Pumpkins Preschool

Pumpkins Preschool Wash Common Community Centre, Glendale Avenue, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6TL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 February 2017 12 July 2013

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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 make good progress in their learning. Staff observe, track and plan for children's development effectively to encourage their next steps and skills.  Children enter the pre-school with confidence and settle to activities well. They enjoy the varied range of activities available to them that maintain their interest.  Staff effectively encourage children to share and take turns. They offer good praise to children and encourage them to be friendly, kind and considerate to each other to develop their understanding of good behaviour.  Staff communicate well with professionals involved in children's care; for example, they meet and talk regularly to support continuity of care. Parents have access to policies and newsletters to help them become aware of procedures and upcoming events.  The management team implements rigorous recruitment processes and strong supervision and monitoring opportunities to improve staff knowledge and skills.

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This provision is good

 The self-evaluation procedures used by the committee, management and staff team are effective in identifying and addressing areas for future improvement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not support children's knowledge and understanding of the similarities and differences between people in the world as well as they support other aspects of their learning.  Leaders do not promptly inform some newer parents about who their child's key person is, to build on the otherwise good communication with parents.

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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

 extend children's knowledge and understanding of the similarities and differences between themselves and others, to further develop their awareness of diversity  provide better information for parents new to the setting, to ensure that they promptly know who their child's key person is, to maintain good communication.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's involvement in activities within the pre-school and outside.  The inspector looked at a sample of children's records and discussed these with staff.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector looked at and discussed documentation in relation to safeguarding, risk assessments and daily attendance registers.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a strong understanding of their role and responsibility to safeguard children, including what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The new management team and staff work very well together to meet children's needs. The management team and committee work in harmony with each other and provide good induction, support and training to the staff to improve their practice. For example, staff use recent training to help them communicate well with children to support their speech and language skills. The provider has met the recommendations set at the last inspection to maintain good-quality provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff offer good support to the children and encourage their language and social skills effectively. For example, during group time, staff consistently ask children questions about everyday things, such as the days of the week, routines and the rules of the pre-school. Staff support children's speaking and listening skills well. Children are encouraged to use their imaginations as they play. For instance, when they play shops, staff encourage the children to use the till to exchange money. Staff support children's creative skills well. Children enjoy using pens and paper to draw with, and chalks and paints to make marks and develop their early writing abilities. The manager reflects on the children's progress to ensure teaching is focused to advance children's learning. For example, the manager tracks the children's progress to assess their development and ensure all gaps in their learning are minimised.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide a well-arranged play environment, which allows children to be active or to relax if they need to, inside and outside. Staff offer effective support to children to encourage their good health and independence. Children confidently manage their own needs, such as visiting the toilet and wiping their noses. They wash up their bowls and plates once they have finished snacks. Staff support children's progress well in learning to be safe. For example, they talk to the children about walking inside, to prevent them tripping and bumping into others. Staff encourage children to be physically active; for instance, as children dig in the mud and climb on large apparatus.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for their next stages in learning. They enjoy learning, and they listen and concentrate well. For example, children clearly respond to questions and relate the stories they enjoy to their home lives. Children develop good mathematical knowledge. For instance, they confidently stick the correct number of stickers alongside numbers and match shape puzzles together with ease.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511590 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1061617 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Pumpkins Preschool

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 July 2013 Telephone number 07766 888 337

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reference number

Pumpkins Preschool registered in 1992. It is located in the Wash Common Community Centre, in Newbury, Berkshire. The pre-school is open 9.15-2.45 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 9.15-12.15 on Tuesday and Friday, with an optional lunch club on some days, during term time. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. A team of seven members of staff is employed to work with the children; of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

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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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