Mulberry Court Pre School

Mulberry Court Pre School Wymering Methodist Church, Sixth Avenue, Portsmouth, PO6 3PD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 January 2017 Not applicable

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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

 Staff successfully use a variety of methods to communicate with children and help develop their language skills. For instance, managers use specific funding to improve staff's practice. Staff learn to speak clearly, to use pictures as visual aids, and to use signing to reinforce what they say. This supports every child to communicate equally well.  Managers use self-evaluation effectively to review practice and highlight areas for change. For example, they assess how staff can adapt the environment to reflect the way that the children attending at any one time use the resources and the space.  Children behave very well. Staff give them lots of praise to acknowledge their efforts and encourage them. Staff manage minor conflicts sensitively to help children develop good social skills, such as sharing and taking turns.  Children make good progress from their starting points. Managers monitor their

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This provision is good

progress to identify and close any gaps in learning. For example, when they found that boys made less progress in physical development than other areas, staff successfully planned interesting ways for them to be more active.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some group sessions, such as story times, are too large. Not all children stay interested throughout the session and begin to look for something else to do.  Children do not consistently learn about healthy eating to help them adopt a healthy lifestyle from a young age.

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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

 review the organisation of group sessions to ensure that all children are fully engaged  provide more opportunities for children to learn about healthy eating as part of their physical development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke to a sample of parents for their views on the setting.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including children's and staff's records, policies and self-evaluation.  The inspector spoke to the children and staff throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding. For example, they regularly complete training and prioritise discussions about child protection at every staff meeting. The manager supports staff well. She observes their practice and personally oversees the work of less experienced staff to guide their teaching. The manager is an enthusiastic leader who ensures staff are well trained, such as by regularly completing courses. For example, children's outdoor learning opportunities greatly improved after a member of staff put into practice what she learned from training. Staff understand the needs of the children and families who attend. For example, they provide lots of opportunities for children to be active and use up their energy because many live in homes with no outside space.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are consistently good at following children's interests to extend their learning. For example, when children showed interest in ice on a puddle, staff encouraged them to feel and describe it, and then put pieces in the sun to see how quickly they melted. Staff generally engage children well. They demonstrate ways to do things, such as rolling and shaping the dough by hand. They discuss what they are doing to help children copy them and learn new skills. Staff support mathematics well, such as routinely counting, and talking about size, shape and quantity. They track children's progress from the start and identify the next steps in each child's learning to plan suitable challenges for them. Staff share the outcome of development reviews and the next steps for children's learning with parents to involve them in their children's learning and progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff help children settle easily into pre-school. They work closely with parents to plan each child's induction, including building a trusting relationship with a specific staff member. Staff greet children on arrival and make them feel welcome. They exchange information with parents at this time, as well as through newsletters and email, keeping them fully involved in their children's learning. Staff value the cooperation of parents and other agencies in supporting children's development. Children follow rules that keep them safe, such as walking indoors.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are capable and eager to learn. They instigate many activities, such as playing traditional group games and caring for living things, like a giant snail. Children make good progress from their starting points. They have good physical skills and use large and small equipment confidently. Children's increasing independence, pleasure in books and their natural curiosity prepare them well for further learning, such as school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478384 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 982529 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Janet Robson

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07752228815

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reference number

Mulberry Court Pre School registered under the current ownership in 2014. It operates from the main hall in the Wymering Methodist Church in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The pre- school is open from 9am to 2pm every weekday except Wednesday during term times. There are 10 members of staff working with the children, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The manager holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, 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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