Sandhills Pre-school

Sandhills Pre-school Community Hall, c/o Sandhills School, Terrett Avenue, Sandhills, Oxford, OX3 8FN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 January 2017 17 June 2013

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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

 Staff prepare children exceptionally well for their next steps in learning and for school. They use their very effective assessment procedures and astute knowledge of each child's capabilities to plan highly challenging learning experiences.  Where gaps in learning exist, children catch up rapidly with their friends and make substantial progress during their time in the pre-school.  Staff support children very successfully to develop excellent skills in literacy, language and communication. Children who are learning English as an additional language receive exceptional support from staff to communicate effectively and with confidence.  All staff are highly skilled at making the very best use of any opportunity to challenge and extend children's learning. Children develop a very positive approach to learning, showing high levels of confidence and curiosity.  Children develop excellent social skills that help them to cooperate with behavioural

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This provision is outstanding

expectations and to respect others very successfully.  Leaders and managers monitor practice very carefully to drive improvement and achieve outstanding outcomes for all children.

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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

 continue to extend opportunities for children to learn about their local community to develop their awareness of the world even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector talked to the manager, staff, key persons, parents and children at appropriate points throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of staff suitability and qualifications, and the self-evaluation form.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff reflect on their practice very carefully to provide the best learning opportunities for all children. For example, since the last inspection, they have made substantial improvements to fully meet the needs of children who learn best outdoors and they are planning to develop this through extended use of the local community. The manager analyses the progress of every child systematically and she role models outstanding practice to achieve excellence in teaching and high-quality support for all staff. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are highly vigilant and they listen carefully to children's thoughts and concerns to help keep them safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff help all children reach their full potential very effectively by teaching them the key skills for school life. For example, they use a variety of highly effective methods to help children remember sounds and letters to prepare them for reading and writing. Staff interact with children very successfully, providing carefully focused teaching where needed, to help children become confident and articulate communicators. They build on children's interests exceptionally well, extending play to include challenge in different areas of learning to broaden children's skills as much as possible. Parents speak very highly of the pre-school and comment that their children settle extremely well and make excellent progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff work tirelessly to provide a highly stimulating and safe learning environment that fully engages children's interest and encourages them to be curious learners. Key persons know children very well and develop close bonds with them and their families, helping children to form secure attachments. They support children to achieve excellent levels of behaviour. For example, they teach children very effective ways to work as a group and to understand and follow rules as they enthusiastically tidy up following the morning session. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to meet children's individual needs to a very high standard.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children who start in the pre-school with lower than typical levels of attainment catch up very quickly and enter school achieving academic expectations for their age. For example, children recognise a wide range of letter names and sounds; they enjoy talking about them confidently and writing them using correct letter formations. Children develop excellent listening skills and are very responsive to staff. For example, all children, including the youngest and those who are learning English as an additional language, listen intently to stories and enjoy sharing their thoughts and ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257122 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 1061702 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 30 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Sandhills Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 June 2013 Telephone number 07983961142

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reference number

Sandhills Pre-school registered at its current premises in 2003 and is run by a parent management committee. It is located within the grounds of Sandhills Community Primary School in Headington, Oxford. The pre-school is open on weekdays during school term times from 8.50am to 2.50pm. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs nine staff, of whom eight hold relevant qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6.

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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

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