Grove Pre-School (Stanway)

Grove Pre-School (Stanway) Scout Hut, Villa Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0RH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 July 2018 3 November 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The key-person system is extremely effective. All staff are highly skilled and sensitive in helping children form secure emotional attachments and provide an exceptionally strong base for children's developing independence and exploration.  Children have superb opportunities to explore the natural environment. They demonstrate high levels of involvement and sustained interest in a wide range of activities such as digging for worms, observing butterflies and playing with shells. Children are inquisitive and motivated learners.  The small and friendly staff team provides a wonderfully nurturing environment. Staff establish strong and trusting partnerships with parents and outside agencies. They work closely with parents and other professionals to support children's individual care, development and learning needs.  Teaching is good. Staff provide a broad range of interesting and stimulating activities

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This provision is good

and children are motivated and enthusiastic to join in. All children are making good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Self-evaluation is not sharply focused on targeting priorities for improvement that help to raise the quality of the pre-school to an outstanding level.  Staff sometimes overlook opportunities to extend children's thinking skills to the highest levels.

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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

 strengthen the process for self-evaluation to plan more precisely for further improvements that will help to raise the quality of practice to an outstanding level  focus even more precisely on extending children's learning to help them make even more rapid progress.

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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 held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion and from the written feedback provided.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of the pre-school safeguarding procedures. They know how to act promptly should they have a concern about the welfare of a child. Staff are supported well. They meet frequently with the manager, which provides opportunities for them to discuss their practice and identify relevant training. Regular team meetings help to support good practice. The manager has implemented systems to effectively identify any gaps in children's learning and plan effective ways to narrow these quickly for all children. Parents speak highly of the friendly, welcoming and nurturing environment and of the excellent progress that their children have made.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good knowledge of how children learn. Staff skilfully maximise opportunities to support children's understanding of the world around them. For example, they talk to children about significant events, such as a flypast by the Royal Air Force and arrange for children to watch the aeroplanes. Children's mathematical development is well supported through practical activities. For example, children measure their feet using cubes and confidently use vocabulary, such as 'one more' when deciding how may cubes they need. Children enjoy a range of sensory experiences. For example, they squeal with delight as they use hammers and their hands to break through ice to release objects that have been frozen inside.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are very happy. They flourish in the exceptionally nurturing environment. Staff are extremely kind, affectionate and caring and children's personal, social and emotional development is exceedingly well supported. Children's independence is extremely well promoted from an early age as they are encouraged to make choices and do things for themselves. Behaviour is excellent, because all staff are positive role models. Their calm approach ensures that children feel highly valued. Staff have an expert knowledge of the children in their care and go to considerable lengths to ensure their individual needs are well met. As a result of the exceptional care offered by staff, children learn independence skills which support and promote their future learning and eventual move on to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. They learn how to make friendships and show an awareness of their own needs and those of others. Children, including the very youngest, become confident and sociable learners. They develop their physical skills well. For example, they practise balancing on stepping stones and enjoy riding bikes and playing football outside. Children develop the key skills needed to be ready for the next stage in their learning, such as moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 203797 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1127351 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 23 Number of children on roll 59 Name of registered person Grove Pre-School (Stanway)

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 November 2015 Telephone number 07952558975

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reference number

Grove Pre-School (Stanway) registered in 1989. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, seven staff hold an appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or level 3. The manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 3.45pm. The pre-school 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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