Doddinghurst Community Pre-school

Inspection of Doddinghurst Community Pre-school Doddinghurst Village Hall, Church Lane,Doddinghurst, BRENTWOOD, Essex CM15 0NJ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

There is a buzz of excitement as children confidently enter the pre-school. They give their parents and carers a cheerful smile and a hug, then quickly begin their busy day of learning. Kind, caring, smiling staff greet the children and help them to decide what they want to do. Children immediately find their friends and begin playing and exploring. They construct buildings and models in the construction area, making use of the wide range of exciting resources provided for them. They explore textures of different papers and materials at a craft table, speaking to each other and staff about how different the textures are. They problem solve as they contemplate the different ways they can think of to stick the materials on to their paper.

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The provision is good

Children are very respectful of each other. They consider their friends' needs and share the resources well. Children are extremely independent. They have opportunities to cut fruit and pour their own drinks at snack time, as well as wash up their plates and cups when they have finished. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Those needing additional help are given one-to-one attention to enable them to fully benefit from the exciting learning environment.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have worked extremely hard since the last inspection to update and improve the provision. They have worked well with the local authority, seeking guidance and advice that has helped them to review, evaluate and enhance all aspects of the pre-school. Staff have undertaken further training to improve their knowledge of safeguarding and how to deliver an effective curriculum. n Staff and the manager now make much better use of the indoor environment to enable children to make choices in their play and learning. They are moving away from providing a planned curriculum that is adult-led, to enable children to explore, experiment and guide their own learning. The manager talks confidently about the benefits the staff team have seen from this new approach. Staff comment that children are now so much more engaged and interested in learning. n Parents speak very highly of the pre-school manager and staff. Some comment

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need to do better?

that they like the fact that they know their children will receive comfort from the caring staff when they need it. Others applaud the way in which staff have helped to develop their children's speech and language. All parents who were spoken to commented on the effective communication between themselves and the pre-school staff, especially their children's key person. n The manager and staff make effective use of additional funding to provide

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need to do better?

22 February 2023 appropriate support and resources for individual children. They work with parents and other professionals to determine the best use of the funding and review this termly, to ensure that it remains appropriate. n Key persons demonstrate a sound knowledge of the children in their key-person group. They speak very confidently about how they are supporting those children. For example, they organise small parachute games for children who are struggling to form relationships or engage with other children. They confidently use the experience to encourage the children to give each other instructions and work together. n There is an enclosed outdoor area that is used most days for fresh air and exercise. Although this is used regularly, staff do not place the same level of attention to detail on children's learning outdoors as they do indoors. This means that those children who learn better in the fresh air have fewer

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need to do better?

opportunities to do so. The manager recognises this and is beginning to consider ways to enhance outdoor learning. n Children excitedly participate in a sound-and-phonics session organised by an outside professional. Staff prepare the children for the visit by displaying a laminated photograph of the visitor during the morning. This helps children to be prepared for the visitor and the activity. Children excitedly join in with the songs, rhymes and actions. Those who do not want to participate are supported to move around the room and make use of the other equipment and learning opportunities available to them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have improved their safeguarding knowledge since the last inspection. They have undertaken appropriate training, as well as reviewed their safeguarding expertise during staff meetings and training days. All staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms that might alert them that a child was being mistreated, including through issues, such a female genital mutilation and county lines. The manager regularly tests staff knowledge through questions and the use of scenarios. Where any gaps in understanding are identified, appropriate training is put in place.

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should:

n enhance the provision for children to learn outdoors daily.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 508826 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10257793 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 42 Number of children on roll 51

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Name of registered person

Doddinghurst Community Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07523291553 Date of previous inspection 7 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Doddinghurst Community Pre-school registered in 1996 and is run by a committee. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, four members of staff hold an early years qualification at level 3 or above. The pre-school is open on Tuesday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed all areas of the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together, and discussed their curriculum and what it is that they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 together. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

22 February 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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