St Thomas Pre-School

St Thomas Pre-School St. Thomas C of E Primary School, Astley Street, LEIGH, Lancashire, WN7 2AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2017 5 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 provide a welcoming, well-resourced environment. Children initiate their own learning as they independently choose where they want to play and what they want to do. They concentrate on their chosen activities and persevere at challenging tasks.  Staff have a clear understanding of their role in helping children learn. Overall, they use good-quality teaching skills to enthuse and ignite children's interests and readiness for learning. Children make good progress in their learning and development.  Very strong relationships are built with parents, who highly praise the pre-school. Parents receive frequent information about their child's development and have opportunities to contribute what their child is learning at home. For example, 'wow' moments help form part of children's ongoing assessments. Additionally, parents are able to attend open days and parents' evenings.  The management team encourages feedback from staff, parents and children to

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This provision is good

evaluate the success of the pre-school. Staff are passionate and committed to further improving the quality and effectiveness of the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although children's individual progress is tracked effectively, methods to monitor the progress of different groups of children are still in their infancy.  At times, staff solve children's problems too readily, without giving children time to think of solutions for themselves.

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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

 strengthen processes for monitoring children's progress, in particular to get an overview of progress relating to different groups of children  allow children to have more time to think of solutions to the problems that they encounter.

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

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a sound knowledge of their role in protecting children. They fully understand the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. Overall, the manager and staff team accurately monitor and track children's individual learning. They have identified where improvements are needed to help them look at the progress that different groups of children make and where additional support might be needed. The manager holds purposeful supervision meetings with staff and offers continuous mentoring to help them improve their practice. Staff are able to access a variety of training courses that helps improve outcomes for children. For example, recent language training has supported staff to develop their teaching skills in nurturing children's emerging communication skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff accurately observe and assess children's learning and development. They sensitively support children in their play, asking questions about what children are doing. They encourage children to describe and explain and offer an abundance of praise and encouragement as children complete tasks. Children master the use of scissors as they create collages and make marks for a purpose using a variety of media. They use play dough tools with increasing confidence and describe the worm family they have made. Children's mathematical skills are supported well as they build houses from bricks. They count how many bricks they have used and talk about taller and shorter, more and less.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form close bonds with staff, who are good role models. Flexible settling-in sessions help to support children's emotional well-being. Children's behaviour is appropriate for their age. Staff offer clear and consistent reminders to aid children's understanding. Children demonstrate an understanding of the expectations when at pre- school. They help to tidy away toys and show kindness and respect to their friends. Staff support children to share, take turns and listen to one another as they play collaboratively together. Children have ample opportunities for fresh air and exercise, where they can develop their physical skills using a variety of equipment available. They develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles while they talk about the fruit they are eating and why it is good for their bodies.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are developing the skills they need in readiness for school. They speak confidently and explore happily, building effective friendships. They develop early literacy skills as they discover the sounds letters make and rhyming words. Younger children delight in sharing their favourite books as they eagerly turn the pages and describe what is happening. Older children begin to manage their self-care skills with increasing competence. Children thrive in this wholly inclusive setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY248592 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 1104029 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 40 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person St Thomas Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 December 2014 Telephone number 01942 263 533

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reference number

St Thomas Pre-School registered in 2002. The pre-school is managed by a voluntary committee. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, two staff hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 and one holds an appropriate qualification at level 2. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am and 12.30pm until 3.30pm. Children can also attend from 8.45am until 3.30pm.

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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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