West Slaithwaite Junior and Infant School

Woodlands Under 5's Pre-School Vinters Park Community Centre, Aldon Close, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5QF

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Inspection date 24 April 2019 Previous inspection date 8 October 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n Practitioners foster a calm and engaging atmosphere in which children are completely immersed in their play, exploration and learning. n Exemplary relationships between staff provide an excellent role model for children's behaviour towards each other. Children show high levels of respect and consideration towards each other. n Staff establish excellent relationships and highly successful information-sharing with parents, other agencies and local schools. Parents are actively involved in the assessing and planning for their children's progress, providing seamless continuity in their learning n Self-evaluation is outstanding. The manager constantly seeks, evaluates and acts on the views of parents, staff and children to drive continuous improvement. Meticulous reviews have led to a plan being put in place to ensure staff feel confident in supporting the individual learning needs of children with special educational needs

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This provision is outstanding

and/or disabilities (SEND). n Staff have an extremely sharp focus on helping all children acquire and extend their communication and language skills. They provide excellent commentary, emphasising key words and introducing new vocabulary as children play. Children are articulate and really enjoy explaining what they know and can see. n Children make outstanding progress during their time in the pre-school. Children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. Staff are very sensitive and responsive to meeting children's individual needs.

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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 enhance the outstanding provision by ensuring all staff are confident in adapting their teaching and support strategies to enrich the learning of children with SEND.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and children's activities, completed a joint observation with the manager and held discussions about children's progress and learning. n The inspector held conversations with the manager, staff and children throughout the inspection. n The inspector checked evidence of staff's suitability checks and their qualifications, and sampled relevant policies and procedures. n The inspector took into account the views of the parents during the inspection. n The inspector observed staff's planning documentation and the children's assessment records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

The manager and staff carefully monitor children's progress over time. They swiftly put plans in place to close gaps in learning so that children continue to achieve excellent outcomes. For example, highly effective strategies are implemented to support children who are learning to speak English as an additional language. The manager supports staff's performance exceedingly well. For example, she arranges an extremely effective programme for continuous professional development that helps to maintain highly effective teaching practices. Safeguarding is effective. Staff know what action they must take if they are concerned about the welfare of a child. They are vigilant to potential risks and take appropriate action to promote children's safety at all times.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff recognise every moment as a potential learning opportunity. They get to know children extremely well and accurately observe and assess children's learning. Staff have high expectations of children and interact exceptionally well with them to strengthen and enhance their abilities and skills. For example, during a woodwork activity where children know how to use real tools safely, staff challenge children to identify which screwdriver is required to accurately tighten the screws in their creations. Staff are highly effective in enhancing children's skills and demonstrate different ways to cut through small pieces of wood. Staff help build children's vocabulary and understanding incredibly well. For example, they clearly use skilful questions to help children solve problems and they introduce mathematical language, such as simple fractions, into their play and exploration.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children have an excellent understanding of routines, and they know the safety rules for woodwork activities exceptionally well. Staff strengthen children's confidence and sense of belonging very well. They constantly praise children for their achievements and encourage them to manage their own risks. Children are full of smiles and are extremely happy and confident. Children have excellent first-hand opportunities to learn about their community. For example, they explain how they visited the local residential home, enjoy local walks and make the most of the nearby parks and nature reserve.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children gain an excellent awareness of the world around them and the differences in people and communities beyond their immediate families. Children are able to manage conflicts with other children highly effectively. For example, they independently negotiate their role-play ideas and sharing of the toys and resources.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127783 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10063748 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Woodlands Under Fives Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 October 2015 Telephone number 01622 671131

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Woodlands under 5's Pre-School operates in Vinters Park Community Centre in Maidstone, Kent. It registered in 1982. The pre-school is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. It is in receipt of funding for nursery education sessions for children aged three and four years. The pre-school employs seven staff, six of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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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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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