Hoo Saints

Inspection of Hoo Saints Village Hall, Pottery Road, Hoo, Rochester Kent ME3 9BS

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are happy, safe and secure. They enjoy their time at the welcoming pre- school. They have developed warm and trusting bonds with their key person and the staff team. Children are well behaved, caring and considerate. They understand what is expected of them. They listen, follow instructions and are encouraged to take turns. Staff give children regular praise and encouragement in everything they do. This helps to develop children's confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They enjoy practising their balance and coordination on the ride-on bicycles. Children learn to balance carefully on climbing equipment. They are very well supervised and supported to manage risks safely. Children are learning about healthy lifestyles and discuss the benefits of healthy food with their friends and the staff at the lunch table.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from the focus that staff place on their communication and language skills, particularly for the children who speak English as an additional language. Staff narrate as children play, and clearly emphasise key words in their interactions. This helps children's understanding and speaking skills.

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need to do better?

n The manager and the staff team have worked hard to successfully meet the actions set at the last inspection. The manager has a clear intention for the setting. She describes how she wants children to leave the pre-school as confident and independent individuals, who are ready for the next stage in their education. The manager implements this by designing a curriculum based on children following their own interests and developing their own learning through play. Resources support all the areas of the early years foundation stage and are organised so that children can access them freely. However, at times, staff do not recognise when younger children have lost interest or struggle to engage in the activities on offer. Children do not consistently develop and learn to their full potential. n Staff promote children's independence effectively in a range of ways. They provide water and milk in small jugs, so that children can pour their own drinks

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need to do better?

successfully. Children follow routines well. For example, they know to wash their hands thoroughly before snack and mealtimes. Children make independent choices throughout the session as they select from a wide range of activities to play and explore. Children are well prepared for their next stage of education. n The staff work well together as a team, and act as good role models for the children. They are enthusiastic and generally support children's development, overall. However, on occasion, staff do not organise whole-group activities well

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need to do better?

19 January 2023 enough to ensure all children are able to engage in the learning opportunity. n Children learn about mathematics in a meaningful way. For instance, they thoroughly enjoy playing with the ride-along toys and bicycles outdoors, and use pretend money to pay for their fuel in their role-play 'garage shop'. Staff introduce concepts such as 'full' and 'empty', when children pretend to fill their vehicles. n The manager strives to provide the best provision she can. She evaluates staff's teaching practice regularly, seeking advice from the local authority and other agencies to inform her development work. The manager and staff work very well with other professionals to help and support the children in their care. n Staff share information with parents online and provide daily feedback about the children. Consequently, parents are better informed about their children's achievements. Parents are very complimentary about the staff and the progress

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need to do better?

their children make. They comment about how staff are 'professional and welcoming' and reflect on how well their children have progressed in their speech and language development. n Staff support children to gain a good understanding of the similarities and differences of people both inside and outside of their own communities and experiences. For example, children have opportunities to share how they celebrate different festivals within their households. The staff ensure the environment includes positive images and resources for children to gain a good understanding of diversity and the wider world.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibility to keep the children that they care for safe. They are able to identify the signs and symptoms that could indicate that a child is at risk of harm. Staff know who to report any concerns about a child's welfare to. The manager and staff are clear about the procedures to follow if they have concerns about the suitability of a colleague. Staff check the nursery environment regularly, to ensure that any hazards are appropriately minimised to promote children's safety. Children are closely supervised as they play and explore.

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should:

n support staff to help younger children even further in their engagement and learning n improve the arrangements for large group activities, to ensure that all children are able to fully engage in their learning at these times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551057 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10232405 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 36 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Lowther, Zoe Ellen

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reference number

Telephone number 07476058961 Date of previous inspection 1 March 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Hoo Saints registered in 2017. It operates in Hoo, near Rochester, Kent. The setting is open from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. The provider is registered to provide funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. They employ six members of staff. Of these, two hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3 and two at level 2. The manager holds a level 4 qualification.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n The inspector gathered parent feedback to take account of their views of the pre-school. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum.

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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 2023 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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