St Michael's Family Centre (Church

Inspection of St Michael's Family Centre (Church Lane) Church Lane, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5AE

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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 thrive in the incredibly calm and nurturing environment that staff create. They are happy and very well settled. Children are deeply engaged in purposeful play. They self-select from a wide range of toys and resources that encourage them to talk and be creative. Children settle quickly and show that they feel safe and secure. They build incredibly strong bonds with staff, for whom they show genuine affection. They benefit from an individually tailored approach that prioritises their emotional well-being exceptionally well.

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The provision is outstanding

All children are highly motivated and eager to learn. For example, children investigate the flow of water as they use a range of tools to scoop and pour it. They develop excellent problem-solving and physical skills as they work out how to tip water into suspended bottles. Children make excellent progress in developing language skills. They listen to staff, repeat words and expand their vocabularies, becoming confident talkers.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well, developing high levels of self-control. They know what is expected and benefit from the incredibly positive atmosphere of mutual trust and respect that staff provide. Children form strong friendships with their peers. They enjoy sharing toys and learn to take turns as they play games. They proudly put on their coats and use scissors to snip their carton of juice before pouring it into a cup. Children gain excellent skills and attitudes to support the next stage in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are inspirational. They are highly qualified and professional, with a clear vision that is clearly communicated and supported by staff. Leaders know precisely what they want children to gain and learn. They arrange highly focused staff training that develops staff's skills to promote children's excellent progress, particularly in communication and development. n Leaders highly value their staff. They support and encourage staff to gain professional qualifications. Staff benefit from regular constructive feedback about their practice and receive encouragement and coaching that further inspires and motivates them. Staff are well supported to manage their workload and enjoy a good home and work life balance. n Staff work exceptionally well with parents. They establish close professional relationships that build a successful two-way flow of information. Parents receive information on a daily basis about their child's progress and how they may

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need to do better?

support their learning at home. Parents are highly complimentary about the nursery and staff. They state that they feel incredibly well informed and involved in their child's learning and development. They add that they find staff to be

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need to do better?

28 January 2020 extremely kind, approachable and highly knowledgeable. n Staff know children exceptionally well. They know precisely what each child needs to learn next. They intuitively adapt their approach as they follow children's lead in play. There is a sharp emphasis on supporting children's communication and language development. Staff purposely arrange the environment to encourage children to talk and share their ideas. Children hear and talk about environmental sounds, such as when an aeroplane flies overhead. They anticipate words and phrases when staff read stories. They confidently share what they know, such as making links to foods they eat and animal sounds when they sing songs and rhymes. n Children are eager to join in with games. They learn to count in sequence, recognise numerals and develop an understanding of 'more and less than'. They guess how many more boys there are than girls present and count out pennies

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need to do better?

to buy 'currant buns' as they sing songs. Staff expertly build on children's knowledge, using a range of strategies that help them to secure knowledge and skills for their future learning. n Staff know that children have different experiences outside of the setting. They plan effectively to ensure that all children have rich and enjoyable experiences. Children have excellent opportunities to engage with the local community. For instance, staff take babies to the library for story and rhyme time; older children visit and talk with the elderly in a local nursing home. Children learn about healthy food choices as they help to grow fruit and vegetables with staff at the community allotment. n Staff work exceptionally well with other professionals to secure swift support for children and their families. They reflect on feedback from the local reception teachers to help to prepare older children for the move to school. Staff have

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need to do better?

well-established systems to ensure children's specific needs and emotional well- being are consistently met as they move through the setting and on to school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders are highly knowledgeable and experienced about safeguarding issues. They are proactive in establishing excellent partnerships with other professionals to help to keep their knowledge of potential local safeguarding issues updated. Staff receive regular training and updates about safeguarding issues. They confidently fulfil their role to protect children from harm. They know what to do should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff demonstrate an expert knowledge of wider safeguarding issues. Leaders implement robust recruitment processes to help assure the suitability of adults working with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY399923 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10113053 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 1 to 11 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person St Michael's Family Centre Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01553775300 Date of previous inspection 9 January 2015

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Information about this early years setting

St Michael's Family Centre (Church Lane) registered in 2009 and is run by a voluntary management committee. The committee employs eight members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including two at level 6. The manager holds early years professional status. The centre opens from Monday to Friday during school term-time only. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It provides after-school care for children up to age 11 years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the premises with the manager and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n A joint observation was completed with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the nursery. n A number of parents spoke to the inspector and their views were taken into account.

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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 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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