Playmates Pre-school

Playmates Pre-school The Log Cabin, Whitelands Park, Sagecroft Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3FH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 October 2017 1 December 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

 Staff know children and their families very well. They build strong and trusting relationships, which help children to feel secure and settle quickly.  The well-qualified staff teach the basics well, giving children a firm base for their future learning. They help children gain good social and physical skills, and support their speech development especially well.  Staff observe children's play effectively. They assess children's development accurately and use the information well to plan challenging and enjoyable activities. Skilful teaching ensures all children make good progress.  Partnerships with other professionals are good. Staff share information to give children a consistent approach to their care and learning. Staff support disadvantaged children and use additional funding well to quickly close gaps in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The management does not use fully effective systems to monitor the impact of teaching on children's learning, or to track the progress of different groups of children.  Staff are not highly successful in involving parents fully in their children's learning and development. For example, staff do not consistently share information to enable parents to more effectively support their children's learning at home.

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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

 develop monitoring systems to focus more sharply on the effectiveness of staff practice, and the progress of groups of children, to ensure the best possible outcomes for children  develop ways to engage all parents highly successfully in their children's learning and encourage them to share information about children's achievements at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of care and of teaching, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed how she monitors staff performance.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager, and talked with staff, children, a committee member and several parents, and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled relevant documentation, including the self-evaluation record, evidence of staff suitability and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff and committee members have undergone the required checks. Managers follow thorough recruitment procedures to ensure staff are suitable for their role. Staff are confident about what to do if they have concerns. They receive safeguarding training and keep updated using, for example, discussions and quizzes to deepen their knowledge. Staff always supervise children closely. The manager accurately identifies areas of weakness and values support from other professionals, to continually improve the provision and benefit children. The manager has addressed recommendations from the last inspection. For example, children now have good access to a variety of resources that encourage their mathematical development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The stimulating and generally well-organised environment makes children want to join in and develop their own play. Staff join children in their play to extend their speech and thinking, and enrich their vocabulary. They plan for each child's needs. For example, they use small-group activities highly effectively to support children's speech and those with challenging behaviour. Staff ignite children's curiosity. For example, they show them how to use magnifiers to look closely at bugs they find. Staff make activities appealing, such as using pipe cleaners in play dough. This fires children's imaginations as they make fantastical creatures.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form strong attachments to their key staff, who know them well. Staff are highly sensitive in supporting children if they feel unwell, upset or unsettled. Staff support children very effectively as they learn to manage their emotions. Children take turns and play cooperatively, and staff warmly praise them for being kind or helpful. Staff encourage children to do things for themselves, such as washing hands before meals and putting on coats. They learn to make healthy choices as they talk about the foods they eat and pretend to prepare meals. They spend much of the day playing energetically in the exciting outside spaces, which benefits their health and well-being. They learn to manage small risks, such as running down a slope, without being overly fearful. Staff and children celebrate their individuality, such as using home languages and eating special foods when learning about festivals. They have regular outings into the local community to broaden

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy books and show an interest in printed words around them. They gain good control of their movements and enjoy making marks using different tools and media. Some children form recognisable letters as they try to write their names. They count, sort and explore shapes and volume. They develop a growing determination in trying new things and relish the feeling of completing tasks successfully.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395935 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1071188 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Playmates Preschool Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 December 2014 Telephone number 07770518857

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reference number

Playmates Pre-school registered in 2009. It operates from within the school grounds of Whitelands Park School in Thatcham, Berkshire. The pre-school is open on weekdays from 9am to 3pm, during term time. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs 10 staff to work directly with the children. The manager is an early years teacher and holds a childcare qualification at level 6, and five other staff hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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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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