Caterpillars Pre-school

Inspection of Caterpillars Pre-school St Andrew's Church Hall, Church Lane, Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex CO6 1LW

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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 exceedingly confident, independent, and very motivated learners. They thoroughly enjoy the extremely well-planned curriculum. This guarantees them high-quality learning opportunities. Children are skilfully supported to prepare for the next stage in learning. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress. They are fully prepared for their eventual move on to school.

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The provision is outstanding

Children of all ages form exceptional relationships with staff. There is an extremely happy, homely and calm atmosphere throughout the pre-school. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They remain focused and engaged in play. For example, children show high levels of curiosity as they explore the extremely exciting range of resources and activities inside and outdoors. Children run a pretend Chinese restaurant. They take and record orders from customers over the counter and via the telephone. Children are helpful and kind as they point to the menu and recommend dishes. They pass orders to their peers, who busy themselves chopping celery, peppers and carrots using real utensils with care. They throw the ingredients into saucepans and pretend to cook them and serve them with fresh noodles when ready. Children are delighted when their customers pretend to eat and compliment them on the meal.

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need to do better?

n Partnership working with parents is excellent. Staff share daily information with them. This enables parents to build precisely on what their children are learning in the setting. Parents express their utmost satisfaction about the pre-school. They describe how settled and happy their children are. They say the staff are 'amazing' and that they go above and beyond to provide exciting play experiences every day. Parents express their genuine pleasure and add that there is nothing they would change. n Partnership working with staff from local schools, early years settings and other professionals is excellent. This directly contributes to the outstanding provision and the exemplary support for children's learning. n Excellent systems are in place to meet the care and learning needs of all children. The manager and staff keep very good track of children's progress through highly effective observations and assessments. These clearly show

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need to do better?

children's individual abilities and areas for development. Staff obtain resources aimed at supporting children's individual learning needs. They successfully plan activities for one-to-one or group sessions. They ensure that children's priorities for learning are targeted exceptionally well. n Children demonstrate extremely high levels of engagement and concentration. They work collaboratively as they construct a train track that winds its way

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need to do better?

30 January 2020 around the hall floor. Together, children carefully plan how to negotiate space to avoid other children and their games. Children make group decisions about where tunnels or the curved track are best placed. They are extremely patient and kind to each other. n Staff provide children with rich experiences. They offer an abundance of extra activities to support children's understanding of diversity and what makes them unique. Children enjoy opportunities to use maps and participate in discussions and creative opportunities. They celebrate their own and other customs from around the world. n The deployment of staff is highly effective. Children are supervised closely, and staff maintain a safe and secure environment to protect children from harm. Robust assessments of all areas used by the children ensure their safety is maintained. Appropriate risk taking during planned activities enables children to

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need to do better?

learn about keeping themselves safe. n The manager and staff continually reflect on all aspects of their practice, and there is a continuous drive for excellence. The manager and staff pay superb attention to enhancing their professional development. Together, they demonstrate a real commitment to provide the highest level of teaching. All aspects of the pre-school environment are thoughtfully reviewed. This helps to promote children's practical development of communication and language, phonics and mathematics.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of child protection issues. They are extremely familiar with the procedures. For example, staff understand that they must take prompt and effective action should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff are confident with the whistle-blowing procedures to report any concerns they have about colleagues. They supervise children vigilantly and ensure a safe environment is maintained. Staff have an exceptionally good understanding of the signs that may indicate a child may be at risk of harm, including from radical and extreme views.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY422628 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127402 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Caterpillars Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 07981 169883 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Caterpillars Pre-school registered in 2011. It employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The management committee also employs an administrator. The pre-school opens from Monday to Thursday, during school term time. Sessions are from 9.15am to 2.45pm. A lunch club operates from 12.15pm to 1.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector reviewed records and the provider's suitability checks of all members of staff. n The inspector observed staff practice with the manager, and, together, they evaluated an activity. The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager. n The inspector sought the views of children and parents during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed information provided by other professional agencies the manager and staff liaise with. n The inspector discussed with the manager and staff how they continually improve practice.

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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

30 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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