Little Birch Preschool

Little Birch Preschool Blandford St. Mary C of E, Birch Avenue, Blandford St. Mary, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9QD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 June 2017 17 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

 Children are confident and motivated to learn. Staff plan exciting activities that support children's learning very well and help them make good progress.  Staff are kind and reassuring, and children go to them easily for cuddles. Staff support children very well to develop a good sense of self and emotional well-being.  The management team gives good emphasis to staff development and training opportunities. For example, staff now give better focus to children's outdoor learning and provide exciting practical experiences, such as building dens, to support children in discovering more about the world.  Staff actively promote children's physical well-being. For instance, children frequently play outside and develop positive attitudes to exercise. They feel their hearts beating faster after they have been running and learn how exercise affects their bodies.  Children interact happily and behave well. Staff encourage children effectively to be

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This provision is good

kind and helpful. For example, older children help their younger friends at snack time.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not gather enough detailed information from parents about what children already know and can do on entry, to support their initial planning more effectively.  Staff sometimes miss opportunities to encourage children to recognise and match numbers to quantity and develop their mathematical awareness further still.

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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 children's starting points to better inform the initial planning of activities  provide more opportunities for children to recognise and use numerals in activities, to further develop their mathematical awareness.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's interactions indoors and outdoors, and had discussions with staff at appropriate times.  The inspector viewed documentation, such as operational policies, procedures and required records for suitability.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken with at the visit and the results of parent questionnaires.  The inspector had discussions with the management team.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team and staff complete safeguarding training. They clearly understand how to manage any concerns and their responsibility to protect children's welfare. For example, the management team implements an effective recruitment, induction and supervisory process to ensure staff's continuing suitability and professional development. The management team and staff regularly evaluate their practice and seek parents' views to help them make further improvements. For instance, staff have introduced sessions for parents to come into the setting to learn more about their children's learning through play. Staff liaise well with other professionals involved with children's care, to provide a consistent approach to monitoring children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are good role models for children, and they extend children's communication and understanding of the world very well. For instance, children talk confidently about going in an aeroplane and on holiday to the beach. They tell staff there are 'crabs on the beach' that 'might bite their toes'. Children show fascination when they find a spider outside and see how it makes a web to climb on. Staff promote children's imagination and exploration of different textures effectively. For example, children move the dinosaur toys through the jelly gloop or hide them under shells. They make pretend meals in the home corner.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's understanding of safety very well. For example, children tell staff that 'the fire brigade have ladders to help people or get cats out of trees'. Children know they need to wear armbands to keep safe when they go swimming. Staff encourage children's awareness of good hygiene routines very well. For instance, children know they must wash their hands before eating their snack. They say, 'If we don't wash the germs off our hands, we might get ill.' Staff actively encourage children's self-identity and awareness of their community. For example, children walk with staff around the local area and talk about their homes and how they get to pre-school. They decide who lives in a big or small house and tell staff their legs sometimes get tired walking to pre-school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good skills to help them with their move to school. Children enjoy their regular visits to the Reception class with staff and become familiar with the school environment. For instance, they often join in with singing and story sessions at school with their older friends. Children learn well through exploration and investigation. For example, older children make rafts out of lolly sticks and corks, and experiment with different items to see what floats and sinks. Younger children like using glitter, shape cutters and rolling pins with the play dough to make a 'colourful, sparkly birthday cake'.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141119 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1089608 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 16 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person The Little Birch Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 June 2015 Telephone number 07929363291

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reference number

Little Birch Preschool registered in 1998. It operates from a purpose-built unit situated in the grounds of Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School in Blandford, Dorset. The pre-school is run by a parent committee and is open Monday to Friday, from 8am until 3.30pm, during school term times. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The committee employs five staff. Of these, four hold a level 3 early years qualification and one holds a level 2 early years qualification.

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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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