Squirrels Pre-School

Squirrels Pre-School United Reformed Church, Keymer Road, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 June 2016 14 September 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

 Children thoroughly enjoy the opportunities to explore using their senses. For example, they excitedly look at the patterns they make when using kaleidoscopes and have fun listening to sounds when holding large seashells to their ears.  Staff interact skilfully with children to extend their learning and understanding. Children make good progress in their learning.  Children show good levels of independence. For example, they confidently choose resources and confidently see to their own personal care needs.  Staff work closely with parents and agencies to help every child achieve and to prepare them well for school.  Since the last inspection, the management team has focused well on evaluating and improving practice. For example, all staff have undertaken training that has helped increase their skills in planning activities based on accurate assessments of children and their interests.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children do not have many opportunities to investigate different forms of technology and find out how things work.  Staff do not always make the most of opportunities to enhance children's understanding of differences in society and different cultures.

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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

 develop further opportunities for children to increase their exploration and use of different forms of technology  enhance opportunities for children to build on their already good awareness of positive differences in society and their understanding of the world.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and in the outdoor area.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and other relevant documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection and from written feedback.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and members of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team has thorough recruitment and induction procedures that help ensure staff are suitable to work with children. All staff complete safeguarding training. They have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities if they have a child protection concern. The manager effectively monitors both the individual and group progress of children. She accurately identifies and addresses gaps in learning, such as the need to build on boys' early writing skills. Boys are now increasingly involved in writing activities that reflect their interests and the way they learn.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know children well. They successfully involve parents in continuing children's learning at home. Staff keep parents well informed about children's progress. Staff provide a wide variety of challenging and interesting activities that build on children's skills. Staff have good teaching skills. For example, they make good use of questioning to build on children's already strong communication skills. Staff enhance children's good awareness of letter sounds. For example, they talk together at snack time about the letters on a healthy food poster. They continue this by finding the letters that are in their names. Staff encourage children to share their thoughts and ideas. They allow children to work things out for themselves, for example, when building train tracks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form strong bonds with staff and show they feel secure and safe. Staff teach children effectively about the need to play amicably together and behave well. For example, staff give good explanations to children about the need to share when there are minor disputes. Children understand the need to take turns. For example, they learn how to use a timer and count down until it is their turn in the pop-up tent. Staff are good role models and speak kindly to children. Children show kindness to others; for example, they show a visiting parent and child how to play with a toy. They develop a good understanding of how to stay safe and in good health.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop well in the key skills needed to move on to school successfully. They are confident around adults and communicate effectively. They listen well and follow instructions. Children have good social skills. They play happily on their own and with others. Children join in eagerly with activities and concentrate well. They persevere when solving problems. Children have strong physical skills and good coordination. They enjoy exercise and have fun learning to move their bodies in different ways.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY244644 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1028277 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 34 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Squirrels Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 September 2015 Telephone number 01273 846076

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reference number

Squirrels Pre-School registered in 2003. It operates from the Cedar rooms behind the United Reformed Church in Hassocks, West Sussex. The pre-school is open from 9.15am to 12.15pm on Mondays and Fridays, and from 9.15am to 2.45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, during school term times. There are five members of staff; of these, one holds a relevant qualification at level 6 and two hold qualifications at level 3. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years.

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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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