St. Michaels Preschool

St. Michaels Preschool St Michaels C of E Primary School, Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6PU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 September 2016 Not applicable

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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

 Children have excellent opportunities to develop and challenge their physical abilities. For example, they climb trees and negotiate obstacle equipment with great confidence. They have experienced army fitness instructors to extend their skills.  The manager and staff establish extremely effective partnerships with other early years professionals. This supports children to make outstanding progress. There is an exceptional level of consistency in children's learning. For instance, staff regularly visit the other settings that children attend to share their development and achievements.  Children develop exceptional early reading and writing skills. For example, they learn sounds of the week and rearrange letters to form words. This supports them extremely well to develop skills for their future learning.  Staff support children to manage the move to school in a highly impressive way. For example, they visit the school Reception class each week to join in with story time and

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This provision is outstanding

outdoor play.  The relationships between staff and children are inspirational. Staff know every child extremely well and work exceptionally hard to meet their care needs and routines.  Children experience highly stimulating activities that support their understanding of the world around them. For instance, they observe a bee hive and make candles from the collected wax.

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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

 build upon children's already excellent understanding of other people's similarities and differences even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the staff's interaction with children.  The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor environments.  The inspector looked at the written documentation, including a sample of the policies and procedures, risk assessments and staff training records.  The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff, and took their views into consideration.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The manager continuously reviews the provision and makes positive changes to practice. For instance, the highly experienced team completes regular observations and evaluates the activities daily. However, some opportunities, such as building even further on children's existing awareness of other people's similarities and differences, are yet to be fully developed. The manager monitors the quality of teaching exceptionally well. Staff have meetings with her and are encouraged to attend training. For example, they attended courses to improve how they support children's emotional well-being even further. Staff establish inspirational partnerships with parents. For example, they encourage parents to make resources with their children. The manager accurately tracks the development of individual and groups of children to highlight any areas they need help to catch up in. Staff use the additional funding they receive to support children's individual

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

needs outstandingly well. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an extensive knowledge of how to prevent children from being exposed to potential harm.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff are highly skilful at including children's interests into their daily plans. They extend children's learning extremely well and provide highly motivational opportunities to develop their creativity skills. For example, children excitedly build with blocks and staff help them to create 'cement' using foam. They use spatulas to cement their constructions together. Staff use highly impressive ways to support children's communication skills. For example, they consistently use hand signs to accompany words and ask children well-thought-out questions to encourage them to think.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children have excellent experiences to develop their understanding and respect for others. For instance, they regularly visit care homes to sing and play games with the residents. Staff are inspirational role models. Children are extremely polite and behave impeccably. They understand the importance of healthy eating. For example, children take part in growing their own vegetables. They enthusiastically take an active role in washing, peeling and cutting their harvested vegetables, such as onions and radishes.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make outstanding progress, including those who receive additional funding. They develop an excellent range of skills to support the next stage of their learning. Children learn complex mathematical skills. For example, they explore what happens when they add water to a rotating wheel, discussing speed and weight. Children are extremely independent and have an active role in their day. For instance, they choose their own play and share their thoughts on the activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481139 Local authority Kent Inspection number 987984 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 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Brigitte Doreen Watkins

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07713064605

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reference number

St Michael's Pre-School re-registered in 2014 due to a relocation of premises. It is privately owned and operates from a building within the grounds of St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Tenterden, Kent. The pre-school is open on Mondays from 9am to 3pm and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to midday, term time only. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six staff; of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one staff member holds a relevant early years degree and one member of staff has early years professional status.

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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

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

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