St. Michaels Pre-School

St. Michaels Pre-School St. Michaels Church Hall, Stockwell Park Road, London, SW9 0DA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 January 2018 22 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

 Children enjoy well-planned group activities. They learn songs that help them to understand about numbers, counting and the days of the week. They join in with the words and actions and this helps to promote their understanding and confidence.  There is a strong focus on promoting children's speaking and listening skills. Staff use every opportunity to reinforce children's vocabulary and conversation skills throughout their time at the pre-school.  Children enjoy exploring the stimulating indoor and outdoor play areas. They make independent choices and follow their own interests in their play and learning.  Staff have established a positive partnership with parents, overall. They ensure that parents are well informed about what their children are learning and how they can promote this at home.  Staff make good use of praise and encouragement to promote children's self-esteem and confidence.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not currently obtain clear information from parents about what their children know and can do when they start at the pre-school.  The programme for the professional development of all staff does not focus robustly on raising the quality of teaching to an outstanding level.

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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

 gather more detailed information from parents about what children already know and can do when they start at the pre-school  build on the programme of continuous professional development so that the quality of teaching is constantly improving.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  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 with a small number of parents 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 are aware of their responsibilities in all aspects of child protection and they know what action to take if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Overall, staff monitor children's progress well. They implement effective systems to support children who are learning English as an additional language, such as providing home visits and targeted support. Staff identify gaps in learning and seek support from other professionals, when required, to strengthen children's development. The manager meets regularly with the staff team to discuss current practices. She evaluates what staff do and encourages them to think about ways to improve their practice and the pre-school provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children benefit from a welcoming environment where staff are friendly, caring and spend quality time interacting and supporting them as they play. From the outset, a strong focus is placed on promoting children's language skills. Staff continuously talk with children and ask a wide range of appropriate questions. Consequently, children learn to discuss their own thoughts and opinions. Staff play alongside children and effectively model how to use resources. As a result, all children enthusiastically explore and investigate. They show high levels of engagement as they play with sand and water. They enjoy easel painting, constructing models and using small tools to manipulate play dough.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle quickly, indicating they feel safe and secure. Discussions and shared 'wow' moments between staff and parents support staff's understanding of children's experiences outside of the pre-school. This contributes to children's emotional well-being and helps staff to plan activities based on children's interests. Children respond well to staff's realistic expectations as they move between different areas indoors and outside. They begin to develop their independence and take responsibility. For example, they register themselves on arrival and learn to put on their own coats. Staff encourage children to develop good self-care skills and to follow good personal hygiene practices.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points. Early mathematical and reading skills are emerging well as children learn to count and recognise their names. Younger children make marks that help them develop pre-writing skills and older children are beginning to recognise additional letters. All children learn to manage tasks for themselves, play well with others and persevere with challenges. They show an interest in experiments, numbers and shapes and are eager to learn. Children receive good support to prepare them for the next stage in learning and eventually for their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 144065 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 1070347 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 24 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person St Michaels Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 October 2014 Telephone number 020 7274 0783

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reference number

St Michaels Pre-School registered in 1960 and is run by a management committee. It operates from St Michaels Church Hall in Stockwell in the London Borough of Lambeth. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 3 and level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 2.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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