Stanway Pre-school

Stanway Pre-school Little Hands Children's Centre, Winstree Road, Stanway, COLCHESTER, Essex, CO3 0QG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 September 2017 14 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The key-person system is exemplary. Children establish extremely strong and respectful attachments with staff. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure and thrive in their care.  Teaching is good. Staff provide a varied range of experiences. The indoor and outdoor spaces are stimulating, inviting and exciting for children. Children develop their skills and understanding in all areas of learning. All children make good progress.  Children behave very well. Staff are extremely good role models for children. They use positive language and give gentle reminders about expectations for their behaviour. Consequently, the atmosphere in the pre-school is calm and conducive to learning.  The manager and staff support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They identify where further support is needed and share good information with parents and other professionals to help to meet children's needs.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes miss opportunities to challenge children's learning even further and help them to achieve the best possible outcomes.  The manager does not incisively evaluate and monitor staff practice to help to raise the quality of teaching to an exceptional 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

 make the most of staff interactions with children to consistently challenge and extend their learning to the highest levels  evaluate and monitor staff practice incisively to help to raise the quality of teaching to an exceptional level.

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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 held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to report any concerns that they may have about a child in their care. Effective systems to monitor children's learning are in place. This includes checking the progress of individual children and groups of children. This helps staff to target any gaps in children's learning and development. Staff benefit from regular staff meetings and training opportunities. Self-evaluation is effective. The manager has a very positive attitude to improvement. Most recently the environment has been reorganised to ensure children freely access a wide range of natural resources and activities. Parents report high levels of satisfaction. They comment that their children are settled and that they are kept well informed about their children's progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff regularly complete observations and assessments of children's progress. They make good use of the information gained to identify and plan for children's next steps in learning. Any gaps in children's learning and development are identified and quickly addressed. Children are active and inquisitive learners. Children's mathematical development is promoted well. They enjoy counting the dots on the dice during small group games. Staff support children's understanding of the world well. For instance, children enjoy learning about harvest time. They explore a range of different vegetables and talk about where they come from.

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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. Children are fully involved in all pre-school routines and activities. They help to set their own ground rules and this has a positive effect on their behaviour and their relationships with others. Staff have an expert knowledge of children in their care and go to considerable lengths to ensure their individual needs are well met. For example, they work extremely closely with parents and other professionals to ensure that settling-in arrangements are flexible and tailored to meet the individual needs and interests of children and parents. Children are extremely confident and self-assured in the pre-school. Children's independence is exceptionally well promoted from an early age. For example, they participate in the organisation of snack time. They prepare their fruit and talk about making healthy food choices.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children confidently choose their play from the wide range of resources available and show good independence in their learning. Older children begin to recognise the sounds letters represent and attempt to write their name. All children make good progress from their starting points. They develop the key skills required in preparation for their future learning and eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY434271 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1088125 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 - 5 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Stanway Pre-School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 May 2014 Telephone number 01206 576 273

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reference number

Stanway Pre-school registered in 2011. The pre-school employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The pre-school opens during school term time. Sessions are from 8.55am until 3pm.

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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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