Spring Cedars

The Cedars Pre School Northbrook Close, Exeter, EX4 8LD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 February 2018 26 September 2017

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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

 The provider has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Although relatively new in post, the acting manager has focused very well on team building. For example, she involves new and existing staff very effectively in making changes that improved outcomes for children.  Partnerships with parents are good. Strategies to encourage parents involvement in their children's learning have been particularly effective.  New systems of observation and assessment result in staff having a much better understanding of each child's stage of development. As a result, planning for children's next steps in learning is precise and well focused, and they now make good progress.  Children are happy and confident, and show they feel emotionally secure. The effective key-person system that is now in place helps babies to feel secure and bond with the staff caring for them. Good staff deployment supports toddlers as they move between

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This provision is good

indoors and outdoors, confidently exploring and investigating their surroundings.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Resources to help staff extend older toddler's developing awareness of number are not easily accessible. For example, when staff encouraged them to link the objects they counted to the numerals, the number line was too high for them to see easily.  The systems for staff support are still too new for the acting manager to fully measure the impact on children's learning at a higher 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

 make sure resources to help children develop and extend their early understanding of number are easily accessible  monitor further the effectiveness of systems to provide staff with support, coaching and training in relation to the impact this has on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children engaged in learning activities indoors and outside.  The inspector and the manager conducted a joint observation of a planned activity.  The inspector had discussions with management, staff, children and parents.  The inspector reviewed the effectiveness of induction processes for new staff, and assessed their understanding of how to implement key policies and procedures.  The inspector sampled required documents and records, including safeguarding procedures, and children's progress records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team supports staff well. Thorough induction procedures ensure all staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Overall, the acting manager supports staff well and encourages them to develop their skills. For example, following workshops, staff reviewed how they organise space and resources to better meet the needs of young children. For instance, they provided short flights of steps indoors so that children who like to climb have a safe space to do this. Effective self-evaluation, which includes parents' views, leads to precise action plans for improvement. The acting manager monitors these very well to measure the impact of improvements on children's learning. For example, by developing a separate outdoor area for babies to safely explore this has led to them becoming more adventurous and keen to investigate. Safeguarding is effective. All staff benefit from training updates to make sure they are up to date with

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

current legislation and local safeguarding procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Introducing regular team meetings to discuss children's progress has led to all staff having a thorough understanding of each child's next steps in learning. This helps them to plan activities that challenge children well. Staff prepare activities well and make good explanations to children to make sure they understand what they need to do. For example, they made sure that all the toddlers knew the names of each object on the tray before removing one and asking them to identify what was missing. Children who speak English as an additional language receive good support. For example, staff read stories with them individually and encourage them to talk about these, to help them develop confidence in speaking English and to close any gaps in learning. Staff have improved outdoor learning opportunities. For example, toddlers who prefer to learn outdoors make good use of the recently developed covered area, which supports learning in all areas well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's behaviour is good. Settling-in procedures are effective and children of all ages are happy and content. For example, staff support older babies and younger toddlers as they quickly choose to relinquish comforters, such as dummies and blankets, when they come into the setting. These children are secure in the knowledge that they can easily retrieve these when needed.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good skills that prepare them for the next stages in their learning. They are very independent. For example, babies who can stand use the low-level sink to wash their hands with minimal adult help. Toddlers lay the tables at lunchtime and serve themselves, taking care with hot food. Children learn good social and communication skills that help them to be ready to move on to the pre-school unit when they are three.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551303 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1115413 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 2 Total number of places 21 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 September 2017 Telephone number 01392 277 682

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reference number

The Cedars Pre School registered in 2017. It is situated in Beacon Heath, in Exeter, Devon and is managed by Action For Children Developments Ltd. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6.00pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 14 members of staff employed. Of these, two hold childcare qualifications at level 6, one holds a qualification at level 5, one hold a qualification at level 4, six hold childcare qualifications at level 3 and two at level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two-years-old.

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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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