Millfield Pre-School

Inspection of Millfield Pre-School South Rise, North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 0EE

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children develop confidence and curiosity. They explore a range of activities and resources and enjoy choosing what to play or join in with next. Children explore cause and effect. They learn how to turn stencil torches on and how to hold them at the right distance from a wall to see the shapes. Children create play dough shapes and watch what happens if they flatten or squeeze them. They compare the shapes and sizes of their dough creations. Children listen to staff and are eager to demonstrate what they know. They remember going on a treasure hunt to find painted pebbles and poppies. Children recall key points of the story staff told to them about Remembrance Day and can talk about the emotions of people involved.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the setting. Staff promote their understanding of expectations in a positive, calm manner. They give children gentle prompts and praise their kind actions. Children know what is expected of them. Staff encourage them to talk about their feelings using soft toys and props. Staff have high expectations for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children's unique needs are met to a high standard.

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need to do better?

n There have been changes to the committee. Some new committee members have not completed and submitted appropriate forms to allow all the required suitability checks to be carried out. However, the impact on children's safety is minimised as the current nominated individual has completed their suitability checks with Ofsted and acts as the main contact for the manager and staff. Other committee members have limited responsibilities at this time and no unsupervised contact with children. n Staff use spontaneous opportunities to promote children's literacy and mathematical skills. They give children examples of the week's focus letter during play, and encourage children to practise comparison and measuring skills while playing with dough. Staff also encourage children to count in fun ways, such as a rocket countdown. Children recognise numbers and shapes in the playground and are keen to point out the different shapes and features of

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need to do better?

medals. n The management team meets regularly with staff to discuss best practice and new ideas. The team has have effective systems in place to pinpoint what the pre-school does well. However, the team is not as methodical at identifying areas it could develop further, to consistently improve the overall quality of the provision, such as enhancing parental engagement. n Staff interact with children in a warm and engaging manner. They listen to

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need to do better?

11 November 2022 children's ideas and supply relevant vocabulary and encouragement. Staff move flexibly between areas to respond to children's needs and interests. This helps to promote children's safety and emotional well-being. n The manager and staff design and deliver a thoughtful and carefully sequenced curriculum, which promotes children's progress in all areas of learning. They also prepare children well for their next stage in learning. They invite reception teachers into the pre-school to meet and get to know the children in familiar surroundings. This supports children to feel relaxed and confident when they move on to school. n Staff support children with SEND effectively. They work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children's unique needs are met to a high standard. Staff spend additional funding to promote children's progress and access to learning experiences. n Staff share information with parents about their child's progress in a range of

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need to do better?

ways, for example, through online learning records and meetings. Parents speak highly of the pre-school. They praise the kind, welcoming staff and the range of activities their children enjoy, as well as their recent progress and achievements. The manager has developed a new system for gathering information about children's learning and experiences on entry. However, this is not yet fully embedded.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand how to identify and report concerns, including those regarding adults who work with children. The manager ensures staff refresh their knowledge with regular training and updates during staff meetings. When appointing new staff, the manager follows thorough recruitment processes to assure herself that staff are suitable. She also conducts reviews of staff suitability checks and staff complete regular self-declaration forms.

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Due date

improve knowledge about the nominated individual's role and responsibilities, including the processes required to complete suitability checks for new committee members in their entirety 09/12/2022

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Due date

11 November 2022 ensure new committee members submit the necessary forms and information to Ofsted to enable the required suitability checks to be completed. 30/12/2022

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should:

n sharpen self-evaluation to identify areas of opportunity as well as strengths to build on, to enhance the quality of the provision further n fully embed new arrangements for gathering information about children on entry.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 254176 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10234442 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Millfield Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01692 406 378 Date of previous inspection 7 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Millfield Pre-School registered in 1999 and is run by a voluntary committee. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with early years teacher status. The pre-school opens from 8am to 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 3.30pm on Friday, during term time only. The setting 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 setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk across all areas of the premises to explain how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with staff and the nominated individual. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises. n The manager completed two joint observations and evaluations of activities with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to children and parents at appropriate times during the

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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

11 November 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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