Waltham Preschool

Waltham Preschool Little Waltham Memorial Hall, 15 Brook Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 3LN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 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

 Staff are well deployed to supervise children and they fully understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They effectively support children to feel happy and secure. For example, they speak sensitively with kind words and offer hugs.  Children behave well. Staff take time to explain simple rules about sharing and taking turns. Children are confident and self-assured and enjoy spending time with their friends and staff.  Partnerships with parents are a key strength. Staff forge close links with parents and keep them well informed about children's development and well-being. Parents highly praise the staff team for the care and attention they give their children.  Older children are very well prepared for their move on to school. They regularly visit the local primary school to get used to the environment, teachers and routines.  Staff provide a safe and welcoming environment for children. Children arrive eager to

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This provision is good

join in with activities and enjoy being in the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, staff overlook opportunities to extend children's thinking skills to higher levels.  Coaching and training are not focused as sharply as possible on developing staff's teaching skills to help raise the standard to a consistently outstanding 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

 provide children with more opportunities to link their thoughts and develop their own ideas  sharpen the focus of staff's ongoing professional development to help continually enhance the quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to staff and children and held regular discussions with the manager.  The inspector examined documentation, including a sample of children’s and staff’s records.  The inspector talked to parents during the inspection to gather their views on the pre- school.  The inspector and the manager completed a joint observation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand their role in protecting and keeping children safe. They know the procedures to follow and whom they should contact if they have any concerns about children's welfare. The provider carefully checks staff's suitability prior to employment. Staff are deployed effectively to supervise children and keep them safe. Appropriate records of any accidents and incidents are maintained and shared with parents. The enthusiastic manager encourages staff to share ideas during their regular meetings. The manager and staff assess the pre-school environment for any potential hazards and maintain a safe, clean environment. This helps to ensure children's health and safety. The manager reflects well on the effectiveness of the provision, monitors children's progress and continually makes changes to improve the outcomes for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know the children well through exchanges of information with parents and through observations of their learning. They have a good understanding of how children learn and plan for children's individual next steps through play. Staff carefully organise the indoor and outdoor areas so that children have opportunities to play with a wide range of toys and resources. Staff get down to the children's level and join in with their play. Staff interact purposefully and support children's communication skills well. Staff encourage children to talk about their own experiences. For example, while sharing a book they discuss recent family holidays they have enjoyed. Children are curious and enthusiastic and show a lively interest in new experiences. For example, they are keen to investigate the effect of mixing food colourings to water.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are nurturing and have a friendly approach towards the children. Children are confident and freely investigate the resources and play spaces, showing they feel secure. Flexible settling-in sessions help to ensure that children's emotional well-being is supported well. Staff work together as a strong team to fully support children in their chosen activity. They communicate well and children are kept safe. Children develop good independence skills and make choices during activities and routines. Staff provide children with good opportunities to develop an understanding of healthy practices, such as handwashing. Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress given their starting points and capabilities. They acquire useful skills that prepare them well for the next stage of their learning and the eventual move to school. Children communicate confidently and considerately with each other, staff and visitors to the setting. They join in happily with action songs and listen well to stories. Older children begin to recognise the sounds that letters represent and write their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544398 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1137669 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 24 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Little Waltham Preschool CIC

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07718278917

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reference number

Waltham Preschool was registered in 2017. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The manager holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 8.30am to 12pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8.30am to 3pm on Wednesday and Friday.

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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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