The Fledgelings Pre-School

Inspection of The Fledgelings Pre- School Tile Kiln Church, Robin Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8AU

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children enjoy playing outside in the fresh air, where they take part in lots of active play. They have access to resources that are thoughtfully arranged to support their learning. Children confidently take safe risks in their play. They climb a wooden frame and use an assortment of crates and planks to make a ramp and try balancing while walking across it. Children take turns in rolling a tyre to each other, in a backward and forward motion.

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The provision is good

Children are developing their independence. They select toys and manage their personal care needs well. Children show a can-do attitude and are keen to do things for themselves. Toddlers show understanding of how to use a knife to spread butter or marmalade on their toast and cut their toast into smaller sizes. Older children put on their coats competently.

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The provision is good

Staff sensitively support children's emotional development and encourage them to talk about how they feel. Together, they discuss whether they feel happy or sad. For children who say they feel sad, staff offer them a teddy to cuddle. This contributes to children's sense of security.

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need to do better?

n Children settle quickly in the pre-school and respond well to routines and expectations. They enjoy lots of challenging and stimulating activities that allow them to think and work through the process to achieve a result while learning and playing together. For example, while learning about animals that live in the sea, the arctic and on land, children explore the changes of ice melting into water. They then use the water as a muddy puddle, jumping in it. n Staff teach children about healthy eating options, how this contributes to their good health and how some foods are not good for their teeth. They discuss the benefit of eating good food, during circle time and at snack time, with children to help them understand the importance. n The management team provides regular time through team and individual supervision meetings for staff to discuss their work and the children they care for. Staff receive support for their ongoing professional development, including

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need to do better?

through an online training provider. This helps support their practice and children's learning needs. Staff are confident in approaching the management team and they feel that their well-being is valued. n Staff support children who speak English as an additional language through a range of activities, such as visits to the local library and celebrating children's cultures, working closely with parents. However, staff do not consistently ensure children have rich opportunities to hear and use their home language while at the pre-school.

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need to do better?

10 November 2021 n Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They provide many opportunities for children to develop their vocabulary. Children readily engage in circle time, where they enjoy stories and rhymes. Staff use a range of resources to capture children's attention, such as puppets and children's pictures as they read 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. n Staff plan for the next stage in each child's learning. They use what they know about the children and children's interest to plan learning opportunities that are challenging and engaging. However, group activities are not always organised well enough to ensure that each child's learning needs are met as well as possible. n Partnership with parents is strong. Staff inform parents of what their child does during the day, using the online system. They engage parents in their children's learning in various ways. Staff have regular meetings with parents to discuss

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need to do better?

their children's latest achievements and the next steps in learning. Parents consistently describe good channels of communication between the pre-school and themselves. Parents express high levels of gratitude and appreciation for the work that staff do.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The pre-school has robust policies and procedures in place to help keep children safe and well. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the emergency child collection procedure. They attend regular training to ensure they maintain a good knowledge of a wide range of safeguarding issues. The management and staff team are confident about signs of abuse and what actions to take should they have a concern about a child in their care. Staff understand the whistle-blowing procedure that is in place should they have a concern about a colleague or practices at the pre-school.

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should:

n review the planning of group activities to ensure that they consistently support the learning needs of all children as well as possible n help children hear and use their home language during play and activities, to further support their development of speech.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY557290 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10174887 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Tile Kiln Church CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01245269691 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Fledglings Pre-School registered in 2018. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager who holds a qualification at level 5. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday during term times. Sessions are from 9am to midday, and from midday to 3pm, except on Friday when the session is from 9am to midday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager, and this has been taken into account in their evaluation of the pre- school. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk of the pre-school, inside and outdoors. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity, and together they evaluated it. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing in the pre-school. n Staff spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their written views. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including the suitability checks of all adults working in the pre-school.

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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

10 November 2021 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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