The Ark Pre-School Wantage

The Ark Pre-School Wantage The Butler Centre, 17 Church Street, Wantage, OX12 8BL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 July 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 have a kind and caring approach that supports positive relationships with children and their parents.  Children have a good understanding of behaviour expectations and they respond well to staff as they follow familiar routines.  Staff support all children to make good progress from when they first start in the pre- school and to develop a positive approach to learning. They prepare children successfully overall for their next stages and for school.  The manager monitors children's development effectively. She helps staff to make accurate assessments of progress and to plan activities that help children develop a broad range of skills.  Children have good opportunities to be physically active, to learn about good hygiene and to enjoy a healthy diet.  Leaders, managers and staff follow robust safeguarding procedures and support vulnerable families effectively to help keep children safe.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At the end of the summer term, staff sometimes do not focus well on continuing to challenge children who are moving on to school to reinforce their learning further.  Some staff occasionally overlook opportunities to encourage children's independence and they do things for children that they could try to do for themselves.

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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

 maintain opportunities to challenge children who are moving on to school to help them build on previous learning and practise their skills  develop a consistent approach to supporting children's independence to encourage them to do more things for themselves.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, evidence of staff suitability and qualifications, the pre-school's self-evaluation form and written comments from parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders, managers and staff work closely with local agencies and families to share information and provide support to improve outcomes for children and help keep them safe. Staff supervise children closely and help them learn about safety rules to reduce the risk of accidents and injury. They evaluate practice routinely, with input from parents and children, to make ongoing improvements. The manager supports the appropriately qualified staff team well to develop its skills. For example, following discussions about the routines of the pre-school, staff now use space more effectively to help children access a wider range of resources and activities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager has a good understanding of the individual needs and capabilities of all children in the pre-school. She uses this knowledge effectively to support key persons to help their children progress well and to work closely with external agencies where appropriate. Staff teach children a range of important skills. For example, they demonstrate how to form letters and they refer to numbers routinely to support children's literacy and mathematical understanding effectively. Staff talk to children throughout their play activities and routines to model a wide range of vocabulary and help them make connections in their learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Leaders, managers and staff provide a stimulating and well-resourced learning environment, indoors and outdoors, which children thoroughly enjoy exploring. Staff encourage children to play well together and they work closely with parents where necessary to help children manage their feelings and behaviour successfully. They welcome and celebrate children's different backgrounds and experiences to help them develop a positive approach to diversity. Staff encourage children's confidence and well- being effectively. For example, they challenge children to develop climbing and balancing skills as they enjoy playing on large apparatus in the garden.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children progress well overall, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with starting points in learning lower than other children of their age. Children develop empathy for others and they learn to share, take turns and help to tidy up. They comply readily with instructions and listen carefully during group times. Most children communicate well and are able to use language for different purposes. For example, they join in enthusiastically with action songs and answer questions about stories. Children develop good control of their muscles as they practise scooping, pouring, threading and mark making.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499172 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 1084301 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 24 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Wantage Pre-School Playgroup

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01235 764010

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reference number

The Ark Pre-School Wantage registered under a new name in 2016 and is run by Wantage Pre-School Playgroup. It is located in the centre of Wantage, Oxfordshire. The pre-school is open on weekdays during school term times from 8.30am until 3.30pm. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs seven staff, and five of these hold relevant qualifications at level 2 or 3.

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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

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