Flamstead Village Pre-School

Flamstead Village Pre- School Flamstead Village Hall, Church Road, Flamstead, Hertfordshire, AL3 8BN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 March 2017 23 October 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

 Staff have built close working partnerships with parents. They regularly share assessments of children's learning and progress. Staff provide a range of information and ideas that parents can use to further support their children's learning at home.  Frequent opportunities for fresh air and exercise are provided for children. They learn about their local community as they visit nearby shops and parks. Children enjoy trips to the pre-school's allotment. They enthusiastically join in with digging and caring for the plants and vegetables they grow.  Children build good relationships with their key-person. This helps support them to settle in quickly. Staff are kind and supportive and tailor starter sessions to meet children's individual needs.  Staff support children in developing their language and communication skills well. They take time to listen to children and repeat words back to them to support their learning

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This provision is good

of the pronunciation of words. Staff introduce new words into children's play, such as spiral and car park as they play with a pretend multi-storey car park and toy cars.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff do not consistently provide the most able children with challenging enough learning opportunities to help them to make more rapid progress.  The manager does not always make the best possible use of supervision meetings to monitor and evaluate staff's practice, in order to focus on raising the overall quality of teaching to an even higher level.

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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 a higher level of challenge in activities to support the most able children to excel even further in their learning  strengthen procedures for staff supervision to monitor and evaluate staff's practice, in order to raise the overall quality of teaching even higher.

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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 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 have a good understanding about the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff know the procedure to follow and who to contact with any such concerns. They closely follow the pre-school's policies and procedures, which are updated frequently. Staff have built good relationships with other settings that children move on to. They share assessments of children's progress to provide continuity of learning. Staff frequently review assessments of children's learning to identify any gaps in learning. Targeted support is given to help children to continue in their progress. Management evaluate the practice at the pre-school and seek the views of parents and children, in order to identify and set targets for further improvement.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather information from parents about what children can do when they first start. They use this information and make their own observations to identify children's starting points. They effectively plan for their next steps in learning. Staff work in partnership with other professionals to plan learning experiences that meet the needs of each individual child. They enjoy opportunities to create and explore mark making as they enjoy painting using scrubbing brushes, toothbrushes and straws. Children's fine manipulative skills are promoted though using small magnetic wands to pick up different coloured circles. Staff help children to develop their mathematical skills, such as when they play games where they count the number of dots on a card and match them with the correct numbers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are consistent in their approach to children's behaviour. They provide clear explanations that support children's understanding about how to behave kindly to one another. Children receive frequent praise and encouragement from staff. This helps to raise their self-esteem and confidence. Children know to wash their hands before snack time and after outdoor play. They develop their independence skills as they serve and collect their own snack. Children eagerly put on their own coats and shoes for outdoor play. They proudly show staff that they are able to do up their coat zips. Children enjoy exploring in the mud kitchen outside. They create and pretend to cook pies for their friends and staff. Staff talk to children about keeping themselves healthy through story times and discussions.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress from their starting points. They learn the skills needed ready for their move on to school. Children are eager to learn and explore the wide range of activities provided. Young children learn the skills of sharing as they take turns to feed the toy dolls and putting them to bed. Older children enjoy investigating the natural area outside with magnifying glasses as they search for bugs and insects.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129341 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1063605 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Flamstead Pre-School

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 October 2013 Telephone number 07542 109 058

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reference number

Flamstead Village Pre-School was registered in 1993. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 1pm. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday sessions are until 3pm. 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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