St. Lawrence Pre-School

Inspection of St. Lawrence Pre-School St Lawrence Village Hall, Church Road, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LL

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Staff provide a fun and engaging environment for children. This enhances children's experience at the pre-school. Children are confident to either choose activities independently or seek support from adults. For instance, staff encourage children to jump off a low-level table in the outdoor area. They count down with the children from 'three to one'. Children use words previously learned, such as 'ready, set, go', before jumping. All children are happy and deeply engaged. They also spend extended periods of time involved in activities.

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The provision is good

Staff use available resources effectively to support all children. They use 'emotion cards' as a tool to help children express how they are feeling. Staff are very skilful; they review and adapt resources and spaces to manage the feelings and behaviour of children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This aids the building of a trusting relationship between staff and the children. It also enables children to self-regulate, which builds their confidence.

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The provision is good

Leaders are skilful at leading their team to plan engaging activities for children. Staff have high expectations for all children. They make every effort to equip children with basic life skills so that, when children move on, they develop these skills further. This culture positively impacts upon children's experiences at the pre- school. It also enhances their levels of curiosity and engagement.

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need to do better?

n Staff support every child's unique needs effectively. For instance, staff provide opportunities for younger children to learn to do things for themselves by observing older children. This aids children's ability to learn faster. It also boosts their self-confidence. n Staff provide children with challenges to further develop their problem-solving skills. Staff deliberately put fewer than needed chairs out at snack times. They then encourage children to work out what they need to do to solve this problem. Children work out they need to find more chairs so that everyone can sit down. n Staff provide children with a routine that enhances children's independence. However, they are not consistent with supporting children to practise these routines. This limits the rate at which children learn and acquire these skills. n Staff have a good knowledge of all children. For instance, staff identify that most

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need to do better?

children's exposure to libraries is limited. They then arrange for all children to register at the library. This facilitates the borrowing of books, both for pre-school and home use. It also provides children with a new experience. n Leaders and staff continuously reflect on their practice and routines. They take children's views and needs into account while doing this. For instance, they use children's needs to decide books to buy or borrow from the library. These books

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need to do better?

16 June 2023 are then taken home by the children or read in the pre-school with them. This helps to address previously identified needs effectively. It also supports children's early reading skills. n Leaders and staff provide a strong focus on healthy eating habits. They encourage children to try new and healthy food at snack time. Children also share this knowledge with their parents and siblings at home. For instance, they say that 'it was good to eat the colours of the rainbow everyday'. This enhances an early understanding of healthy eating for children. n The pre-school has a strong key-person system. This fosters continuity of learning beyond the pre-school, which improves outcomes for children. n The pre-school has good partnership with parents. For instance, staff and leaders arrange for fathers to come in for a special Father's Day session. This facilitates a high engagement level between fathers and their children.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff carry out continuous evaluation and improvement of the pre- school. They give necessary feedback to the team and review the pre-school's layout regularly. This has a positive impact on children's behaviour and attitudes to learning. n Leaders have a robust induction process. They provide a consistent and continuous professional development system for their team. This further enhances the skills and knowledge of staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff are confident in their understanding of the safeguarding policy. They are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of any safeguarding concerns. This aids their ability to safeguard the children in their care. They know where relevant paperwork is located within the pre-school and how to use this when required. Leaders regularly review their practice to ensure that all staff are confident in their ability to implement all safeguarding policies. Leaders provide opportunities for staff to access necessary training.

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should:

n organise activities and routines to enable all children to have consistent opportunities to practise and strengthen skills previously learned.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239264 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10295340 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 20 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person St. Lawrence Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01732 763354 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

St. Lawrence Pre-School registered in 2002. It operates from the village hall in Stone Street, near Sevenoaks, Kent. The pre-school is open on Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 3pm, and on Friday, from 9am to 1pm (for all children), during term time only. Wednesday is the pre-school plus day (for children aged three and above). The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs four members of staff. Three of these hold a relevant early years qualifications at level 3. The fourth staff member has qualified teacher status.

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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 and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff 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 inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

16 June 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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