St Helen's Pre-School

St Helen's Pre-School Cathedral Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 June 2018 7 October 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 supports her staff through supervision meetings. This helps them to reflect on their practice and identify opportunities to extend their teaching skills.  Children behave well. They learn how to share and take turns. Children show care and concern for others. Staff are good role models and reinforce positive behaviour through praising children's achievements and efforts.  Staff observe and monitor children's learning and share this with parents. Parents say that they receive information in the pre-school newsletter. This has recently encouraged them to look for butterflies with their children in the garden at home.  Staff work well with other professionals to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff provide targeted support to encourage the development of their communication and language skills.  Children develop their understanding of other cultures and diversity. Staff invite parents

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This provision is good

to share their own cultures and traditions with children. Parents share baking activities with children and read them stories in Polish, Russian and English.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not share enough information about children's learning and development with other early years setting they attend.  They manager has not explored enough ways to gather the views of parents, to inform self-evaluation and help drive forward further improvements.

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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

 extend relationships with other early years settings children attend to promote a common and shared approach to children's learning  strengthen ways to gather the views of parents to inform self-evaluation and help raise outcomes for children to the highest possible level.

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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 with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to several parents and grandparents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff work well with schools that children move on to. They invite teachers to come and see the children, and they talk to children about the changes they will face. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. They risk assess the environment prior to children arriving and remove any identified hazards. Staff supervise children well, for example, when they take children to the bathroom and when children play outdoors. The manager monitors the progress made by groups of children. She speaks to staff about how they can further promote children's speaking skills. Staff introduce 'music for communication' activities for small groups of children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy learning in this well-resourced and inviting pre-school. Staff support children well and help them to make good progress in their learning. Staff provide opportunities for children to make cakes. Children count the number of eggs they break into a bowl. Staff encourage them to add one more and to compare quantities, helping children to develop their mathematical skills. Staff introduce new words to help extend children's vocabulary. When children say that they are going to use a mixer to stir the ingredients, staff tell children that it is called a whisk. Staff help children to develop their problem-solving skills. They ask children what will happen when salt is poured on ice. Children tell staff, 'It will melt the ice'. Children feel the temperature of ice and talk confidently to staff about other foods that are cold, such as ice-cream.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children arrive happy and separate from carers with ease, demonstrating that they feel safe and emotionally secure. Children know the routine of the day. They hang up their coats when they arrive and look for their name card to put on the board to let staff know that they have arrived. Staff keep a register to promote children's safety in an emergency. Children enjoy choosing what they would like to play with, to support their interests and promote their independence. Staff offer children a good range of snacks. They encourage children to be involved in preparing their own snack. Children use knives to cut up strawberries. This helps them learn how to use equipment safely. Grandparents are invited in to the pre-school to plant tomatoes and lettuce with children. This helps children to learn about how food is grown.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and visibly enjoy spending time at the pre-school. They make good progress in their learning and development, and develop key skills for when they start school. Outdoors, children extend their physical skills. They ride on tricycles and scooters and negotiate a safe pathway to follow, avoiding other children. They work together to build a large tower using bricks. Children tell visitors, 'It's really big', demonstrating their understanding of language for size.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY312453 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1104387 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 25 Name of registered person St Helen's Pre-School Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 October 2014 Telephone number 01277265293

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reference number

St Helen's Pre-School registered in 1986. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The pre-school opens on Monday and Tuesday from 8.45am until 2.45pm and on Wednesday from 8.45am until 11.45am, during term time. It 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

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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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