Early Birds @ Valley Children's Centre

Early Birds @ Valley Children's Centre c/o Cheddar First School, The Hayes, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3HN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 November 2016 10 October 2012

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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 happily enter the safe, secure and clean pre-school. They develop strong relationships with staff and confidently explore the abundant range of activities and resources, making choices about their play.  Staff use their qualifications and experience effectively to plan challenging activities and assess children's progress accurately. Children make good progress from their starting points. This is particularly evident in children's communication and language skills, which staff support effectively, making good progress from their last inspection.  The management team successfully monitors individual and groups of children's progress. It identifies any gaps in children's learning and promptly provides support where required. It works well with parents and professionals, especially to support children with special educational needs.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The new leadership and management team has used self-evaluation well to identify areas for improvement. However, the new systems to monitor and develop staff's teaching abilities are in the early stages and not yet fully embedded, to help extend their skills further.  Occasionally, group activities are not organised well enough to enable all children to participate and concentrate without distraction and disturbance.

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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

 embed the new systems to monitor and support the quality of teaching more closely, to extend staff skills further  make better use of organised group activities to encourage children to engage more fully and concentrate without distraction or disruption.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff's interactions with children as they played in the inside and outside environments.  The inspector had discussions with the committee's chairperson, management team, parents and children at convenient times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation including staff suitability arrangements and children's assessment records, and discussed the pre-school's self- evaluation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Knowledgeable staff follow effective arrangements to protect children from visitors. For example, they routinely request visitors hand in their mobile phones when visiting the pre-school. Children are aware of safe practices, for example they read the signs to their parents and remind them not to use their mobiles in the pre- school. The management team and staff have a strong understanding of child protection procedures and their responsibilities to report concerns. Leaders follow good recruitment arrangements to ensure staff suitability. The manager encourages staff well to share their skills regularly and work together consistently, for example to support children's early literacy skills. Staff work well with parents and actively involve them in their children's learning, with a good two-way flow of information. There are good links with the school and other settings that support a continuous approach to children's development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff organise themselves well and plan effectively to support children's learning. Children are motivated and enthusiastically engage in activities. For example, they are very keen to combine ingredients to make pastry with staff. They follow instructions successfully, listen to questions and communicate their ideas well. Children confidently extend their play such as adding a pretend cooker so they can 'bake' their creations. Children use mathematical language well, for example, to describe how long to cook their pies. Children have good opportunities to be physically active. They listen to songs and move creatively, for example like different animals, such as flapping like a flamingo.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Respectful staff support children's care needs sensitively and encourage their independence such as when dressing. Children's behaviour is good. They understand the daily routines such as finding a spot to sit for group time. They enjoy responsibilities such as helping to prepare and serve the fruit for snack time. Staff provide a safe environment for children to take safe risks in their play. Children have high self-esteem. For example, staff use a toy bear to celebrate children's achievements and provide specific praise.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children persevere to complete tasks and solve problems well, for example choosing which tools to use to transfer their pastry to the baking tray. Children squeeze, pat and roll the pastry, which helps them gain the muscle strength in their hands for their early writing. Children confidently sequence movements and follow instructions effectively, for example as they engage in body percussion games, and take turns well. Children confidently test their ideas, for example, to find the most efficient object to fill their container with water. They explore well and share their discoveries.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY419174 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1058963 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Early Birds Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 October 2012 Telephone number 01934 740123

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reference number

Early Birds @ Valley Children's Centre registered in 1970 and re-located back to its current site in 2010. It operates from purpose-built premises located on the grounds of Cheddar First School in Somerset. The pre-school is open from 9am until 3.30pm each weekday, during school term times. The pre-school provides free funded early education for children aged two, three and four years old. The pre-school committee employs a manager who holds early years professional status. She is supported by 10 members of staff; of whom, one holds early years professional status, two hold early years qualifications at level 6, five hold early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds an early years qualification at level 2.

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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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