Bright Stars Pre-School

Inspection of Bright Stars Pre-School Ongar Primary School, Milton Crescent, ONGAR, Essex CM5 0FF

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children arrive at the pre-school eager and ready to play. They happily separate from parents and carers with the support of staff, who are welcoming. Staff are excited to show children the activities and they explore these together. Children demonstrate high levels of concentration. They persevere when taking part in activities and demonstrate enjoyment when they complete tasks. Children delight in interactions with their peers and behave impeccably. They correct each other's behaviour. For example, when children using scooters crash into a trolley, other children remind them to stop.

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The provision is outstanding

Children with limited speech confidently use alternative ways to communicate. For example, they use gestures, pointing and single words. Children demonstrate the clear expectations to share the resources and be kind to each other. They learn this from the moment they begin in the pre-school, as older children use positive interactions with each other and mimic the staff. For example, children readily help each other to reach toys and set these out.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely independent, inquisitive and confident. They freely move between the garden and indoor environment and select resources that interest them to enhance their play. Children demonstrate sequenced learning by carrying out a range of tasks. For example, when they need to wipe their nose, they confidently find a tissue, then place the used tissue in the bin by themselves. Children proudly tell staff what they have done.

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need to do better?

n Staff work exceedingly well with other professionals, ensuring that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive highly effective, tailored support and progress well. They work in partnership with parents to ensure individual care needs are always met. n Staff are exceptionally skilled at developing children's communication and language skills. They use a range of strategies to support children to acquire and use language. They role model language, effectively question, talk clearly and give children plenty of time to respond and practise speaking. Staff listen and repeat any words that children say. They encourage children to use simple sign language to communicate. For children who are non-verbal, staff use objects or pictures to aid communication. Their high-quality interactions and inspiring conversations help to develop children's vocabulary and confidence to interact.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff build impressive, highly effective relationships with parents. They get to know them and their children very well. The manager and staff engage parents in their child's learning. Parents praise the amount of information they receive about what the children do during the day and the

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need to do better?

15 March 2023 progress they are making. This very strong partnership helps to raise outcomes for children to the highest level. n The leadership team has a clear vision for continually improving the care and education children receive. The manager is passionate about her role. She supports her whole team exceptionally well to help them achieve their very best. Staff say that they are extremely well supported. Staff's emotional well-being is given high importance. n The management team undertakes extensive self-evaluation to precisely identify improvements and support continuous professional development. Staff attend a vast amount of training, based on the needs of the children in the pre-school at the time. For example, staff are currently attending sign language training, in partnership with the neighbouring school, to further support all children to be able to communicate and express themselves. n Staff are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and demonstrate a deep

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need to do better?

understanding of how children learn. They understand the importance of ensuring that all children receive a broad and balanced curriculum, containing a wide variety of experiences based on their differing needs and abilities. Staff plan and implement an exemplary, sequenced curriculum based on children's interests, regular research projects and children's outcomes. All children make outstanding progress in relation to their starting points, including children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff and managers demonstrate a highly effective understanding of their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and protecting children. Staff are very knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms that might alert them to a child being abused or mistreated, including wider safeguarding concerns. They have clear and effective procedures in place and know how to involve the appropriate agencies if they are concerned about children. The manager has thorough recruitment processes and ongoing checks to make sure staff are suitable to work with children. Stringent daily checks are in place to remove potential hazards. Staff talk with children to help them assess and manage risks when taking part in different activities and using tools.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395696 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10276535 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 23 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Bright Stars Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 07990671278 Date of previous inspection 20 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Bright Stars Pre-School registered in 2009 and is situated in Ongar, Essex. The pre- school is open Monday to Friday during school term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm. Eight members of childcare staff work directly with the children. Of these, five members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager, who has a foundation degree. 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about what they want children to learn. n Children shared their views with the inspector. 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 provided the inspector with verbal and written feedback. 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

15 March 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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