The Orchard

The Orchard Thame Road, Little Milton, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 7PZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 March 2017 9 February 2015

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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 is ambitious and has high expectations for the pre-school. She works closely with staff, the committee and parents to evaluate the provision successfully and to help make continual improvements that improve outcomes for children.  Staff work very well together and the organisation of the pre-school is good. Staff provide a relaxed, fun and homely environment where children behave well and each child is respected and valued.  Very effective support is given to children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Staff work closely with external agencies to ensure that all children receive the support they need to make progress in their learning and development.  Children arrive confidently and settle well. They know the arrival routines well, such as finding their names and putting them on the board. Children form positive relationships

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This provision is good

with staff, who they greet very warmly and are pleased to see.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to support some children, in particular those who are less sure of what to do, to involve them more fully in ongoing and purposeful play.  Staff do not routinely support all parents to continue with children's learning at home to help extend their development even further.

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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

 take all possible steps to support children, in particular those who are not so sure of what to do, to involve them more consistently in ongoing, purposeful play and activities  encourage all parents to contribute information about what their children are learning at home, to fully promote a shared approach to children's development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children playing inside and outside.  The inspector checked safeguarding information and the premises.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled documentation, including policies and procedures and children's development records.  The inspector spoke to staff, parents and children present on the day of inspection and took account of the pre-school's self-evaluation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team ensures that all children make good progress from their starting points and have a happy and enjoyable pre-school experience. Staff build on their skills and knowledge by attending relevant training and sharing information gained with their colleagues. This results in professional and informed staff that are committed to providing a high-quality service. The manager mentors and supervises staff well, and encourages them to continue their professional development to improve their skills. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a very good knowledge about their responsibility to safeguard children. Parents speak very positively about the care and education their children receive at pre-school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children very well and can talk in detail about what their key children know and can do. Effective systems for observation and assessment are in place. Staff track and monitor children's progress well, including children who require additional help and children who receive funding. Staff effectively identify any gaps in children's learning and provide support to help them catch up. Staff support children's language skills well. For example, they listen to children carefully, give them time to think and respond, and teach them new words. Children have plenty of opportunities to learn about the world around them. Staff encourage parents to share their cultures and customs with the children. This helps children to develop an awareness of the differences between themselves and others.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

All children settle quickly and enjoy learning. Staff introduce a visual timetable to help children feel more reassured about what will happen next. Staff consistently reinforce rules and praise children who make good choices. This helps all children to have a clear understanding of behavioural expectations and boundaries. They learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For example, they follow well-established hygiene routines, eat healthy snacks and enjoy fresh air and physical exercise every day. Activities and discussions help to develop children's awareness of keeping themselves safe, such as using knives safely at snack time and using 'walking feet' inside.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for their next stage in learning. Children develop good early writing skills. For example, older children confidently write their names on their pictures. Children are creative and imaginative, freely painting their own designs. Children develop good levels of independence in preparation for their move to school. For example, they put on their own boots to go out and play, serve their snacks and pour their drinks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134995 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 1085749 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person The Orchard Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 February 2015 Telephone number 01844 279989

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reference number

The Orchard is a registered charity originally formed as a pre-school in 1987. It operates in the village of Little Milton, in Oxfordshire. The pre-school is open five days per week during term times. Sessions are from 9am until 2.45pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 9am until midday on Thursday. The Orchard receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs four staff, three of whom hold relevant childcare qualification at level 3 and one who is working towards this qualification.

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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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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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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