Smarties Pre School

Smarties Pre School Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5DB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 June 2018 15 October 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

 All children make good progress in all aspects of their development. They count accurately and match numbers to quantities, and are curious and enthusiastic. For example, younger children choose songs for the group to sing and older children decide what they need to make porridge after enjoying the story of Goldilocks.  Staff observe and assess children's development accurately and check for any differences in learning. Staff plan specific activities so that children can take the next steps in learning. They work with individual children so that they can check their understanding and ensure they catch up quickly.  The management team evaluates all aspects of the pre-school well. Managers review assessment information so that no groups of children fall behind. They identify weaknesses in staff knowledge, about mathematics for example, and provide specific training. They use additional funding well to meet individual children's needs.

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This provision is good

 Staff know individual children well. They provide warm, strong relationships that make children secure. Children show respect and consideration for each other. They know how to assess risks for themselves, carefully manoeuvring the tricycles, for example.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Leaders have not ensured that all staff provide sufficient challenge and fully develop children's critical-thinking skills and imagination.  At times, staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to be creative, and to investigate and extend their play.

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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

 continue to develop staff's knowledge of how to provide effective challenge and fully develop children's critical-thinking skills and imagination  provide more opportunities for children to extend and develop their creativity and investigative skills in all parts of the day.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff teaching and children learning indoors and outdoors.  The inspector conducted joint observations with members of the management team.  The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff and took their views into account.  The inspector sampled necessary documents, procedures and policies.  The inspector held meetings with the members of the management team and other staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team monitors practice effectively and has implemented the recommendations from the previous inspection. Staff choose and arrange resources carefully and younger children have more opportunities to work in smaller groups in a quiet place. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff know how to report any concerns and are knowledgeable and vigilant in watching for any signs of abuse. The management team ensures that staff are trained for specific medical needs and it works effectively with a range of other professionals to support children who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. The team ensures that it shares assessment information with other settings that the children attend so that progress is seamless.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff follow children's interests and use their improved teaching skills well. They discuss mathematical concepts of shape, quantity, relative size and position with children during a wide variety of activities. For example, they discuss these concepts in the role-play area, when making imaginary soup and when measuring the size of the towers children build. Staff create opportunities for younger children to talk, explaining about their family, for example. Staff select resources carefully to develop the full range of children's physical skills. For example, children use large brushes and water; manipulate paper punches and small stickers, and paint vehicle wheels to make tracks on paper. Staff prepare children well for the move to school, meeting with parents and school staff, and checking children have the necessary skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff relate well to children and have a strong partnership with parents so that children rapidly gain confidence and settle quickly. Parents are very confident in the staff's knowledge of their children and have regular discussions about progress so that they can support learning at home. Children learn about all members of the community. They visit older people in a residential home, and understand and support their friends who have disabilities. Staff ensure that the setting is inclusive and all children have the same opportunities. Children explain how to stay safe around an imaginary campfire and use the climbing frame safely. Children know it is important to wash germs and dirt from their hands before eating. They pour their drinks and talk about their favourite healthy food.

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Outcomes for children are good

Older children can recognise numbers and accurately count objects to match them. They recognise their names in print and identify the first letter sound. They enjoy familiar stories and songs and develop the physical skills they need to write. Younger children find 'one more', and can say which is taller or heavier. They choose and name the colours when they are painting. Children who have SEN and/or disabilities make rapid progress in learning to relate to other children and expressing their choices. Children are ready for the next stage in their education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141007 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1127117 Type of provision Full-time 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 56 Name of registered person Angela Lesley Morris

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 October 2015 Telephone number 01305 816421

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reference number

Smarties Pre School registered in 1998. It is situated in a hall in the Broadwey area of Weymouth, Dorset. The pre-school is open from 8.30am until 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 8.30am until 1pm on Wednesday during school term time. There are 11 members of staff. Of these, the three members of the management team and five staff have early years qualifications at level 3 and two staff have a level 2 qualification. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years 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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