St James' Pre-school Link

Inspection of St James' Pre-school Link St James Church, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6DW

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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 and develop extremely positive attitudes to learning in this warm and welcoming pre-school. They are highly motivated and concentrate intently on their chosen activities, showing an abundance of perseverance and determination. Children form firm friendships with each other, friends and staff. This helps all children to settle with ease and feel safe and secure. Snack times provide strong opportunities for children to socialise and communicate with others. Children share weekend plans excitedly with their friends and staff. All children make exceptional progress throughout the pre-school. They are extremely well equipped to move on to the next stage of their learning.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff model respect consistently and build caring and positive relationships with the children. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They show kindness and concern for others as they play collaboratively, exploring and investigating the exceptionally well-resourced environment. Children take turns actively, share equipment and listen to each other's ideas and suggestions. Older children learn to regulate their behaviour and negotiate with others. For example, they use sand timers proficiently to wait their turn patiently. After activities, children tidy away the resources they have used in readiness for the next part of the pre-school's routine.

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need to do better?

n Children challenge themselves during meticulously planned activities. Staff know them very well and meet their individual needs and interests effectively. Children concentrate and persevere as they develop their hand-to-eye coordination. Older children learn how to handle and use scissors safely. Once they master this skill, they cut out small rectangles and squares, sorting the shapes together. Younger children hold pens correctly and practise writing numbers, for instance to display how many children are present when taking the register. n Children are interested in mathematics and are eager to answer simple addition problems. For example, they do simple calculations with the help of the staff, who challenge them to use their fingers to work out the answer. Children use calculators to repeat the calculations to see if they get the same answer. n All children show a love of literacy. Staff's excellent storytelling skills help to

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need to do better?

inspire children to appreciate the richness of words and develop their listening skills. Staff use a puppet theatre to bring stories to life, which makes group time very special, capturing children's attention. They use animated expressions and voices as they take on the role of the 'pig' and the 'wolf'. Older children recall the familiar stories and younger children enjoy repeating key phrases. n Parents feel exceptionally well supported by the dedicated management and staff team. Staff provide them with inspirational ideas to try at home. They keep parents well informed through daily feedback and progress reports. Parents

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need to do better?

28 February 2020 share children's achievements and experiences from home keenly. Staff use this information to build on children's learning even further. n Excellent consideration is given to children's health and well-being. Staff are highly effective in teaching children the benefits of eating well and following thorough hygiene practices. Children are quick to learn, for instance as they select healthy and nutritious snacks and help themselves to water. Staff talk to children about the importance of washing their hands and coughing into the crooks of their arms to prevent the spread of germs. n Children have fantastic opportunities to practise their physical skills. They continue to develop an understanding of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. For example, children complete challenging obstacle courses with the enthusiastic staff. Children show off their balancing, jumping and rolling skills in

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need to do better?

the safe environment. They explore how their heart beats faster when they exercise, before doing stretches to cool down. n The dedicated management team inspires the enthusiastic staff to work together seamlessly. Staff are highly involved in the running of the pre-school, for example when they continually evaluate the provision together as they strive to provide high-quality learning for children. This leads to staff feeling included and well supported within their roles. n Staff embrace opportunities to develop their already strong professional knowledge further. They share their training with other staff keenly to support children's emerging language and communication skills, including those who speak English as an additional language. For instance, staff extend children's interactions with others and use picture cards to help children begin to express their choices and wishes.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff place children's welfare at the heart of their practice. They have all completed relevant training to ensure that their knowledge is up to date. The management team checks staff's knowledge continually through team meetings. Staff are trained to identify the possible signs of abuse and neglect. They are aware of wider issues, such as identifying children who may be at risk of exposure to extreme views and behaviours. Staff are confident in the processes to follow should they need to raise concerns regarding children. They supervise children vigilantly and ensure a safe environment is maintained.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 100523 Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Inspection number 10126052 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Mills, Barbara-Anne

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reference number

Telephone number 07976 044 459 Date of previous inspection 24 June 2016

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Information about this early years setting

St James' Pre-school Link registered in 1996. It operates from a church hall in the grounds of a school in Pokesdown, Bournemouth. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday during term time from 8.30am to midday. It receives government funding for free early years education for some children aged three and four years. Eight members of staff, including the manager, work with children. Of these, four have an early years qualification at level 3 and two hold qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector and deputy manager completed a learning walk around the setting and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The deputy manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of staff practice. n Some parents gave their views about the setting to the inspector and these were taken into account. n The inspector talked to children and staff and met with the management team to look at relevant documentation.

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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 February 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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