Southern Cross Pre-school

Southern Cross Pre-school 103 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 1GU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 April 2017 10 June 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

 Staff effectively support children's positive behaviour and consistently remind them of their high expectations. Children behave very well and develop strong social skills. They make positive friendships and happily include others in their play.  The manager and staff assess children's development closely and monitor the progress of individual and groups of children. They quickly identify any gaps in learning and offer further support. All children make good progress from their starting points in learning.  Staff support children's communication skills well. For example, they ask children about their interests and encourage conversation about their home lives. Children confidently express themselves and share their views and memories with others.  Parent partnerships are strong. Parents have constant access to children's online development records and staff regularly share children's next steps in learning.

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This provision is good

 The manager works closely with her staff team to help evaluate the effectiveness of the provision. They actively encourage the views of parents and children and make continual improvements to children's outcomes and experiences.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, staff do not organise routine sessions in the most effective way to help children to develop and extend their play without interruption.  Staff miss opportunities to offer further support to children, to develop their understanding of the benefits of healthy diets.

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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

 manage planned changes in routines more effectively, to help minimise interruptions to children's learning  offer more consistent support to children to help their understanding of the benefits of healthy diets on their well-being.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching practices and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff, children and parents.  The inspector read some of the setting's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures.  The inspector sampled children's development information and records.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed children's play, learning and progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The ambitious manager leads her hard-working staff team well and together they have effectively addressed previous recommendations. Staff now consistently help to build children's self-esteem and encourage them to be considerate of others. For example, they celebrate children's kind behaviour and put their names on the 'happiness list'. The manager supervises the staff closely and helps them to continue to improve their teaching. For example, she provides regular observations and appraisals of their practice and further training opportunities. Safeguarding is effective. All staff are well trained and have a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of child protection concerns and the actions to take. They carry out daily health and safety checks and maintain a safe environment.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children very well. They regularly observe children's learning and record their interests. Staff plan a challenging and stimulating environment which helps to motivate children in their learning. For example, children enjoy preparing pretend meals in the mud kitchen. Staff extend children's thinking well and encourage them to weigh the soil they use, using language, such as 'heavy' and 'light'. Staff support children's early literacy skills very well. For instance, they support children to help read the morning register and recognise different names. Staff effectively develop children's mathematical understanding. For example, they challenge children to read the numbers on measuring jugs as they fill them with sand and to recognise shapes as they build with blocks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop good early independence and enjoy being given responsibilities. For example, 'special helpers' excitedly wear a badge and help to set up the group time board. Staff are very caring and build strong bonds with the children, who are happy and secure. Children enjoy fun opportunities to be active. For example, they manoeuvre trollies around the garden and confidently bounce on trampolines. After recent training, staff have introduced regular sessions with a special doll and talk to children about keeping themselves safe and respecting others.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy their learning and concentrate well. For example, they take their time drawing pictures and pay good attention to detail. Children are creative and use equipment well. For instance, they safely and securely use scissors to create collages. Children enjoy imaginary play and confidently take on roles, such as mothers taking their baby for a walk in the buggy. Children are very confident and excitedly share their recent news in front of the group at circle time. Children quickly gain the skills needed for the next stage in their learning and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130772 Local authority Brighton & Hove Inspection number 1089428 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 30 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Southern Cross Community Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 June 2015 Telephone number 07890 322105

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reference number

Southern Cross Pre-School registered in 1992. It operates in Southern Cross Evangelical Church in Portslade. The pre-school is open between 9.15am and 2.45pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and between 9.15am and 12.15pm on Friday, during school term time. The provider employs seven staff, of whom six hold relevant qualifications, including four staff who hold level 3 qualifications and two who hold level 2. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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