Young Discoverers Pre-School

Inspection of Young Discoverers Pre- School South Hill Early Years Centre, Cemetery Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1JF

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are highly engaged in their learning and staff follow their lead instinctively. Staff support and encourage children to solve problems for themselves. Children respond positively and enthusiastically. Staff are aware of children's individual capabilities and provide appropriate levels of challenge, setting high expectations for all.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities thrive. Staff support them with high levels of care and respect. They respond compassionately to children's cues. For instance, they lie down next to children and follow their lead as they play and interact with one another. Partnerships with other professionals support children's individual needs. Additional funding that the setting receives is used effectively to support children and their families. Everyone is given access to the same opportunities. This supports them to become prepared for their future experiences.

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The provision is good

All children feel safe and secure at the pre-school. They form meaningful relationships with the staff. Children behave well at the pre-school. Staff work together to ensure that their expectations are all consistent. Children are helpful and follow staff's instructions without hesitation. They kindly help their friends, for example those who are less confident or familiar with the routine of the session.

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need to do better?

n The experienced manager utilises staff's skills effectively. Staff share their knowledge with one another, which helps the less-experienced members of the team to develop their teaching even further. For instance, staff develop their ability to support children's learning during forest school activities. Staff are encouraged to continuously enhance their knowledge, for example by completing relevant training. The manager supports less-qualified members of staff to gain new qualifications relevant to their roles. n Parents are supported to build on their children's learning at home. Staff share ideas and information with them frequently, for example information on the curriculum. They encourage parents to support their children's literacy at home. Staff also support the early literacy of those children who speak English as an additional language. For instance, they share a range of dual-language books

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need to do better?

with them, encouraging them to read these at home with their families. n The curriculum is carefully planned around the children who attend the pre- school. Planning is an ongoing process and frequently adapted. Staff are provided with time to meet together. They plan a range of exciting activities based on the children's previous learning. For instance, staff update their planning for later in the week as a result of children's learning on previous days.

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need to do better?

24 September 2019 n Staff use every opportunity to build on children's existing knowledge. They inspire children in a variety of ways. For instance, they make story time interactive. They skilfully weave different areas of learning together. For example, children keenly count with staff as they move around the room while a staff member reads them a story. The most able children join in with the story by repeating familiar phrases. Other children excitedly talk about what they see in the pictures, for example when they spot an elephant on the page. n Staff use a range of highly effective strategies to encourage children to develop their own learning and skills. As a result, children demonstrate very high levels of perseverance. For example, children independently climb trees in the forest outside. They do not give up and listen carefully to the staff's gentle guidance as they try to climb different branches. They are further motivated by staff's words

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need to do better?

of encouragement and praise. Children are clearly proud of their achievements as they share their accomplishments with other members of staff, who respond enthusiastically. n Overall, communication with parents is strong. They feel well informed about their children's learning and progress. Staff encourage parents to share information about their children with them before they start. However, on occasions, this information is not gathered and used effectively enough to help the children settle as rapidly as possible when they start.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her staff have a strong understanding of how to keep children safe. They rigidly follow the policies in place, such as the setting's collection of children policy. They work with outside agencies and parents closely, sharing relevant information to safeguard children. Staff have completed relevant training and are aware of the signs to look out for regarding children's welfare. They are confident in the process to follow should they have any concerns about children. This includes those children who may be at risk from extreme views or behaviour.

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should:

n encourage staff to build on the good communication with parents even further and to gain enough relevant information before children start so that they can support children to settle more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY337160 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10067214 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person South Hill Centre

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reference number

Telephone number 01442 234617 Date of previous inspection 18 April 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Young Discoverers Pre-School registered in 2006 and is based in Hemel Hempstead. The pre-school employs 12 members of childcare staff, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school offers additional care before sessions from 8am to 9am and after sessions from 3pm to 5pm. It also offers a holiday club during the school holidays. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a walk around the pre-school to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. They discussed the impact of the teaching on children's learning. n The inspector viewed a sample of documents and policies, including staff suitability documents and the safeguarding policy. n Conversations between parents and the inspector took place. The inspector took parents' views and opinions into consideration. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times and held discussions with the manager throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

24 September 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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