St Mary's Pre-School

St Mary's Pre-School St. Marys Church, George Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0EG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 September 2017 12 May 2014

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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 rapidly build close relationships with their key person and other staff. This helps them to settle in quickly. Staff are kind and caring and meet children's individual needs.  Staff frequently monitor the assessments of children's progress and achievements. This helps them identify any further targeted support children may need, which enables children to continue to make good progress.  Staff support children's communication and language skills effectively. They talk to children about what they are doing and introduce new words into their vocabulary, such as sandcastle, colander and seaside. Staff show the children objects which further support their understanding.  Staff promote children's physical skills and development. They provide a wide range of activities that children enjoy. For example, children use push-along bicycles, slides and ball games. They learn more about their local environment as they take part in outings

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This provision is good

to the shops to buy a range of healthy snacks.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Parents are not always given enough support and ideas to help them guide their children's learning as successfully as possible at home.  The manager does not always make the best use of supervision meetings to monitor and evaluate staff's practice and to focus on raising the overall quality of teaching to the highest 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

 explore further ways to support all parents in guiding their children's learning at home  strengthen procedures for monitoring and evaluating staff's practice and increase the potential to raise the overall quality of teaching even higher.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation 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 parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the signs that children may be at risk of harm. They closely follow the nursery policies and know to report any such concerns to the appropriate authorities. The management team has implemented a robust system of recruitment and induction for new staff. They attend regular training and opportunities for professional development to further their skills and learning. Staff evaluate their practice frequently. They gather the views of parents and children and incorporate these into their plans for development and targets for improvement. Staff share the assessments of children's learning and progress with parents on a regular basis.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather information from parents when children start about what they are already able to do. This information is used, along with staff's observations, to identify children's starting points. Children have opportunities to develop their mathematical skills while making sandcastles, using a range of different shaped moulds. Staff support them in recognising shapes, such as circle, square and star. Children enjoy developing their early writing skills as they draw and create pictures. Staff talk to them about what they have created. They enjoy the challenge of writing the letters in their name. Children play cooperatively with each other and quickly learn to share and take turns.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well. Staff are consistent in their approach and provide clear explanations that support children's understanding. They provide praise and encouragement, which helps to raise children's self-esteem. Children learn to be independent. For example, they help to tidy up the toys at the end of the session, find their own coats and learn to put these on ready for outdoor play. Staff promote good hygiene practices, such as when children are reminded to wash their hands before snack time and after outdoor play. Staff remind children to use good manners and they readily say 'please' and 'thank you.'

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are eager to take part in the activities available. They enjoy developing their imaginative skills as they create pictures using a range of materials of different colours. Children carefully listen to stories and delight in answering questions about what is happening in the pictures. They learn the skills ready for their next stage in learning and for their move on to school. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY217236 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1087868 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 24 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Committee of St. Mary's Pre-School

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 May 2014 Telephone number 01923 240368

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reference number

St Mary's Pre-School registered in 2002. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, four of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm. The pre-school receives 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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