First Steps Pre-School

First Steps Pre-School Plymouth Methodist Central Hall, Eastlake Street, Plymouth, PL1 1BA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 February 2018 24 September 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

 The manager and staff are reflective of their practice. They successfully involve parents in their self-evaluation to make improvements to the service they provide for children and families. For example, they provide additional activities and resources to support children's individual needs and interests and promote their ongoing progress.  Staff provide strong support to children's learning and development, and children gain good communication and language skills. For example, staff encourage children to describe their imaginary adventures as they eagerly explore an exciting dinosaur landscape. Older children are fluent and speak confidently. Younger children learn new words to extend their vocabulary well.  The manager and staff form effective links with local schools to help children to move on to the next stage in their education confidently. For example, they arrange visits and share useful information about children's achievements and interests with school staff.

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This provision is good

 Staff are caring and attentive to children's needs. They support children's social and emotional development well and children make good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not provide a broad range of learning opportunities outdoors.  Staff do not consult parents about what children can already achieve when they first attend to inform their planning more accurately from the start.

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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

 provide more opportunities to extend children's literacy, numeracy and communication skills for those who learn best outdoors  consult parents about children's levels of development when they first start to attend, to better plan activities from the start.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and routines.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and discussed the pre-school's self- evaluation.  The inspector talked to children, parents and staff and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at a range of documents, including children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff are vigilant about the signs that might lead them to be concerned about a child's welfare. They are clear about the correct procedure to follow to keep children safe from harm. The manager recruits and supervises staff effectively and provides good support to their professional development. For example, staff have attended training to improve their storytelling skills. Children benefit from more interactive group times that interest and engage them well and extend their learning. The manager monitors children's learning closely and uses funding effectively to provide prompt support when children need extra help. The good partnerships with outside agencies and other providers promote a consistent approach to children's learning and development. This helps all children to reach their full potential.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn through play. They use their accurate assessments of children's levels of development effectively to plan the next steps in their learning. Once children have settled, staff keep parents well informed about their child's progress and involve them in their learning well. Staff interact with children positively during activities and support their mathematical development effectively. For example, they skilfully encourage older children to compare shapes and sizes as they enjoy building models. Younger children join in with action rhymes and songs enthusiastically and develop their good counting skills. Staff provide a good range of interesting resources for children to explore that they can choose for themselves. Children develop good sensory skills and curiosity and are motivated to learn.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work in good partnership with parents to support children's home routines and provide consistency to their care. Children are relaxed, move about freely and enjoy taking part in the activities on offer. Staff are good role models and help children to share resources and cooperate well during play. They use positive strategies and gentle encouragement to help children to cope with potential conflict with others and children behave well. Children learn to adopt healthy lifestyles, including enjoying healthy snacks. They follow good hygiene routines and play safely. Staff support their understanding of their local community well during visits to places of interest, for example. They provide resources that reflect diversity and opportunities for children to experience other cultures. This helps children to make comparisons between their way of life and that of others.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain the skills they need for future learning and moving on to school. They develop good early literacy skills. Older children recognise letters of the alphabet and write their names confidently. Younger children show interest in making marks and use creative resources skilfully. Children concentrate well and persevere with activities such as puzzles and games until they achieve success, and show pride in their achievements.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117187 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 1070170 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 26 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person Plymouth Methodist Central Hall

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 September 2014 Telephone number 01752 661014

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reference number

First Steps Pre-School registered in 1992 and is run by the Plymouth Methodist Church. The pre-school operates from the Plymouth Methodist Central Hall in the city centre. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm during term time. A lunch club runs on Wednesdays from 12.30pm to 1pm. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre- school employs five members of staff, all of whom hold a relevant childcare qualification.

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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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