Marwood Pre-School

Marwood Pre-School Methodist Church Hall, Guineaford, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 February 2017 22 June 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 The manager provides good support for staff to develop their teaching practice and meet children's needs more effectively. For example, they have shortened the length of whole-group activities, to keep all children engaged and focused throughout.  Staff accurately assess children's developmental needs and know them well, to provide a stimulating range of activities that effectively support children's next steps in learning. Children are eager to explore and learn, and make good progress in their development.  Staff's teaching of literacy is very good. For example, they help children learn how to hold a pencil and routinely support them to write words with great care. Many children show excellent control and coordination in their early writing skills.  Children are happy and enjoy being at nursery. They form warm attachments with staff, which help them to feel secure and settle quickly.  Staff make good use of opportunities to encourage children to take responsibility for

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This provision is good

their own care needs, such as getting dressed and helping to prepare snacks.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not give children enough time to think about and express their thoughts and ideas.  The manager does not ensure staff gain as much information as they could from parents and other settings when children first start, to help them identify children's starting points promptly.

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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

 provide children with more time and opportunities to think about and share their thoughts and ideas  work in closer partnerships with parents and other settings that children attend, to find out more about children's learning and development from the start.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children, and viewed the play areas.  The inspector accompanied children and staff on an outing.  The inspector took account of the views of children and their parents, through discussion and written feedback.  The inspector held discussions with staff, the manager and committee chairperson at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled documentation, including suitability checks for staff, training and qualification certificates, medication forms, and children's learning records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Since the last inspection, the committee and manager have taken effective action to target previous weaknesses. For example, they have reviewed the behaviour management policy and staff have completed training to develop their knowledge of effective strategies. Staff are consistent in their approach and children behave well, including during group activities. The manager reflects well on the setting to identify further areas for development, such as finding a more rigorous monitoring system to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning. She tracks the development of all children well to recognise and target patterns in learning. For instance, staff are currently focusing on helping children learn to count. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand their responsibility to identify and report any concerns about children's welfare, including wider safeguarding matters.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff consider children's interests and stage of development well when planning adult-led activities and resources for them to choose. Children are motivated in their self-chosen play and happily participate during group activities. For example, they sit and listen with interest as a staff member reads a story. Overall, staff support children's communication and language well, such as teaching them new words to extend their vocabulary. For instance, children learn the term 'friction' as they rub their hands together to warm them. Children develop good physical skills, such as practising their balance and coordination as they walk across a cattle grid on their walk. Staff routinely inform parents of their children's progress, to encourage them to extend children's learning further at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff warmly greet children on arrival, helping them to feel welcome. For example, they happily enter the setting and confidently explore the range of toys. Children learn good social skills and form close friendships, such as talking about their life at home, as they sit together at snack time. Staff routinely praise children for their efforts and achievements, which helps to boost their self-esteem. Children are motivated and persevere at tasks until they succeed, such as repeatedly trying to control their bodies when on walks. They hold staff's hands at first, but later manage to balance without help. Staff teach children well to keep safe, such as thinking about traffic when crossing roads.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good physical skills and learn to manage risks for themselves. They confidently make choices in their learning, and listen to and follow staff's instructions well. In particular, children have excellent early writing skills. All children develop the skills required for the next stage in their learning, including the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY359901 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1055333 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Marwood Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 June 2016 Telephone number 01271859063

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reference number

Marwood Pre-School registered in 2007. It operates from the Methodist Church Hall in Guineaford Village, North Devon. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The pre-school operates during term times only from 8.35am to 2.35pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There are three members of staff employed to work with children, all of whom hold qualifications to level 3 or 4.

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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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