Sunflower Seed

Sunflower Seed Church Street, Northborough, PETERBOROUGH, PE6 9BN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 March 2017 1 December 2016

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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 new management team is very well focused. They have identified and begun to implement areas for development to improve experiences for children. This includes meeting the actions and recommendations set at the last inspection. All suitability checks have now been completed for committee members.  Key-person relationships are strong. Children quickly form close, emotional bonds with staff and confidently seek them out for support, help and reassurance when they require it.  Staff consistently observe children in their play. They quickly identify those children who require additional support in their development and learning. Staff have established effective working relationships with outside agencies to meet children's individual needs.  Good relationships are in place with parents. They relish the constant access they have to children's photographs and observations of their learning, through an online

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This provision is good

childcare management program. Parents comment very positively on the changes implemented in the pre-school since the appointment of the new manager.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff do not always make the most of opportunities to further extend children's learning and encourage their independence in some activities.  Children do not have access to stimulating activities and sufficient play space immediately after eating lunch. As a result, children are not engaged in purposeful play and noise levels escalate.

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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

 help staff to consistently extend children's learning and nurture their independence during activities  enhance the support given to children to engage in purposeful play, utilising all available play space.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are confident in their knowledge of child protection and fully understand how to report concerns to the appropriate authorities. All adults involved in the pre-school have completed suitability checks. The manager enthuses and motivates her staff. She monitors staff's practice and through a process of regular supervisions, identifies training that meets both the needs of the setting and supports staff's interests. Management evaluates the pre-school and makes positive changes to improve children's experiences, such as increasing children's learning opportunities outdoors. Suitable systems are in place for sharing information when children attend other settings. Good relationships exist with the local school to support children as they move on in their education. Children spend time at school events and use some of their facilities in their play.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their knowledge of the children, their interests and learning needs to provide a broad range of activities. Staff provide good support to children as they play. They listen and consistently talk to children to promote their speech. Children show curiosity. They are excited to be shown caterpillars and learn that they are going to care for them in the pre-school. They show a good understanding of life cycles and know that one day the caterpillars will become butterflies and fly away in the sky. Outdoors, children enjoy digging for worms and mixing mud with water as they pretend to make dinner. They squeal and laugh as they jump and try to make the biggest splash in puddles of water in the sand. Parents are involved in their children's learning and share their own observations from home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children demonstrate through their behaviour that they feel happy, safe and secure at the pre-school. New children quickly learn the routines of the day and are confident to explore and choose the activities they enjoy. Children are kind to their peers and support them when needed. For example, older children help younger children to pour their milk at snack time. Children play group games and learn to take turns. Children are physically active. They learn to negotiate an obstacle course, stretching their arms out wide to steady themselves. Young children face good challenge as they step from log to log. Children enjoy nutritious home cooked meals and healthy snacks, that take account of their dietary needs and preferences. Staff are well deployed to ensure that children are continuously supervised.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. They have good opportunities to recognise their name. Children are supported to use their thinking skills and learn to problem solve. For example, they compare the sizes of hollow, wooden figures and try to work out which ones fit inside each other. They share resources as they make models from dough. Children demonstrate a positive attitude towards their learning and are well prepared for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257620 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 1080027 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 - 11 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Sunflower Seed

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 December 2016 Telephone number 01733 253685

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reference number

Sunflower Seed was registered in 2003. The pre-school employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The pre- school opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 9.15am until 3.15pm. An out-of-school club runs from 8am until 9am and from 3.30pm until 6pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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