Stepping Stones Pre- School

Stepping Stones Pre- School Winnall Primary School, Garbett Road, Winchester, SO23 0NY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 February 2018 Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The manager provides outstanding vision and direction. She is a strong and determined leader, who has exceptionally high expectations for her staff and the families they support. She very successfully promotes a culture of ambition where the needs and interests of children are at the heart of everything that they do.  Teaching is creative, inspirational and highly effective in promoting children's rapid progress. Staff inspire children to investigate and explore their environment. They plan activities tailored to meet very effectively the needs of all groups of children. Children's achievements are outstanding in all areas of their learning.  Partnerships with parents are excellent. Staff continually raise parents' aspirations for their children to succeed and achieve their very best. They work very successfully in partnership with them to support children's learning needs. Staff provide a wide range

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This provision is outstanding

of innovative ways to engage parents and help them continue their children's learning at home.  The manager follows highly effective strategies to monitor the effectiveness of the pre- school, which contributes very successfully towards sustained and ongoing development. She values the views of all users and makes extensive use of their ideas to improve the provision.

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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 children's understanding of how to eat well and learn about balanced food choices.

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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 of teaching with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with a director of the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff pay meticulous attention to promoting children's welfare and work exceptionally well in partnership with external agencies to keep children safe. Staff have a wealth of impressive skills, experience and expert knowledge between them, which is used to excellent effect to ensure children get the very best start in their learning. Sharply focused personal development ensures that staff continue to develop their consistently excellent teaching skills. Gaps in children's learning are quickly addressed through excellent partnership working with a range of professionals, such as the speech and language team and inclusion support, who visit the setting regularly. Staff use additional funding exceptionally well to support children to make the best possible progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff consistently use their excellent teaching skills to develop children's ideas and extend their learning. They use searching questions to explore children's understanding and develop their thinking skills very effectively. Staff expertly balance routines with plenty of uninterrupted time for children to immerse themselves in play. They track children's individual's achievements meticulously and very successfully plan learning experiences which help children work to overcome specific issues, such as speech and language delay. Staff model language very clearly, listen to children carefully and use questions precisely. They help children to learn quickly how to recognise shapes, mathematical patterns and numbers and use these in their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The manager and staff excel in providing an inclusive and supportive environment for children and their families. Play spaces are vibrant, the outdoor area provides an exemplary space for children to develop their imagination and they have access to high- quality activities across all areas of learning. Children develop high levels of independence and collaborate very well in their play. They rise to the high expectations staff set for their behaviour and show an excellent understanding of how their behaviour affects others and how to stay safe. Children benefit from exciting opportunities to explore the local environment, for example, travelling on a bus to a local bookseller to use their book vouchers. Staff are giving some consideration to how to enhance children's understanding of nutritious food choices.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including those in receipt of additional funding, make excellent progress from their starting points. They develop exceptional attitudes towards learning and very confidently meet new challenges. Children are highly capable and expert problem solvers. They think hard and concentrate very well. Children listen attentively to explanations and follow instructions carefully. They develop a love for reading and show great imagination. All children leave pre-school very well prepared for their next stages of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY496479 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1034967 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Stepping Stones At Winnall

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07710548650

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reference number

Stepping Stones Pre-School registered in 2015. It is located behind Winnall Primary School, in the city of Winchester, Hampshire. The pre-school is open daily from 9.15am to 3.15pm term time only. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs six members of staff. Of these, all except one hold appropriate early years qualifications. The manager has early years teacher status.

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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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