readiness and children's confidence to embrace new experiences. They readily count in routine and play situations and attempt to solve number problems. Regular physical education sessions support children to develop their self-care skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY422628 Local authority Essex Inspection number 850117 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Caterpillars Pre-School

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 January 2011 Telephone number 07981 169883

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reference number

Caterpillars Pre-school was registered in 2011. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Thursday, during school term time. Sessions are from 9.30am until 12.30pm. A lunch club operates from 12.30pm to 1.30pm and an afternoon session is available on Monday and Wednesday from 12.30pm to 3pm. The pre- school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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