St. Lawrence Pre-School

St. Lawrence Pre-School St Lawrence Village Hall, Church Road, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0LL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2017 30 March 2015

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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

 Senior leaders recognise the importance of good communication with parents. They have introduced new methods of communication, such as newsletters and the development of a website. Parents appreciate the improved communication and the increased opportunities to discuss their child's development.  Children understand the established routines within the setting and these help to support their independence skills. For example, children all try to put on their outdoor shoes and coats.  Key persons and parents work well together to establish children's starting points in their development when they start. Regular observations by staff help identify children's next steps in learning and this helps them make good progress.  Where the care of a child is shared with other providers, including schools, there is good communication between the settings. This helps to provide consistency in the learning and development of children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The systems that leaders use for checking the progress of children and taking prompt action to close gaps in their learning are not sufficiently rigorous.  Not all staff provide consistent challenge for children to encourage their independent thinking skills further.

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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 the consistency in the way all staff, including the manager, monitor and support children's progress  provide consistent challenge for children to encourage their independent thinking skills further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector examined a range of documents, including those relating to safeguarding children and managing their behaviour.  The inspector checked the suitability of the staff and the committee members, and looked at children's learning and progress records.  The inspector and the manager observed members of staff interacting with children and discussed their practice.  The inspector read the evaluation documents and discussed these with the vice chair and the manager.  The inspector spoke to a range of parents and children, and took their views into consideration.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All members of staff understand how to keep children safe. They know whom to contact if they have a concern about a child's safety or welfare. Leaders have ensured that there has been a smooth introduction for new committee members and manager, and that Ofsted has been informed of all changes. Leaders evaluate the practices within the pre-school and identify key areas to improve. For example, recent improvements to the recording of accident and the administration of medicine procedures help to provide increased support for children's well-being. Staff are skilled in identifying children who have special educational needs (SEN) and seek advice from other professionals. Leaders provide good support for staff. There are regular opportunities to discuss their practice and identify training needs, helping staff to improve their knowledge and skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy books and enthusiastically take part in the retelling of stories. Staff support children's early reading skills effectively and encourage children to predict the events in the story and the ending. Lots of print in the environment helps to support children's early reading skills, including the recognition of different languages. Staff support children's physical skills effectively. For example, children enjoy balancing and mark-making activities outside in the fresh air. They practise writing skills in the role-play areas. Children learn about different cultures and customs, for example, they made Diwali sweets and created a poppy wreath which they took to the war memorial. Staff speak clearly and this helps to support children's correct pronunciation of words. Children's vocabulary is effectively encouraged. For example, staff talk about how a visor helps to protect firemen and keep them safe.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have a good understanding of the daily routines. For instance, they help to tidy up at the end of the day and hang up their coats after outdoor play. Children understand risk and how to keep safe. For example, they know that they should not touch the Christmas tree lights because they 'might burn'. There are very positive relationships between the staff and the children and this helps support children's confidence. Children behave well. They can confidently make choices, for example, they select the Christmas decorations to put on the tree. Children learn to be independent, such as when they cut up their own fruit and spread the butter on their crackers at snack time.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for school. They can recognise basic shapes, such as triangles and squares, and recognise and count numbers to at least 10. Children learn to use scissors safely and in an appropriate way for their age and stage of development. Children develop their small muscles to help support their early writing development. All children learn to manage their personal care needs effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239264 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1091498 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person St. Lawrence Pre School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 March 2015 Telephone number 01732 763354

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reference number

St. Lawrence Pre-School registered in 2002. It operates from the village hall in Stone Street, near Sevenoaks, Kent. The pre-school is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 3pm, Wednesday from 9am to 12.15pm, and Friday from 9am to 1pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs four members of staff who all hold 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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