NGCA Ducklings Pre- School

Inspection of NGCA Ducklings Pre- School Community Centre, Notley Green, Great Notley, BRAINTREE, Essex CM77 7US

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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 enter the pre-school excitedly and quickly engage in play with their friends. They part from their parents and carers confidently, say good bye and begin their pre-school day. Children are keen and enthusiastic learners from the minute they enter the pre-school. They are inquisitive and ask staff questions about how things work. Staff are highly skilled and respond to their questions proficiently. They pose new questions to inspire and challenge the children's ideas and thinking even further.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely well behaved and they show high levels of respect for each other and for staff. They are exceptionally kind and caring. Children understand the pre-school's rules and follow them proficiently. For example, when staff show them an amber dot and display it on the wall, they know that they have a few minutes to prepare for the next activity or routine. When staff display a red dot, children quickly leave their task and join their friends on the carpet area. Children confidently tell staff they are present when the register is read out and choose a different language to say 'hello' each day.

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The provision is outstanding

Children make rapid and sustained progress from their starting points. They are superbly supported by their key person, who is extremely knowledgeable about their individual care and learning needs.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak extremely highly of the pre-school staff. Some comment that they have had a number of their children attend the pre-school and many of the staff have remained at the setting over this long period. They comment that the strong and stable staff team helps them to feel confident that their children are being cared for by dedicated people. n Staff inspire children to develop their speech and language skills through a wide range of initiatives. They precisely tailor their approach to the individual child's needs and introduce new words and vocabulary to extend children's thinking. Staff are highly skilled at asking challenging and purposeful questions to enhance children's learning and thinking skills. n Children are extremely well prepared for their next stage of learning. Key persons meticulously monitor and track children's progress. This helps them to identify swiftly any gaps in children's learning. Children with special educational

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need to do better?

needs and/or disabilities are expertly supported. Staff work extremely effectively with other agencies and professionals to support individual children. n Children delight in exploring mathematical concepts in all aspects of their play. For example, they count proficiently, understand simple calculation and demonstrate their excellent understanding of numbers and shapes. Staff provide

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need to do better?

7 January 2020 interesting resources to enhance children's mathematical knowledge, some of which reflect the resources they will use when they move to school. n Children's self-esteem and confidence are expertly promoted by staff, who speak to children in a clear and extremely positive way. Staff help children to celebrate achievements and special moments in their life. For example, they or the child's parents complete a 'proud cloud' with meaningful information about what the child has achieved. This information is relayed to the rest of the children and staff during the registration and group times, and they all celebrate with a round of applause. The cloud is then displayed on the wall for all to see. n Children develop a great love of books. They have an extensive range of books to look at during their pre-school day. They also borrow books from the pre- school library to take home and share with their family.

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need to do better?

n Staff are expertly supported by the management committee and team. They meet regularly with the supervisor to discuss and review their practices, to discuss individual children and to identify any training needs. Staff improve and update their childcare knowledge continuously, for example, they attend a wide range of training opportunities. The supervisor is involved in a steering group, which provides excellent opportunities for her to work in close partnership with local schools and other early years settings. n A parents' committee helps to raise much-needed funds to support the ongoing and continuous development of the pre-school. Parents on this committee also willingly assist with practical matters, such as re-painting the pre-school room to keep it fresh and clean.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate extremely robust knowledge of their responsibilities with regards to protecting children. They all show comprehensive knowledge of the types of abuse and the indicators that might alert them to the fact that a child is being abused or mistreated. Managers and staff have a clear knowledge of the action they should take if they are concerned about a child's welfare or safety. The management committee undertakes thorough suitability checks when recruiting new staff to ensure that all adults working with or coming into contact with the children are suitable to do so. New staff complete an extensive induction programme to help them to understand fully the pre-school's safeguarding policies and procedures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 203565 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127379 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 51

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Name of registered person

Notley Green Community Association Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07846 828464 Date of previous inspection 3 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

NGCA Ducklings Pre-School registered in 1995. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, six have appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including the supervisor, and one is qualified at level 2. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the pre-school supervisor and discussed how the curriculum is implemented. n The inspector observed an activity with the pre-school supervisor and discussed the impact of teaching and learning. n The inspector looked at a sample of records and documents, including evidence of staff qualifications and suitability. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and through written feedback expressed in parental questionnaires.

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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

7 January 2020 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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