St Luke's Pre-School (Rochester)

St Luke's Pre-School (Rochester) Wesley Hall, St Luke's Methodist Church, City Way, Rochester, Kent, ME1 2BQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 May 2018 14 May 2015

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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 committee and management are reflective and regularly evaluate the service they provide. They support staff very well and encourage their continuous professional development.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are strong. Staff keep parents accurately informed about their children's progress and encourage them to take an active part in their learning. Staff understand the importance of linking with other carers in settings where children also attend to provide continuity in children's learning and care.  Children make good progress in their learning and staff are swift to identify and support any gaps in children's development to ensure they are well prepared for school.  Children thoroughly enjoy being outdoors in the pre-school's garden area. Staff provide them with a variety of equipment and resources to support their physical development and social skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The opportunities for children to develop and learn independence in everyday tasks are inconsistent.  Occasionally, children do not have enough opportunities to explore further their own creative ideas.

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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 children with even more opportunities to manage everyday tasks for themselves to support their independence skills further  improve further the range of materials available to help children explore and use their own ideas in their play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and deputy manager of the setting.  The inspector held a meeting with some of the committee members and also with the manager and deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled a wide range of documentation, including staff suitability checks, children's learning records, and required records such as accidents and incidents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibility towards protecting children from harm. They know whom to report to should they have any concerns. There are robust recruitment, vetting and supervision arrangements to help ensure children's welfare and safety. The manager supports staff well and encourages them to enhance their professional development. For example, regular training, using an online speech and language programme, helps staff provide relevant support in children's communication skills. The self-evaluation process is effective and aids staff in identifying areas needing further attention. Improvements recently made include the staff using an online, secure childcare application to help involve parents even more in their children's progress. The outdoor garden has also been expanded and enhanced to provide children with a more interesting area in which to explore and play. Funded children are provided

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

with activities to help them progress in areas where they may need additional support.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children play happily with the activities and resources set out for them. Staff gather information from parents about what their children know and can do when they start at the setting. Observations and assessments are accurately completed and children's progress in their learning is able to be tracked effectively. Children's mathematical development is given good attention. For example, they are encouraged to count each other when they have all arrived. They also participate in focused number and shape games and activities. Children are encouraged to learn the sounds and names of letters, such as those in their name. Staff read stories which engage and involve all the children well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work closely with parents to ensure children's care needs are being met. This helps to support children's emotional and physical well-being. Children benefit from nutritious snack choices. Children are very well behaved and respond positively to guidance and instructions from the staff, such as when they line up to go outside to the grassed area. They enjoy being in the fresh air and love running about. They then discuss the changes to their body when they are out of breath. Staff consistently praise children and encourage them to acknowledge their achievements.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy learning together and develop skills, such as listening to others. They have developed good literacy skills and speak out confidently. Children develop a strong sense of self and belonging in their surroundings. All children make good progress in their learning. Staff help them be well prepared for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 103846 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 1088941 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 30 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person St Lukes Pre-school (Rochester)

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 May 2015 Telephone number 01634 819 809

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reference number

St Lukes Pre-School (Rochester) registered in 1966. It operates from two rooms in a church community hall in Rochester, Kent. The pre-school is open from 9.15am to 1pm from Monday to Friday and from 1pm to 3pm on Monday and Tuesday. It is open term time only. Children aged two, three and four years receive funding for free nursery education. The pre-school employs eight members of staff, including two administrative staff. Of the staff working directly with the children, one holds early years professional status and four hold recognised qualifications at level 3.

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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

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