Stepping Stones Pre-School

Stepping Stones Pre- School Parish Rooms, Falmouth Road, Chacewater, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 8LP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 May 2017 19 May 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 have positive partnerships with other agencies, to effectively support children's individual learning and development. For example, they work well together to successfully improve children's progress in their speech and language skills.  Children make good progress from their starting points and staff prepare them well for school. Staff monitor children's development well with effective observation, assessment and planning procedures.  The management team is effective in its self-evaluation and the way that it supports staff. It successfully identifies areas for development and makes ongoing improvements to the benefit of children. For example, the installation of a canopy and additional equipment has increased the outdoor learning opportunities for children.  Staff provide useful information to involve parents well in children's learning. For example, staff provide further support to parents as children learn their colours, letters

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This provision is good

and sounds. The good links with the local primary school effectively support children as they prepare to move there.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff miss opportunities at times during the day to further encourage children's mathematical understanding.  Staff do not extend the activities to fully support children's developing awareness of good health, such as the importance of exercise and a healthy diet.

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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

 extend the opportunities to support children's mathematical understanding further  increase the range of activities to extend support to children's early understanding and awareness of being healthy.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the staff and children in their indoor and outdoor activities.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and parents.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the self-evaluation information.  The inspector sampled children's development records and checked documents that provide evidence of staff suitability.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider has not ensured that all members of the committee have supplied all of the required information to Ofsted to complete their suitability checks. However, there is no impact on children's safety as there is evidence of enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks and the persons do not work in the pre-school with children. Staff complete relevant training to increase and refresh their knowledge and skills, such as in safeguarding and about children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have sound knowledge of the procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare. They are conscientious in their supervision of children to keep them safe. Since the last inspection, management and staff have increased the range of resources and activities to further encourage children's awareness of diversity and develop positive attitudes.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff teach children well, to successfully help them develop their early learning skills. They provide good support and interact well. For instance, they praise and encourage children as they complete jigsaw puzzles. Staff encourage children to write their own names on their creative work and learn to copy letters. Children enjoy stories and join in with enthusiasm at the appropriate time, showing that they understand how to listen to others and take turns to speak. Children show a good understanding of what they are learning and recall activities. For example, they dress up as fire officers and play imaginatively with their friends. They talk about 'emergencies' and show that they are aware of the different roles that 'people who help us' play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have warm relationships with staff and feel secure in the pre-school. They behave well and have a good understanding of the daily routines. For example, they respond well when staff announce that children have 'five minutes more' until it is time to tidy up. Children develop good independence skills in their personal care. For instance, children readily put on their sun hats and prepare to play outside. Staff take relevant information from parents when children first start, which enables them to meet the individual needs of children. For example, staff have a good awareness of children's allergies and intolerances to particular foods.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are happy and settle well in the pre-school. They show keen interest and enjoy their activities. For example, they listen carefully and concentrate well during group times. Children move around with confidence and make independent choices in their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 102874 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 1088919 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 - 8 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Chancewater Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 May 2015 Telephone number 01872 561 542

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reference number

Stepping Stones Pre-School registered in 1993 and is managed by a voluntary committee of parents. The pre-school operates from The Parish Rooms in the village of Chacewater, near Truro. It is open each weekday from 8.45am until 3.30pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives early education funding for children aged two, three and four years. There are five members of staff. Of these, two have a qualification at level 5, one at level 4 and two at level 3. In addition to teaching staff, the pre-school employs an administrator.

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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

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