Elmwood Preschool

Elmwood Preschool 22 Guys Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5NB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 June 2017 Not applicable

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The manager and staff are passionate about their work and strive to deliver the highest quality provision for children and their families. They effectively identify areas to develop further. They implement changes to achieve goals in improvement plans and to continue raising standards.  Staff have developed very good two-way partnerships with parents. They provide parents with detailed information about their children's progress and guide them in extending learning at home. Parents speak highly of the friendly, welcoming and nurturing environment.  Staff provide a wide range of opportunities for the children to experience a stimulating and engaging learning programme in the indoor and outdoor provision. Children make good progress and thrive in this welcoming and warm environment.  Staff provide effective support for children who require additional support. They carefully monitor children's development and plan targeted activities to help them make

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This provision is good

very good progress.  Staff give exceptionally high priority to children's well-being. Settling-in arrangements are flexible and individual to children's and parents' needs. Children are extremely confident and self-assured in the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes overlook opportunities to extend children's thinking skills to higher levels. On occasions, staff do not provide enough challenge to the most able children.  The manager does not yet use information as well as possible to check the progress made by different groups of children.

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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

 focus more precisely on providing greater levels of challenge that help children make even more rapid progress  strengthen the existing monitoring systems to make comparisons of the progress made by different groups of children, in order to help all children progress to the highest level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector held discussions with the manager and completed joint observations with the manager and deputy manager.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. She also looked at a selection of policies and self- evaluation records.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are suitably trained and have a thorough understanding of the pre-school's safeguarding policy. They are aware of the designated person within the pre-school and know who to make a referral to if they are concerned about a child's welfare. Staff are supported through supervision sessions and further training to develop their practice. Staff work together with other professionals to help reduce any gaps in children's learning. Very good links have been established with the host school and other providers, helping to ensure continuity of learning and care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Overall, teaching is good. Staff know the children well and have a good knowledge of how children learn. They use their observations and assessments to plan effectively for children's next steps in learning. Staff get down to the children's level and join in their play experiences. Children are motivated, eager to learn and fully engaged, demonstrating high levels of perseverance and concentration. Staff introduce new vocabulary in context as they support children to play picture snap. They engage children in meaningful conversations and encourage them to share their home experiences. These are some of the many ways that staff effectively support children's communication and language skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children flourish in the exceptionally nurturing environment. Staff are extremely kind, affectionate and caring. Staff have a strong knowledge of the children in their care and go to considerable lengths to ensure their individual needs are well met. Behaviour is excellent because all staff are positive role models. Their calm approach ensures that children feel highly valued. Children's independence is extremely well promoted from an early age and they follow good hygiene routines. Children show great confidence as they explore the stimulating environment happily and with self-assurance. New children and parents are exceptionally well supported by staff to ensure a successful settling-in period that is tailored to the needs of each child and family. As a result of the exceptional care offered by staff, children learn to be independent, which supports and promotes their future learning and eventual move to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. Most children are working comfortably within the range of development typical for their age. Older children have the opportunity to participate in some carefully planned, structured small-group activities, such as recognising letters and the sounds that they represent and writing their name. This supports them to develop some of the key skills needed for starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482970 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1000953 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person Elmwood Pre-School Community Interest Company

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01245 329529

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reference number

Elmwood Preschool registered in 1983. The pre-school employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4, 11 hold level 3 and four hold level 2. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, 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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