Merriott Pre-school

Merriott Pre-school Evergreen Path, Merriott, Somerset, TA16 5RB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 May 2017 30 April 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 management team support staff's development effectively. For example, following training, they have introduced a sound of the week activity, to encourage children's language and awareness of linking sounds with the letters they represent.  Children enjoy their play. Staff plan an exciting range of activities that support children's ideas and motivate their learning well.  Staff have a friendly and reassuring approach. They praise children often for their efforts and children develop a positive sense of self-esteem and emotional security.  Staff create inviting and accessible play areas, indoors and outdoors. Children explore the good range of toys and activities, and make independent choices in their play.  Children behave very well. Staff successfully encourage children to be kind and respect the needs of others. Children learn to share and value the differences in their lives.  Staff provide a very welcoming and inclusive group. They recognise the individuality of

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This provision is good

all children and support their specific educational needs very well in liaison with other professionals involved in their care and learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not gather detailed information from parents about children's existing developmental starting points on entry, to fully support initial planning.  At times, staff do not organise larger group activities as well as possible, to successfully support the interest and participation of all children, and extend their learning 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

 gain further information from parents about what they know their children can do on entry and make more use of this to support the initial planning of activities  improve the organisation of larger group times to fully support the interest and concentration of all children, and extend their learning further still.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's interactions in play, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector viewed documentation, such as operational policies, procedures and required records relating to suitability.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager and discussed children's learning and development.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken with during inspection.  The inspector discussed self-evaluation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to protect children and know who to contact should any concerns arise about their welfare. The management team implement clear recruitment and employment systems, including a detailed induction process. Staff form friendly relationships with parents and keep them well informed of children's current activities. The management team and staff frequently evaluate how their practice works well, and how to develop it further. For example, they have introduced a daily communication log so that all staff are kept updated on any arising issues and provide a more consistent approach for children's care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe children's play and monitor their progress frequently. Staff encourage the communication, language and understanding of all children well. For example, they use signing to reinforce their words and sounds. Staff support children's understanding of nature very well. For example, children like to sit in the bird hide outdoors and watch the blackbirds pecking for worms. They learn the names of the birds and recognise the sound of a crow. Staff encourage children's early literacy skills and creativity effectively. For example, children listen to a favourite story and then search for related objects, such as a feather or a fir cone, which they heard mentioned in the book. Younger children enjoy exploring textures, such as shaving foam and paint. Older children talk about the colours changing as they make patterns and marks in the mixture.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff encourage children's good health and physical well-being effectively. All children often play outside, developing good coordination skills and positive attitudes to keeping fit and healthy. For example, children have fun climbing, balancing and sliding on the play equipment. They enjoy following the yoga movements that a visiting teacher shows them. Staff actively support children to develop a good understanding of positive hygiene and safety routines. For instance, children remember to use tissues to blow their noses and then throw these in the bin. They know they must wash their hands before helping staff prepare their snacks and to be careful when using a knife to cut up a banana.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. They enjoy counting and begin to learn about problem solving. For example, they count how many boys and girls are present, and work out which group is the biggest. They compare the sizes of sticks and measure these to find the longest and shortest ones. Children play cooperatively and are keen to be helpful. For example, older children work together to lift and carry a box of toys as they help staff to tidy up. Children gain confidence in their abilities and are ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 162080 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1089835 Type of provision Sessional 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 48 Name of registered person Merriott Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 April 2015 Telephone number 01460 77922

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reference number

Merriott Pre-school registered in 2001. It operates from its own premises situated in the grounds of Merriott First School in Merriott, Somerset. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday from 9am until 3pm, during school term times. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are nine members of staff employed. The manager holds early years teacher status and eight staff hold childcare 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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