Chiswell Preschool

Chiswell Preschool Chiswell Green United Reformed Church, Watford Road, St Albans, AL2 3HG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 February 2018 Not applicable

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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 demonstrate that they feel very happy and confident in this welcoming pre- school. They form warm and secure bonds with their key person and all members of staff. For instance, children welcome staff's sensitive interaction in their play and frequently give them a cuddle.  The dedicated and well-qualified staff continue to update their knowledge and skills. They receive regular supervisory meetings and have good training opportunities. Recent training has enhanced staff knowledge of improving the provision for two-year- old children even further. Staff also visit other pre-schools to share good practice.  Staff plan an interesting and varied range of stimulating activities that helps children to make good progress in their learning. Children develop a good understanding of the positive impact animals can have in helping others who are visually impaired as they meet and learn about the role of a guide dog.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not share enough information about how parents can extend individual children's learning even further at home.  Staff do not make the best possible use of their own observations and the initial information they obtain from parents to precisely plan for children's next steps in learning from the outset.  Children are not able to explore the whole of their outdoor area and enjoy vigorous exercise during the winter months.

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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

 enhance the support offered to parents to help them to extend children's individual learning at home  make best use of the initial information obtained when children begin attending to plan more precisely for their continued progress from an early stage  provide more opportunities for children to explore the whole of the outdoor area and enjoy vigorous exercise.

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

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The newly appointed managers demonstrate that they are ambitious and committed to their roles. All staff are reflective and regularly evaluate the provision they offer. The manager thoroughly monitors children's progress. Swift action is taken to address any gaps in children's learning. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to identify any children who may be at risk of harm. They know the action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff work in successful partnership with other providers that children attend to support their continuity of learning. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported. Staff work closely with other professionals and children's parents, to agree and implement specific activities that enable children to make good progress in relation to their starting points.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are motivated to learn and engage in activities with enthusiasm in this vibrant pre-school. For instance, children experiment with filling empty soap bottles with pump mechanisms in a variety of ways, such as squeezing sponges soaked in water. Children concentrate for long periods of time and solve problems, through trial and error. They work out that they need to fill the soap bottle with more water and push down on the pump several times to enable the water to dispense. Staff place a strong emphasis on promoting children's language skills. For instance, they introduce children to words in context to their actions. Staff provide children with a wide range of interesting resources that helps to stimulate their vivid imaginations. Children use cardboard boxes and tubes to create a space rocket and pretend that they are flying to the moon.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

All staff are positive role models. Children behave well, use good manners and demonstrate that they are fully aware of the boundaries in place. Group time is a positive experience for children. They demonstrate friendly relationships as they choose a friend to dance with and clap each other to acknowledge their achievements. Staff work in partnership with parents to sensitively prepare and support children who are experiencing changes in their lives.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are independent. They happily carry out age-appropriate responsibilities. Children develop a good understanding of mathematics. They join in with counting songs and use their fingers to represent different quantities. Children learn to link letters to the sounds that they represent and are beginning to write their own name. Children gain the necessary skills needed to help prepare them for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495465 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1033542 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Lora Bowden

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07742 674462

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reference number

Chiswell Preschool registered in 2015. It employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold qualified teacher status and 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from 9am until 3pm, Monday to Thursday and from 9am until 12 noon on Friday, during term time only. It 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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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