Thornford Pre-School

Thornford Pre-School Village Hall, Pound Road, Thornford, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6QB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2016 26 April 2013

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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

 The provider has not notified Ofsted of changes to the committee or provided the necessary information to check the suitability of all members. This is also a breach of the Childcare Register.  Staff do not make the most of all opportunities for children to practise their early writing skills.  Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to build on children's independence in their self- care and physical skills. Staff sometimes do things for children that they could manage themselves.

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It has the following strengths

 Children and staff share close, warm relationships. Children feel safe and emotionally secure. Children are happy, settled and have high levels of self-esteem.  The manager and staff observe the children as they play and make accurate assessments of their learning. They plan and provide a wide range of learning experiences, which support children to make good progress.  There are strong partnerships with parents. Good communication and information sharing with parents, other providers and external agencies help staff to meet children's individual needs and ensure positive outcomes for children.  Staff are good role models for children. Children learn to play well together and their behaviour is good.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 improve knowledge and understanding of when to notify Ofsted of any changes and provide the regulator with the required information to determine the suitability of all committee members. 30/11/2016

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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

 make the most of all opportunities for children to practise their early writing skills  provide more opportunities for children to do things for themselves to build on their independence skills further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector jointly observed children playing outside with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke to staff, children and parents.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's learning records and safeguarding procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are up to date with safeguarding procedures and understand their role and responsibility to protect children. They know what action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff recruitment and vetting procedures are thorough and the manager uses effective systems to review staff practice and their ongoing suitability to work with children. However, the provider failed to notify Ofsted of changes to members of the committee within the required timescale. This means that Ofsted has not been able to determine the suitability of all committee members. This has no impact on children's safety because members of the committee and visitors are never on their own with children. Staff use self-evaluation effectively to identify areas for development and make ongoing improvements. For example, staff use skills gained through training to further support children's communication skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy an interesting range of activities that capture their interests. For example, they use their imaginations well as they make bug boxes from craft and recyclable materials. Staff support children effectively during group activities, making adaptations to challenges to meet individual children's needs. For example, during group time they encourage younger children to choose a face to represent how they feel and they ask more probing questions to encourage older children to explain their feelings. Children listen well in small groups, look at books independently and share stories with their friends. Staff support children's mathematical development effectively. For example, staff help children to order puzzle pieces by size to make a number cube. Staff use effective systems to track children's progress and quickly target any gaps in development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are kind to one another and use good manners. For example, one child tells another that he likes her shoes and children talk about 'kind hands' and using 'walking feet' inside. Children benefit from plenty of opportunities to run around and develop their physical skills in the outside environment. Staff teach children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle as they talk about healthy eating and follow thorough hygiene routines. Staff give the children plenty of praise and encouragement, helping them to feel proud of their achievements and boosting their self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in all areas of learning and are well prepared for the next stage in their development and school. For example, children frequently use numbers and count in routines and activities. They listen well at group time, concentrate, share and take turns in activities. They recognise shapes, colours and the letters in their name.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 153444 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1061537 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 20 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Thornford Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 April 2013 Telephone number 07934 109 548

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reference number

Thornford Pre-School registered in 1992. It operates from the village hall in Thornford near Sherborne, Dorset. The pre-school is open term time only from Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 2pm. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are five members of staff. One member of staff holds a qualification at level 5, three hold a qualification at level 3 and one member of staff holds a 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

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

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