St George's Pre-School

St George's Pre-School The School House, West Street, Hinton St. George, Somerset, TA17 8SA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 June 2017 14 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

 Self-evaluation is accurate and ambitious. The dedicated manager strives to implement new ideas and improve the outcomes for children using the views of parents, staff and children successfully. For example, she is undertaking training to develop children's confidence and problem-solving skills outdoors even further.  Staff make accurate assessments of children's learning and plan challenging activities based on their next steps in development. All children, including those who have special educational needs or learn English as an additional language, make good progress.  The manager establishes strong partnerships with other providers and the host school to share information and good practice. For example, children have ample opportunities to become familiar with the school environment and staff. This helps to ensure a seamless transition when children move on to school and supports good continuity.

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This provision is good

 Staff are kind and caring, and know the children and their families well. They have high expectations of children's behaviour and act as good role models. Staff take every opportunity to support and praise children's good manners and positive behaviour.  Staff establish successful relationships with parents. They keep them well informed about their children's progress and guide parents on how to support learning at home.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, staff do not give children enough time to think through possible responses to questions they ask, before providing them with the answer.

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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 children with sufficient time to organise their own thoughts, so they can fully consider their responses to questions.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children and staff engaged in activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager and met with her at appropriate times throughout the inspection to discuss how she monitors and supports staff.  The inspector looked at a range of relevant documentation, including policies and children's assessment records.  The inspector checked evidence of staff's suitability and qualifications.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The well-qualified manager and motivated staff have a good knowledge of their responsibilities to safeguard children. They fully understand the actions to take if they have a concern about a child's welfare. The manager has robust processes for the recruitment of new staff. She ensures staff complete suitability checks so that all adults are safe to care for children. The manager monitors staff practice well and provides frequent professional development opportunities and guidance to help staff improve their teaching skills. For example, staff have attended training to use signs to help children communicate. This also works effectively for children who are learning English as an additional language. The manager monitors and tracks children's progress effectively, including specific groups of children. She ensures she takes swift action and uses additional funding well to address any gaps in children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide well-planned and exciting activities that capture children's interest and motivate them to learn. For example, children thoroughly enjoy 'dough gym' activities. Children manipulate their play dough and move their bodies enthusiastically to the music. This helps to develop the fine-motor skills required for holding a pen and writing in the future. Staff place a strong focus on activities that promote investigation and exploration, with children using all of their senses, indoors and outside. For instance, children eagerly hunt for leaves and fallen fruit outdoors. They describe the smell of the leaves and find their own ways to sort what they have found.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are sensitive to children's needs and form warm relationships with them, which supports children's emotional development well. They offer good explanations to children to develop their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff remind children to hold onto the handrail going down the stairs and children hold onto the walking rope rings when they go for walks. Children enjoy many opportunities to participate in physical play outdoors. For instance, they greatly enjoy running and jumping in the well-resourced playing field. Staff manage children's allergies successfully, which ensures children remain well and are fully included in routines and activities.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children acquire important skills that prepare them well for school. They learn to count accurately and order objects by size, shape and colour. Children learn important self-care skills, helping them to gain independence and confidence. For example, they manage their own personal hygiene and put on their own coats and wellies. Children recognise letters and the sounds that they make, and begin to write for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 142782 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1089633 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 12 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person St George's Preschool (Hinton St. George) Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 May 2015 Telephone number 01460 73033

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reference number

St George's Pre-School registered in 1997. It operates from the upstairs rooms of Hinton St. George First School, in the village of Hinton St. George, Somerset. The pre-school is open from 9am to 3pm daily, during school term time only. There are five members of staff. Of these, the manager holds qualified teacher status, three members of staff hold a level 3 qualification and one holds a level 2 qualification. The pre-school receives funding to provide 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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