Clackclose Pre-School

Inspection of Clackclose Pre-School Downham Market Sure Start Children's Centre, Paradise Road, DOWNHAM MARKET, Norfolk PE38 9JE

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in this friendly pre-school. They are warmly greeted at the door. Children are happy and engage confidently with staff, who know them well. Several children have formed very strong attachments with their key person. This helps them to feel safe and secure. Children's behaviour is good because staff act as good role models and recognise children's achievements. Children are spoken to in a calm manner and they are praised often. Children are kind and polite. Younger children are learning how to share, while older children use sand timers, so that they know when it is their turn to use popular equipment.

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The provision is good

Children increase their confidence as they explore the environment, both inside and outside. They make choices for themselves. Children are well engaged throughout their time in the pre-school, as staff plan and provide activities that interest the them. All children are supported by the staff who get down to their level and provide guidance as needed. They help younger children to find out what happens when they fill a bucket with sand and turn it upside down. Staff encourage older children to work cooperatively as they construct a path of bricks, before negotiating their way over the narrow path.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's speech and language development effectively. They read stories and introduce new ideas and vocabulary. Children have lots of opportunities to sing songs and rhymes. They practise pronouncing sounds of words correctly during group times. Staff pose questions to help children to think and give them the opportunity to respond, in their own time. n Older children use a computer as they explore the characteristics of different dinosaurs. Children name many of them correctly. Younger children show respect for living things. They learn to carefully handle worms and a ladybird that they find and use a magnifying glass to examine them more closely. Children learn to recognise numbers, count and calculate. Staff skilfully weave in mathematical concepts, as they talk and pose questions about the weather, the months of the year and the days of the week. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.

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need to do better?

Staff swiftly identify those children who are at risk of falling behind. They engage with parents and work with other professionals. They tailor support to meet the children's individual needs, further supporting communication with pictorial images and simple sign language. This ensures that gaps in learning are reduced as quickly as possible. n Children have good opportunities to be physical as they run, climb and peddle tricycles in the well-resourced garden. Children eat nutritious snacks. Children learn about the importance of oral health, as they practise using a toothbrush to

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need to do better?

19 January 2022 clean a large set of model teeth. n Children learn some independence skills as they help to tidy away toys. They take themselves to the toilet and know to wash their hands to get rid of germs. However, at times, staff do not support children to be as independent as they can be. For example, staff do things for older children, such as putting their shoes on, zipping up coats and resolving children's minor conflicts, which the children could otherwise have a go at themselves. n Parents are positive about the pre-school. They feel well informed about their children's progress. Staff are sensitive to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and their families. During national restrictions, they worked hard to help the children to continue their learning at home. However, more recently this support has reduced. As a result, parents are not provided with ways to further extend their child's learning, such as a love of reading, at

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need to do better?

home. n All staff are well supported by the management team. New staff receive an effective induction and understand their roles. Staff receive regular supervision and complete mandatory training. However, supervision arrangements do not focus enough on supporting staff's continuous professional development and further enhancing their knowledge and skills, particularly with regard to ongoing delivery of the curriculum.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team has a secure understanding of their safeguarding role. Staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. All staff undertake regular training to ensure their knowledge and understanding is up to date. Safeguarding matters are discussed during supervision and staff meetings. Staff are confident in identifying potential signs of abuse. They know when and how to report any concerns about children's welfare. Robust recruitment procedures are followed when appointing new staff. Staff have a secure knowledge of what to do should a child have an accident.

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should:

n support staff to make the most of teachable moments to help children to become as independent as they can be n work more closely with parents to support them to extend their children's learning at home n make better use of staff supervision to support staff's continuous professional development and enhance their skills, particularly with regard to delivering the curriculum.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423085 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10113096 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 36 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person Clackclose Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01366385067 Date of previous inspection 7 May 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Clackclose Pre-School was registered in 2011. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, most hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term times only. Sessions are between 8am and 4pm. 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 that the pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the pre-school manager and has taken this into account in their evaluation. n The inspector and the pre-school manager carried out a tour of the pre-school to discuss and understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed staff interaction with the children, both inside and outside, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of staff qualifications and suitability. n The inspector spoke with a number of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with a sample of parents and considered the views of

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Inspection activities

additional parents, via written testimonials provided.

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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

19 January 2022 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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