Mortimer Pre-School

Inspection of Mortimer Pre-School St John's Village Hall, 22 West End Road, Mortimer Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3TF

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely settled, happy and secure at this very welcoming, friendly and inclusive setting. They benefit from highly stimulating and exciting activities. For example, the staff provide regular yoga sessions to help children feel calm and manage their emotions. All staff are training to use sign language. This is used very successfully throughout the setting to provide excellent support for children's developing communication skills. Children's behaviour and respect for others is impeccable.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff support children to learn about emotions and how to manage their feelings exceptionally well. Children earn 'cubes' to put in a bucket for listening, taking part and following complex instructions. Staff teach children to learn about mindfulness as they have a quiet time and complete yoga positions. Children expand this activity by making up their own poses and eagerly learn new sign language, such as 'excited', and talk about what they are excited about.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop positive attitudes and are keen to learn. They express their interests confidently and decide what activities they would like available each day. Children have a can-do attitude and show high levels of independence during play and with self-help skills. Staff encourage children to complete tasks at every opportunity.

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need to do better?

n Leaders set ambitious goals and staff demonstrate a drive and passion for their work. Self-evaluation is highly accurate and focuses sharply on continually improving outcomes for the children. Leaders and staff make excellent use of additional funding to successfully support individual children's learning. Gaps in children's attainment close rapidly, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), in readiness for school. n The manager observes staff frequently and has an excellent understanding of how to develop practice. Regular supervision meetings facilitate a focus on what needs to improve, such as supporting children's speech and language development. Staff talk enthusiastically about training opportunities and improving their practice. The manager ensures all staff have non-contact time to complete the setting's record-keeping procedures. Staff morale is very high.

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need to do better?

n Staff are inspirational teachers and have exceptional knowledge of their key children. They meticulously assess what children know and can do, and plan precisely for their next steps in learning. Staff actively implement new ideas that build on children's interest, to improve outcomes further for children. For example, an activity incorporating dinosaurs and numbers specifically ignites children's interest to learn, and meets the needs of children with SEND superbly.

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need to do better?

28 November 2019 n Staff skilfully tune into children's communication and thoughtfully repeat back language correctly to promote their listening and understanding skills. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop confidence in their language and communication skills. n Throughout the day, children really enjoy listening to stories. Staff place books in all areas of the setting to extend knowledge and develop children's imaginations. Children relax and read with staff or by themselves in cosy and quiet spaces. Staff use books and songs to support other areas of learning, such as children's mathematical awareness, when they learn to count backwards and complete simple addition and subtraction sums. n Practitioners develop an excellent rapport with parents. The seamless settling-in procedure helps practitioners plan effectively for each child. Parents provide extremely positive feedback about the setting. They feel their children are

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need to do better?

supported exceptionally well as individuals. They comment that their children's learning and development has excelled since starting at the setting. Parents comment that children who speak English as an additional language are supported well to develop their second language. n The committee and manager have a clear vision for the pre-school. They have successfully maintained the outstanding standards of practice since the last inspection. The committee supports the manager and staff to provide a challenging curriculum. Through effective management, the provider and manager ensure staff workload is manageable and safeguarding, direct teaching and guiding of children's learning remain staff's utmost priority.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a vigilant culture towards safeguarding children. All staff are highly trained and have an impressive understanding of their role in protecting children. They have excellent knowledge of how to identify potential signs of abuse and the procedures to report concerns about a child's welfare. This includes protecting children from extreme views and using technology securely, while building an early awareness. Daily risk assessments provide children with safe environments to play and learn. Emergency contact numbers are displayed and meticulously planned fire drills help children to learn about staying safe. The manager and staff update the safeguarding policy and other policies in line with changes to legislation or local authority procedures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 507885 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10108510 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 Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Mortimer Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 0118 9331668 Date of previous inspection 23 February 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Mortimer Pre-School registered in 1992. The pre-school operates in Mortimer, near Reading in Berkshire. The pre-school is open each weekday during school term time. Sessions run from 9am to 12 noon every day and from 12 noon to 3pm, Monday to Thursday. The pre-school has also started a breakfast club and an after- school club on some mornings and afternoons. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three, and four years. Of the seven staff who work with the children, all hold relevant childcare qualifications. One member of staff holds early years professional status and another holds qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager and discussed how the curriculum is delivered. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.

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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

28 November 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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