St Francis Preschool

St Francis Preschool Newton Ferrers Church of England Primary School, Newton Ferrers, Dillons the Green, Newton Ferrers Plymouth, Devon, PL8 1AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 June 2016 Not applicable

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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 quality of teaching is strong. Staff have a good understanding of how children learn, and plan challenging activities to meet children's individual needs and interests.  The manager and staff complete regular assessments of children's achievements to closely monitor their progress and quickly identify where additional support may be required. Children make good progress.  The manager and staff provide stimulating and well-resourced indoor and outdoor learning environments, which help children to be motivated and interested in their self- chosen play.  Children develop strong attachments with the close and caring staff team. They value and respect those around them and form good relationships with their friends.  The manager is committed to ensuring continuous improvement through effective self- evaluation. For example, she is currently developing the literacy programme by planning more adult-led activities, to extend children's early reading skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Information sharing is not as successful as it could be to ensure all parents have more detailed information about children's development, to extend children's learning further at home.  Changeover times and routine activities, such as snack time, between activities and when preparing to go outside, are not always organised effectively. Many children spend too long waiting and lose focus during these times.

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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

 strengthen partnerships with all parents to extend children's learning opportunities at home and promote consistency in their development  review and improve the organisation of routines so that these more effectively support all children's needs as they move between tasks and activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's self-chosen play, including within the reception classroom, and routine activities.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an adult-led activity with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of staff, children and parents, through discussion and written feedback.  The inspector held discussions with the management team at an appropriate time during the inspection.  The inspector sampled documentation, including children's learning records, evidence of staff's qualifications and training, and policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Safeguarding is effective. The manager monitors children's development meticulously. She quickly identifies any gaps in learning and implements plans to provide additional support. For instance, she is currently increasing staff's focus on numbers to extend children's mathematical development. The manager provides good support and coaching to staff, to maintain the strong quality of teaching. For example, staff have regular individual and team meetings, and attend a variety of training courses. Staff make good use of these to build on their skills, such as learning new ways to promote children's good health through adult-led physical activities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff skilfully extend children's learning during free play, such as by setting up a ramp for children who are playing with toy cars. Children excitedly investigate what happens when they push two cars down at the same time and delight in the crash that follows, enthusiastically repeating this several times. Staff help children become familiar with number names and their order, to help them learn to count. For example, they encourage children to count the number of their friends who are lining up to go outside, to make sure all children are present. Staff promote children's physical skills well. For instance, they provide resources that offer interesting and creative challenges, such as threading pipe cleaners into small holes in wooden frames.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager and staff support children's personal, social and emotional development very well. Generally, they consider children's individual needs well when planning daily routines, such as offering the whole group a snack to provide opportunities for new children to make friends. Children are happy and settled, and show a strong sense of belonging as they take responsibility for small tasks. For instance, older children competently manage to put on their own coat and pour themselves drinks at snack time. Staff provide strong support for children who are due to start school, and these children show high levels of confidence and enthusiasm for the next stage in their learning.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are motivated, active and eager to learn. They enjoy frequent and good-quality interactions with staff. Children are keen to share their ideas. They practise their early writing skills, such as drawing 'plans' to build a lighthouse from crates and learning how to write their name with staff. These activities contribute to children's communication, language and literacy development and prepare them well for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476937 Local authority Devon Inspection number 985080 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 22 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person First Beginnings Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07746 953 901

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reference number

St Francis Preschool registered in 2014 on the site of Newton Ferrers County Primary School, near Plymouth in Devon. It is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 3pm during term time only. It receives early years funding for children aged two, three and four years old. There are seven members of staff who work directly with children, four of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The pre-school employs an administrator.

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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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reference number

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

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