Mitcheldean Early Learners

Mitcheldean Early Learners Colchester Close, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, GL17 0JS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 November 2017 16 October 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

 Managers are committed to providing a safe environment for children. For example, they have clear procedures for emergencies. Staff teach children to recognise and respond to emergency signals, such as a whistle, to enable them to act appropriately and keep safe.  Managers regularly review and evaluate the provision to drive development. They frequently involve staff and committee members in these evaluations. Staff speak with children and parents, and incorporate their ideas into their development plans.  Staff make good use of opportunities to teach children about the world around them. For example, they take children to local shops to buy fresh vegetables for their role- play kitchen. Children have grown, cooked and eaten potatoes, and made cakes for festivals.  Staff skilfully and sensitively react to the children's needs. For instance, they sit and care for them in a quiet corner away from the others when they are unwell.

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This provision is good

 Children learn about a range of countries and cultures. For example, they have made pizzas and created artists' studios while learning about Italy.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The managers do not follow robust procedures to work more effectively with parents, to gain detailed information about children's needs, so staff can meet them efficiently and effectively at all times, especially during an emergency.  Although staff use numbered picture cards with children, they do not always help the children to recognise numerals and sequence them in order.

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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

 work more closely with parents to ensure all details about children's needs are obtained, so staff can meet them efficiently and effectively at all times, especially during an emergency  increase opportunities for children to identify and sequence written numerals.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with parents and children, and took account of their views.  The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the managers, and viewed a range of documentation.  The inspector observed care and teaching practices indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with staff and took account of their views.  The inspector jointly observed, and discussed, practice with one of the managers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Managers monitor staff practice well, such as by observing them working with children. Managers and staff discuss these observations and plan for professional development opportunities. For example, staff identified a need to understand further the different ways children play, and training has been planned. Managers carefully monitor the progress of groups of children and take swift action to close any gaps. For instance, they have supported individual children needing extra help to take turns in conversation. All children are now becoming confident communicators. Safeguarding is effective. The managers and staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding issues. They know the signs that would alert them to concerns for a child, and the actions to take to follow up any concerns.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff skilfully provide interesting opportunities across the curriculum for children to extend their learning and develop their thinking skills. For example, children explore small trays of natural resources. They feel different textures, talk about quantities, and become excited when they find hidden 'treasure'. Staff provide opportunities for children to begin making their own decisions and developing their independence. For instance, they use a planning board with pictures of different activities and children put their photograph by their chosen activity. Older children and staff sometimes reflect on the day together and use their reflections to plan for future activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager and staff seek and use information from parents to help them assess children's starting points. They regularly review children's progress with parents, including completing the required two-year progress check. Staff successfully support children and parents to be comfortable. For example, they encourage parents to take the time to settle their children each day. Managers and staff work consistently with other settings that children attend, to share and use information in their planning for individual children's learning. Children have good emotional security and learn to share and take turns.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children begin to make their own decisions. For instance, they easily choose to play indoors or outdoors because the doors are open for much of the day. Children behave well. They confidently understand the clear boundaries staff set. For example, they know that they must wear waterproof jackets to play in the mud kitchen. Children rapidly develop the independence skills they will need for their move to school. For example, they know that when the sand timer has finished, it is snack time. They competently and readily change shoes and wash their hands for their snack.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY421923 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1071359 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Mitcheldean Early Learners Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 October 2014 Telephone number 01594 543901

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reference number

Mitcheldean Early Learners registered in 1996. The pre-school operates in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire. The pre-school operates from 9am to 3pm on Monday to Friday, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The setting employs seven staff. Of these, five have appropriate early years 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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