Thorns Community College

St Williams Pre-School St Williams Church Hall, Walderslade Village, Chatham, Kent ME5 9LR

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Inspection date 24 April 2019 Previous inspection date 22 May 2018

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires improvement Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n Managers have effectively addressed the action and recommendations raised at the last inspection. They have a strong vision to continue improvement in order to develop the quality of the setting and support good outcomes for children. n Children are continually engaged and excited about learning. Staff work well to plan an environment that helps children to be curious and explore. For example, children carefully investigate the range of materials in the home corner, such as metal pans and porcelain cups, as they pretend to cook for staff. n Staff have a good understanding of children's abilities and know them well. They understand their role in helping children to achieve. All children make good progress in their learning and development. n Children form good relationships with each other and play well together. They make sure that they include each other in their play and share their successes. For instance,

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This provision is good

children actively seek out their friends to show them the effects the rain has made on their paper. n Partnerships with parents do not consistently focus on sharing more detailed information about children's individual learning and development in the setting. n Sometimes, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to support all children to develop their literacy skills.

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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

n extend the partnerships with parents to include more focused discussions on individual children's learning and development n develop further the support for children to continue to develop their literacy skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into consideration. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector jointly observed an activity with the supervisor and discussed children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed the self-evaluation, policies and procedures and children's learning records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Staff receive effective support to continue to raise the quality of their teaching. For example, they discuss learning points through regular meetings with the management team and share good feedback from training. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of what may impact on children's welfare. They have a secure knowledge of the action to take if they have concerns about children. Staff have suitable links with other settings that children attend and support transitions to other settings well. Additional funding is used well to support children. For example, staff carefully consider individual children's needs and have successfully extended the range of resources to encourage further involvement in play.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff help challenge children to think critically and share their ideas. For example, staff support children to talk about what they think might be inside a bubble and children are confident to share their answers. They listen well to each other and staff give good explanations to help them learn the answer. Children of all ages engage in meaningful discussions with each other and staff. For example, staff support children well to follow the lead with good discussions on a range of topics as they happily explore the sand. Children have good communication and language skills. The management team has a good overview of the progress of all children and takes swift action to provide additional support to close any gaps in development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle into pre-school with ease, including those who are new to the setting. Staff have set up the outside area effectively, which enables children who learn best outside to have a range of good learning experiences. Staff support children well to develop their physical skills in order to help them have an understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. For example, they challenge them to see if they can walk, roll, crawl or walk backwards up a slope. Staff help children to develop an awareness of other cultures, for example through celebrations.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain good skills to help prepare them to be ready for their next stage of education at school. Older children have secure mathematical knowledge. For example, they weigh themselves on the scales, identify the numbers and recognise that two people are heavier than one. Young children, in particular, gain confidence being independent and making choices for themselves. Children have an interest in stories and look at books by themselves or share them with staff. They enjoy making items linked to their favourite stories, such as play dough stick men.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 103853 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10084968 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Riley, Anouska

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 May 2018 Telephone number 07967442825

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reference number

St Williams Pre-School registered in 1998. The pre-school opens on Monday and Thursday from 9am until midday, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am until 3.30pm. It operates during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs eight members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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