Abbey Centre Pre-School

Abbey Centre Pre-School Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN4 0RZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 June 2017 12 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

 The experienced managers and their team of staff are dedicated and enthusiastic. They are committed to providing children with a safe and secure environment in which they can learn and develop.  The managers constantly reflect upon their practice. They take into account the views of children, parents and staff in order to assist them in identifying areas for development.  Staff have established very effective partnerships with parents, to meet children's needs. They help to ensure that children's learning continues at home.  Staff have high expectations of what all children can achieve. They understand the process through which children learn and provide lots of opportunities for children to direct their own learning and progress well.  Staff closely observe children as they play. This helps them to make accurate assessments of children's current developmental stages and to plan appropriate next

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This provision is good

steps in their learning.  Children behave very well at the pre-school. Staff encourage them to be polite, courteous, to take turns and to share their toys.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The support for the ongoing professional development of all staff is not consistently rigorous enough to raise the quality of teaching to an outstanding 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

 enhance the arrangements for identifying and addressing the professional development needs of staff so that an outstanding level of teaching is achieved throughout the pre- school.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities inside and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff know what to do if they have any concerns over the welfare and safety of a child in their care. Furthermore, they keep their knowledge updated regularly. Children are very well supervised at all times both inside and outdoors. Policies, procedures and risk assessments underpin the smooth management of the provision. Recruitment of staff is effective and the provider makes committee members known to Ofsted. Staff receive regular support to ensure that they remain suitable to be working with children. They have implemented procedures to analyse and encourage the progress of different groups of children. Staff form strong partnerships with outside agencies to help close any gaps in children's learning. The partnerships with schools help to ensure smooth transitions for all children. Parents speak positively about their children's care and progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff demonstrate a natural ability to interact effectively with children. Children delight in telling staff that the play cooker is too hot for their pretend cookies to go in. Staff suggest that they turn the switch on the side to make the temperature cooler. They support children who speak English as an additional language very well. Staff calmly offer commentary to their play and sensitively introduce new words to broaden their vocabulary. They use small-group activities as one way to help children develop their confidence in speaking. Carefully planned activities offer opportunities for children to investigate and experiment and staff continually encourage children's early mathematical development. For instance, they talk about volume and capacity as children play in the sand.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop good levels of independence. Staff encourage them to do things for themselves. Children are able to decide where to play and what to play with as resources both inside and outdoors are easy to reach and freely available. Children learn the importance of developing healthy lifestyles. They have lots of opportunities to play in the fresh air and enjoy nutritious snacks. Staff work with parents to consider the contents of their children's lunch boxes. Children enjoy outings within their local environment. This helps them to gain an understanding of the world beyond the pre-school.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their initial starting points. Children enjoy experimenting and being creative; for example, as they have fun discovering herbs that have been hidden in blocks of ice. They decide that they need the support of the toy dinosaurs to help them break up the ice. They are acquiring key skills to help prepare them for the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220151 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1090060 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Abbey Centre Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 May 2015 Telephone number 01604 767568 or 07980 092175

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reference number

Abbey Centre Pre-School registered in 1987. It employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens only during term time from Monday to Friday. Sessions are from 9.15am to 2.45pm. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for 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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