Blossom Preschool

Blossom Preschool Earsham Memorial Hall, The Street, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2TB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 November 2016 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The quality of teaching is variable within the pre-school. Not all staff use their knowledge to provide experiences that fully engage and motivate children to learn. As a result, children do not always make the best possible progress in their learning.  Assessment of children's progress is not always accurate. Staff do not consistently use the information gained from observations to identify children's next steps and to effectively monitor their progress.  Staff do not effectively organise hygiene routines to minimise the risk of cross- contamination. For example, children wash their hands in a bowl of water that has been used by many other children. This presents the risk of the spread of infection.  At times, staff do not consider the interruption to younger children's free play and learning when they call them to participate in some of the daily routines.

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It has the following strengths

 The provider has established robust procedures to ensure the staff she recruits are suitable to work with children. New staff have the relevant experience and qualifications for their roles.  Staff treat children and parents with respect and value their individuality. Parents value the support they receive from staff to meet their child's individual needs and to support their learning. As a result, staff form close, positive relationships with children and parents.  The provider and manager are committed and passionate about providing children with the best possible care and education. They work with other professionals to develop the setting.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 use the information gained from observation, assessment and planning to focus on children's interests and identify their next steps 08/12/2016

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Due Date

 improve teaching strategies so that staff consistently challenge and extend children's learning to support their language development 08/12/2016

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Due Date

 take reasonable steps to prevent the spread of infection. 09/11/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 provide more opportunities for younger children to enjoy uninterrupted play.

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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 carried out a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector took account of the views of children, their parents and staff spoken to on the day of inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of records, including children's learning journeys, staff training certificates, staff suitability checks and the pre-school's action plan.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The provider, manager and staff have a good understanding of current safeguarding legislation and the procedure to follow should they have any concerns about a child. The provider has high expectations for the staff team. For example, they have regular meetings and seek out and attend training that will have the most beneficial impact on children's outcomes. The provider has established good links with other professionals to help support continuity of care for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not always make the most of opportunities to interact effectively with all children to develop and extend their language and communication skills. For example, interactions are often based on staff's care skills rather than on focused teaching and observations of children's achievements in some areas of learning. Staff recognise that children learn through play and generally support them appropriately so that they make some progress in their learning. The pre-school has systems for observing and assessing children's achievement. However, information from this process is not used effectively to identify their next steps in learning or to track their progress consistently.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children receive a warm welcome at this friendly pre-school. They play enthusiastically with a range of toys and resources. Children settle well and form strong bonds with staff and their peers. This makes a strong contribution to children's well-being. Behaviour is generally good. At times, staff expectations of the younger children are too high. For example, their play is interrupted when they are expected to follow the routines and sit on the carpet for an extended period of time. This disrupts the learning of these children when they are enthused and engaged in their chosen play. Staff provide children with nutritious snacks and ensure that they have plenty of opportunities to exercise and play outside. This helps to promote children's good health. Most of the time, staff effectively promote children's good hygiene. However, some hygiene routines are not sufficiently organised to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are generally motivated to learn and develop some skills in preparation for starting school. However, weaknesses in the teaching and assessment processes mean that children are not fully supported to make good progress, particularly with aspects of their communication and language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478397 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 982718 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Blossom Preschools Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01508518809

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reference number

Blossom Preschool was registered in 2014. It is one of two pre-schools owned by the same partnership. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 3pm on Monday to Thursday and from 9.15am until 1pm on Fridays.

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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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