Hedgehogs Pre-School

Hedgehogs Pre-School Hempstead Village Hall, 169 Hempstead Road, Gillingham, ME7 3QG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 September 2017 Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The provider is extremely enthusiastic and continuously strives for further improvements. She uses rigorous evaluation and reflection, constantly gathering the views of parents, children and staff, to identify and target areas for improvement.  The staff provide exciting and challenging activities based on children's development needs and interests. Children thoroughly enjoy learning and make excellent progress from their starting points.  The quality of teaching is consistently extremely strong. For example, the well-qualified staff use highly effective skilful questioning to extend children's learning and encourage their problem-solving and thinking skills.  Children are exceptionally happy and settle very quickly. They benefit from an excellent variety of hands-on and real-life experiences. They develop extremely positive attitudes towards learning, showing high levels of confidence and self-esteem.

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This provision is outstanding

 The provider and staff have very high expectations for children. The learning assessment process is excellent and staff provide extensive support to each child, working extremely closely with parents and others, to swiftly identify and close any gaps in children's development.  The outdoor space is exceptionally well resourced and organised, and has been carefully planned to cover all areas of learning. Children are inspired to extend their learning when playing outdoors.

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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

 continue to review and develop snack time to build even further on children's excellent independence.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interactions between the staff and children.  The inspector tracked the progress of children using observations and assessments.  The inspector spoke to the manager, staff, parents and children at appropriate times.  The inspector sampled documentation, including children's records and the provider's self-evaluation process.  The inspector took part in a joint observation with the provider.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. The staff have an excellent and up-to-date knowledge of how to keep children safe and where to report concerns about their welfare and well-being. Staff are meticulous in risk assessing the environment to keep children safe. The provider builds exceptional partnerships with parents, professionals and other settings that children attend to support all children in their development. She supports staff extremely well to improve their skills and knowledge. For example, she observes staff, provides feedback and role models outstanding practice. The provider is acutely aware of the benefits of professional development and continually enables staff to access training. The support for parents is highly effective. For example, staff guide them to other sources of help when appropriate.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff know all children exceptionally well. They use precise observations and accurate assessments to swiftly identify each child's next steps in learning. There is an outstanding range of resources, indoors and outdoors, that encourages children to choose where to play and explore. For example, the 'Discovery Area' uses real-life items, such as brass jugs and figurines, to arouse children's curiosity and inspire them to explore and discover what is hidden in different boxes. Children relish the opportunity to mould and feel play dough. Staff provide scented play dough and ask children to guess the aroma, such as lemon. This stimulates children's interest and conversation. The provider has highly interesting plans to extend the already excellent range of resources and experiences even further. For example, cookery workshops where parents can come in and cook with their children.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children show they feel exceptionally safe and secure at the pre-school. The highly effective key-person system and nurturing staff support children in their emotional development. Staff skilfully teach children about healthy eating, such as through discussions and stories. The provider recognises the need to extend opportunities at snack time to build on children's independence. Outdoors, a supply of wooden planks and blocks motivates children to create a challenging obstacle and balancing course. This helps them learn about their physical capabilities and develop new skills.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They develop highly confident and positive social skills and show high levels of caring and respect for others. They constantly build on their excellent speaking and listening skills. Every child is excellently prepared for the next stage in their education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY501735 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 1060678 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 - 8 Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Laura Hollands

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01634 376146

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reference number

Hedgehogs Pre-School registered in 2016. It is located in Gillingham, Kent. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are seven members of staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications, including the provider/manager who has qualified teacher status.

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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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