YMCA Taunton Pre-School

YMCA Taunton Pre-School YMCA, Lisieux Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2LB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 June 2018 Not applicable

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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

 All children make at least good progress in their learning. The support provided for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and for children who learn English as an additional language, is consistently excellent. Extremely strong partnerships with other professionals and a consistent approach to planning ensure that these children make the best possible progress.  Recent changes to management have had a very positive impact and helped to ensure good-quality outcomes for children. For example, management has introduced a weekly team meeting to involve all staff in evaluating the effectiveness of activities and identifying where they can improve these to further benefit children's learning.  Children's self-esteem is very good and they show through their behaviour that they feel emotionally secure. For example, children making 'cakes' in the mud kitchen invited others who were watching to join in and they happily shared resources with them.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently provide clear explanations about what children are aiming to achieve during activities. For example, some younger children did not understand what 'balanced' meant during a weights and measure activity.  Although changes to the sharing of information have improved parents' knowledge of their children's ongoing progress, staff gain limited information from most parents about what their children already know and can do when they first attend.

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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

 help children to understand the aims of activities and learning so they fully understand what is expected of them, particularly the younger children, to help them achieve  involve parents more effectively in helping to identify what their children already know and can do when they first start to attend.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector observed staff and children engaged in learning activities indoors and outside.  The inspector spoke to parents, children, management and staff.  The inspector sampled required documentation relating to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and systems to monitor the effectiveness of the learning provision.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager supports staff very well and encourages them to continue to develop their skills. Staff use team meetings effectively to share new knowledge and how to use this to improve children's learning experiences. For example, developing their understanding of how to extend outdoor learning opportunities led to significant changes to outside space and resources. For instance, staff provided resources that have no specific purpose, such as giant reels, planks and wooden boxes, for children to use. The manager's very good monitoring shows how this has led to improvements in children's problem-solving skills and ability to work together, such as when building an obstacle course. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a very good understanding of local safeguarding procedures. They are experienced in working with other agencies to help protect children from harm.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager and staff use their very good observations and assessments to monitor children's progress and to plan well for their next steps in learning. The manager's very thorough tracking of individuals and groups of children identifies any gaps in learning, which staff address through the planning process to ensure these close quickly. Overall, staff communicate well with children and make good use of opportunities to extend their learning further. For example, when children asked why the tadpole tank slanted so that it was partly out of the water when it had not been previously, staff encouraged them to refer to the life cycle picture, extending their literacy and their knowledge of the natural world. Children realised the tadpoles were changing into froglets, and they were very excited when they saw one hop out of the water onto dry land in the tank.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy very good activities that encourage their physical development and awareness of how their bodies work. For example, once everyone had arrived in the morning, they enthusiastically took part in a daily 'wake and shake' activity. They moved energetically and with control, and made sure they had enough space to move safely. Children understand about keeping safe and well. For example, during imaginary play, they 'called' 999 for an ambulance when the doll fell over and hurt its leg.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn very good skills that prepare them well for their next stage in learning, including going to school. They are independent and quickly learn to do things for themselves. For example, two-year-old children helped prepare their fruit at snack time, and they washed, dried and put away their cups and plates. Older children competently use technology. For example, they used the computer tablet to take a picture of an unknown insect, and arranged with staff to look it up on the internet when back inside.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY501334 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1054034 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person YMCA Taunton

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01823 288181

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reference number

YMCA Taunton Pre-School re-registered in 2016. It operates from the YMCA in Taunton, Somerset. The pre-school is open 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday, term time only. There are eight staff who work with the children. One member of staff holds an early years degree, one has a level 4 early years qualification, and six staff hold level 3 qualifications. The setting is in receipt of early education funding for children aged two, three and four years old.

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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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