St Michael's Pre-School

St Michael's Pre-School St Michael's Church, Devon Road, Chester, CH2 2PX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 July 2017 1 October 2013

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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 develop positive and caring relationships with children. They get to know children and their families well, fostering regular information sharing practices with parents. Children enter the setting happily and settle quickly into activities.  The acting manager has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities. She has high aspirations for the future of the provision that are shared by the staff team. Self- evaluation makes a positive contribution to improvements and initiatives that are being used to support children.  Staff are well-qualified and experienced. They have a good understanding of each child's current stage of development and what they are interested in.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The acting manager has not fully embedded systems to monitor, and raise, the overall quality of teaching.  Children who prefer to learn outdoors are not supported as effectively as possible as staff sometimes miss opportunities to extend children's learning during outdoor play.  Staff do not make best use of opportunities to support children's use of their home languages during play.

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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

 sharpen the focus on systems for developing the overall quality of teaching to an outstanding level  provide even more effective support for children who prefer to learn outdoors  make more effective use of opportunities for children to use their home languages in their play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas. She assessed the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the acting manager to discuss matters relating to leadership and management. She sampled a range of documentation, including staff qualifications and the setting's self-evaluation form.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector had a tour of the areas of the premises used by the pre-school.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity with the acting manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The acting manager has a good understanding of robust recruitment and vetting processes. Staff have a good understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding issues. They know how to identify, monitor and report concerns to protect children from harm. The acting manager has implemented a range of strategies to improve the pre-school. Staff access training to develop their existing knowledge and skills, overall. Partnership working with parents and other professionals is well-embedded in practice. Parents report positively on the quality of care and learning experiences provided to their children. They feel that staff provide a good level of support to help parents enhance children's learning at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a range of interesting learning experiences to support children's progress in each area of learning, overall. They make good use of what they know from observation and assessment. Staff regularly assess children's development and quickly identify those who require further support. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from focused support to enable them to participate in a range of developmentally appropriate activities alongside their peers. Younger children begin to develop their early literacy skills as they experiment with making marks. They join in with familiar songs that help develop their understanding of rhythm and rhyme. Children demonstrate enthusiasm as they engage with staff and will often seek staff out to join in their games.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are supported to be healthy and safe. Staff use meaningful strategies to help children think about how they can look after their bodies. For example, they look at their teeth using small mirrors and discuss what food and drinks are good for their teeth and bones. Children behave well and are respectful of others. They respond well to adults and develop good social skills. The atmosphere of the pre-school is very warm and welcoming. Children enter confidently and settle quickly. Staff continually gather information about children's home lives and make use of this in their daily practice. Children develop good levels of self-esteem and a willingness to persist in activities as staff use praise and encouragement well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress from their individual starting points. They are well supported to develop skills which prepare them for their future learning. For example, children enjoy exploring meaningful mathematics activities. They measure how tall their peers are and compare who is taller and who is shorter. Older children play imaginatively and develop social skills as they 'go camping' in the outdoor area. Children are encouraged to be independent and take responsibility for tasks, such as tidying up or serving their own snacks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305327 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1063937 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 40 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person St Michael's Church Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 October 2013 Telephone number 01244311338

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reference number

St Michael's Pre-School registered in 1975. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including one with qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday in term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Sessions are from 1pm until 4pm on a Wednesday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre- school provides care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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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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