Codicote Pre-School

Codicote Pre-School St Giles Parish Centre, Bury Lane, Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 8XX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 March 2018 29 April 2015

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Not all members of the committee have had their suitability checked with Ofsted. However, this does not have a direct impact on children’s well-being as they do not have unsupervised contact with children or sole responsibility in decision making.  Staff do not make best use of opportunities to enable children to practise their early writing skills.

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It has the following strengths

 The quality of teaching across the pre-school is consistently strong. The staff work well together and communicate effectively to ensure that all children make good progress.  The key-person system is very effective. This helps children to settle at the pre-school quickly and feel safe and secure.  Staff form positive partnerships with parents early on, which helps them to gather vital information on children’s starting points and their likes and dislikes before the child starts. Parents comment that they feel well informed about their child’s progress at the pre-school.  The staff team is encouraged to develop its professional knowledge and skills. Training opportunities that are relevant to staff’s specific roles and responsibilities are offered, which helps to promote the learning and development of children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that Ofsted is provided with the necessary information to confirm the suitability of all members of the committee. 22/04/2018

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 extend opportunities for children to develop their early writing skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to members of staff at suitable points during the inspection.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector looked at samples of children's records, planning documentation, staff's suitability documents and a range of other documentation during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Not all required suitability checks for members of the committee have been completed. However, the committee does not have unsupervised contact with the children or access to confidential records. The manager recognises the need for more-robust systems to be in place to ensure that Ofsted's suitability procedures are followed correctly. Safeguarding is effective. Staff update their safeguarding knowledge through appropriate training courses and in-house staff meetings. Staff implement policies and procedures effectively, which contribute to the smooth running of the pre-school. The manager supports the wider staff team through supervision meetings and appraisals to help develop staff's professional knowledge. Staff work effectively with other providers, which helps to ensure consistency in children's care and learning between settings.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is strong. Children are interested and engaged in their learning. Staff effectively assess children's progress and plan a range of interesting and stimulating activities that focuses on individual children's needs and interests. Staff skilfully question children, which helps to support their communication and language skills. Children's mathematical skills are supported well, through enjoyable and well-planned activities. For example, a daily helper is chosen to count the number of children present and staff support all other children to join in. Children use their imagination to create sand cakes when playing with sand outdoors.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are knowledgeable about children's medical needs, such as allergies. They ensure that appropriate care plans are in place to help them to effectively meet these children's needs. Children behave well and enjoy their pre-school experience. Staff have age- appropriate expectations of children's behaviour. Children are supported to develop their independence skills, such as toilet training and hanging up their coats. Children celebrate cultural festivals, such as Chinese New Year. This helps to support children's understanding of the wider community. Staff regularly talk to children about rules and why they are important. For example, children are reminded to walk inside and that they can run outside. Staff talk to children about the importance of hygiene, such as washing their hands, and children are keen to share their knowledge of this subject with others.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are sociable, independent learners who make good progress overall. For example, they show enjoyment when using their physical skills to jump on the trampoline outside. Children develop their knowledge of colours, such as through painting activities. Children enjoy exploring shaving foam, using their senses to touch and smell. Overall, children gain the necessary skills to prepare them for moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411303 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1094370 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Codicote Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 April 2015 Telephone number 07542285412

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reference number

Codicote Pre-School registered at the current location in 2010. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the leader who holds an early years degree. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday during term time only, from 9.25am to 12.25pm every day. On a Tuesday and Thursday, there is a lunch club from 12.30pm to 1.15pm, as well as an afternoon session from 1.15pm to 3.45pm. 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

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

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