Nicholson Hall Pre-School

Nicholson Hall Pre-School St Andrews Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1QA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 April 2018 3 May 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 management team has successfully addressed the actions from the previous inspection and raised the quality of the pre-school, to ensure all requirements are met.  Overall, teaching is good. Staff use observations and assessments well to plan for children's next steps in learning. Children make good progress in relation to their starting points and acquire the skills they need for school.  There is high regard to the safeguarding of children. Staff are well trained in child protection and have a secure understanding of what to do if they are worried about a child's welfare.  Children are extremely happy and well behaved. They show very positive attitudes to learning and are very proud of their achievements. For example, they excitably tell others when their 'kind hand' gets displayed on the 'wall of fame'.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not consistently explore ways to engage parents more in home- learning activities to raise children's learning outcomes even further.  Although peer observations take place, the manager does not sharply focus on the quality of adult-led teaching skills to help raise the quality of learning activities to 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

 strengthen further the partnership with parents in supporting home-learning activities to raise children's learning outcomes to a higher level  extend peer observation practice to focus sharply on the quality of adult-led teaching skills to help raise the quality of learning activities even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to children, observed the children's play activities indoors and outdoors, looked at the available resources and read relevant documentation.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss leadership and management, including self-evaluation methods.  The inspector spoke to some parents and took account of their views.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff team show strong commitment to continuous improvement. Safeguarding is effective. Staff recruitment and ongoing suitability checks are effective and support children's safety. The management team follows child protection procedures religiously. The manager organises regular staff meetings, staff supervision and offers staff good opportunities for further training. For example, training on behaviour management has helped staff in dealing with children's different behaviours. The management team monitors and successfully addresses staff underperformance. Strong partnerships with schools and other professionals ensure that children's needs are met. Parents express strong satisfaction with their child's experience.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide children with an accessible range of toys and equipment, which successfully supports their learning. For example, children are keen to explore the play dough with their hands and different tools to mould and make shapes. Staff get down to children's level, join in play and purposefully extend their learning experiences by strong interaction. For example, they encourage counting and the comparing of size. Staff effectively observe and assess children's abilities. They offer children good challenge to build on what each child knows and can do. Overall, planning is effective and matches children's needs, particularly for children below expected levels of development on entry. Staff effectively support children's language and understanding. For example, during whole-group story times they use a good tone of voice to fully engage children and ask varied questions.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle quickly and form very strong bonds with their key person. They understand the routines of their day through clear communication from staff and strong teaching strategies. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep children safe, and implement effective safety measures to minimise hazards. For example, they keep a record of children present in the building and operate a clear, safe walking procedure to the garden. They support children to understand the importance of being healthy and learn healthy routines, such as cleaning their teeth after lunchtime. Very good daily opportunities for exercise are available in the large, exciting, outdoor area. Children develop their physical skills well as they climb, construct and use varied play resources.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are developing good skills for the future. They relax and enjoy looking at books in the cosy book area with friends. Children have ample opportunity to be independent and creative, to recognise their names and practise early writing skills. They develop their speaking skills well, and those below typical levels in development are beginning to catch up through targeted teaching support. Children have fun in the outdoors, are imaginative in the mud kitchen, recognise numerals in the environment and enjoy music and singing with their friends, sat on recycled crates. They design and build with construction sets.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 507941 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1099412 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 32 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Nicholson Hall Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 May 2017 Telephone number 07754 101 965

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reference number

Nicholson Hall Pre-School opened in the 1960s and registered with Ofsted in 2001. It is managed by a voluntary committee and has charitable status. It operates from rooms in a church building in the Gosport area of Hampshire. The pre-school is open on Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3.30pm and on Friday from 9am until midday. The pre-school employs five members of staff to work with the children. Three members of staff hold a qualification at level 3, one holds a qualification at level 4 and one is qualified to level 5. The pre-school receives funding for free early education sessions for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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