Blue Coat Pre-School & Busy Bees

Blue Coat Pre-School & Busy Bees Blue Coat C of E Primary School, Symn Lane, Wotton Under Edge, Gloucester, GL12 7BD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 June 2018 14 September 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 manager and staff work effectively with parents, address their concerns promptly and keep them well informed. For example, they discuss the ways in which staff support younger children as they learn to play together safely.  Staff ensure that the environment is secure and teach children about keeping safe. For instance, they teach children to walk carefully near roads and to cross roads safely.  Staff provide interesting opportunities for children to explore early writing. For example, they have a big board in the garden for children to write on with paints and chalk.  Staff plan the environment extremely carefully to provide stimulating areas for play and learning. For instance, they create very cosy reading spaces, indoors and outdoors, where staff and children frequently share animated, and very exciting, story times. They often visit the local library where children choose the books to bring back and

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This provision is good

share.  Children are happy and sociable, and they seek out others frequently to share their play. They join whole-group activities eagerly, such as singing, where they animatedly explore the sounds and actions in songs as they follow the different tempos that they hear.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, during planned craft activities, staff do not support children to explore their own creative ideas.

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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 greater opportunities for children to use their own creative ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the setting, and discussed health and safety with the manager.  The inspector observed care and teaching practices indoors and outdoors, and completed a joint observation of practice with the manager.  The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager and viewed a range of documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents verbally and through written testimonials.  The inspector spoke to children and staff, and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand the signs that would alert them to have concerns and the actions to take. The manager and staff develop good partnerships with parents to support continuity of care. For example, when children start, they ask for information about likes, dislikes and skills, and use this information to support settling. Staff discuss progress with parents frequently, including completing the required check between the ages of two and three years. Parents have opportunities to be further involved, such as by taking part in outings, helping in sessions, or serving on the board of trustees. The manager monitors staff practice well and identifies children's development needs promptly. For example, she observed that older boys were not interested in some planned activities and arranged staff training. Staff now create enticing role-play areas, such as a pirate ship and sea, and move activities to where children prefer to play. Boys

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff skilfully support children to lead their own learning by following their interests. For example, they join children in the role-play kitchen and talk about foods they like. Staff and children make links with previous experiences, such as building work at children's homes, as they make drinks for children who are building. Staff support mathematical learning well with many interesting activities. Younger children enjoy driving cars around numbers as they learn the different shapes of numerals. Staff use enjoyable activities to support younger and less-able children to develop finger muscles ready for writing. For instance, they hold a 'play dough disco' where children squeeze, stretch and knead dough in time to music.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The manager and staff teach children to understand about individual differences in society exceptionally well. For example, they talk with children and parents about the ways in which they celebrate different festivals and invite them to share their special foods and stories with all the children. Staff give excellent opportunities for children to be decision makers in preparation for their move to school. For instance, they show pictures of toys and the children put buttons in a tin to vote for their choice. After the vote, children count the buttons to see what they have chosen. Staff very skilfully use conversation with children to extend activities. For instance, staff and children excitedly talk about how they will hide shells they have painted outside for older children to find.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children willingly take responsibility for their environment, such as by enthusiastically tidying before lunch and at the end of the day. Children enjoy celebrating their achievements, and those of their friends. For example, they are proud to receive certificates for physical-activity challenges. Children enjoy the many spontaneous conversations they have with staff. Children are confident communicators.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 510073 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1128348 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 129 Name of registered person Blue Coat Pre-School & Busy Bees Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 September 2015 Telephone number 01453 525022

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reference number

Blue Coat Pre-School & Busy Bees registered in 2000. The setting operates Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm, during school terms only. The setting receives funding for free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 15 members of staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4. The manager holds early years professional status.

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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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