Coldharbour Pre-school

Coldharbour Pre-school Highland Close, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK3 7PD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 January 2018 11 June 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is inadequate

 The management committee has failed to implement systems to ensure that all committee members complete the required vetting procedures. Their suitability to be responsible for a childcare provision is not verified.  The provider has not ensured that Ofsted is notified of committee members and provided the information needed to complete necessary suitability checks.  The committee does not provide the manager with regular opportunities for supervisory meetings to give her the support she needs to manage the pre-school successfully.  Managers have not implemented ways to monitor the progress of the groups of children who attend to help to target teaching more effectively.  At times, staff do not make best use of opportunities to challenge children to learn more.

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It has the following strengths

 Relationships between children and staff are good. Children have fun and enjoy their learning.  Staff provide children with a broad range of enjoyable activities that promotes their good progress.  Parents have an effective partnership with staff. They feel involved in their children's learning and have regular opportunities to speak with their key person.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 implement effective systems for vetting committee members, including obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks 09/02/2018

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Due Date

 inform Ofsted of all members of the committee to enable necessary suitability checks to be completed 09/02/2018

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Due Date

 implement appropriate arrangements for the manager to have regular supervisory meetings that provide support and promote the interests of children. 09/02/2018

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 extend the monitoring of children's development to include the progress of the different groups of children who attend, to help target teaching more effectively  make the most of all opportunities to provide children with the challenge they need to extend their learning as much as possible.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. She discussed the plans for ongoing improvements.  Various documents were sampled, including evidence of suitability checks, children's records and some policies and procedures.  The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. In August last year, Ofsted asked the management committee to improve systems for vetting staff and committee members. This included informing Ofsted of changes to the committee so appropriate suitability checks could be completed. Systems to ensure checks are taken up on committee members in good time have still not been implemented. Ofsted has not been informed of all committee members, as required. In one instance, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has not been obtained. The manager has taken steps to minimise risks to children. She ensures that committee members do not have access to confidential information or unsupervised access to children at the pre-school. The manager takes responsibility for staff recruitment and has improved systems for vetting staff. For example, new DBS checks have been obtained and other suitability checks have been renewed. The manager offers staff regular

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

supervisory meetings to provide them with support and coaching. Staff are encouraged to attend training to improve their teaching skills. However, the manager does not benefit from similar support from the management committee. Managers and staff attend regular safeguarding training. They understand the procedures to follow if a child is at risk of abuse. Staff carry out safety checks of the premises and ensure children are supervised as they play. The monitoring of children's progress does not yet include all of the groups of children who attend to help staff focus teaching more precisely.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The qualified and experienced staff know the children well. They observe the children regularly and plan effectively for the next steps in their learning. Children eagerly take part in active group songs and games. They have a good understanding of the rules of 'duck, duck, goose' and join in with noisy enthusiasm. Staff introduce children to numbers in practical ways. For example, children count each other and know how many chairs are at the tables. Staff support children's communication skills well. They encourage plenty of conversations and show an interest in children's views. Occasionally, staff are not alert to times when children need further challenge to extend and enhance their learning experiences.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

In spite of the weaknesses in leadership and management, there is no impact on children's welfare. Staff develop close links with parents. This helps them to settle children quickly and meet their individual needs. Children develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles. They have varied nutritious snacks and help staff to grow vegetables to eat. Staff encourage children to take part in physical activities outdoors, such as riding on toy cars. Children exercise their muscles as they use spades and containers to move sand or dig up soil for their mud kitchen. Children behave well and have a good understanding of their rules and boundaries.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those receiving additional funding, make good progress in their learning given their starting points. Children cooperate with each other well and understand how to share and take turns. Younger children make marks with chalks and paints. Older children learn to recognise and form the letters of their names. Children learn to look after themselves. They pour drinks and put on their own coats when going outdoors. Children communicate confidently with adults and each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141766 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1110213 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 - 4 Total number of places 66 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Coldharbour Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 June 2015 Telephone number 01908 379154

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reference number

Coldharbour Pre-school registered in 1982. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 3pm during school term times. The pre-school provides funded early education places for eligible two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school employs 14 members of staff including the manager. Of these, 10 hold relevant qualifications between level 2 and level 4.

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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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