St Mary's Pre-school Playgroup

Inspection of St Mary's Pre-school Playgroup Old Church Schools, 86 Hayes Street, Hayes, Kent BR2 7BA

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Every child is valued and treated as an individual in this wonderfully welcoming and nurturing setting. Staff forge strong relationships with children and their families. They have in-depth knowledge and understanding of children's interests and specific needs, which they use to shape learning. Children make choices about how they will learn from an exceptionally well-resourced environment. Staff expertly scaffold children's learning through high-quality interactions. They seize every opportunity to extend children's learning. As a result, children make excellent progress. Children are, without exception, confident and happy. They remain highly engaged throughout the day. Children are consistently polite and respectful. Mealtimes are wonderfully social occasions. Children enjoy chatting to each other and staff as they sit together. Children's personal, social and emotional development is extremely well supported.

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The provision is outstanding

The whole environment is exceptionally well planned and resourced. Toys and equipment are easy for children to access and move around, enabling them to investigate and explore. Children benefit enormously from the wonderful environment and resources in the fabulous outdoor play area. They display incredibly high levels of engagement as they play outside. Children particularly enjoy climbing and balancing in different ways. For example, they skilfully balance as they step across the stepping stones and join staff as they throw and catch balls with each other. Younger children enjoy moving in different ways to familiar action songs. Children's physical development is exceptionally well supported.

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need to do better?

n The manager and the staff team have worked exceptionally hard to design an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that focuses on language and mathematics development. Children learn through play activities and are expertly supported by experienced staff. Staff are knowledgeable about children's starting points and current interests. They know what to teach and skilfully scaffold learning through play and daily routines. Staff model being learners. For example, when joining children who are looking at books about shapes, staff say, 'I wonder where we can find some of these shapes in our hall.' As a result, children make progress and are well prepared for the next stage of learning. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive excellent support. The experienced special educational needs coordinator and key persons work closely with parents and other professionals to develop individual

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need to do better?

intervention and support plans to further enhance children's learning and development. Any additional funding received for disadvantaged children is spent extremely well, following discussions with parents to ensure the support is

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need to do better?

4 October 2023 targeted. Consequently, children receive the help they need to make progress. n Children's speech and language are very well developed across every age group. Staff introduce new words, such as 'orthodontist', as children explore different oral hygiene resources. Children use their extensive language as they describe that the castle they are building has 'turrets'. Children actively revisit stories and favourite books, both independently and with staff, and can recall them with great joy. Younger children snuggle up with staff as they look at familiar books and sing songs. n Children have a positive attitude towards their learning. They benefit from a wealth of exciting opportunities and experiences. For example, children excitedly help each other to finish the game as they play together in order to look at the book to build a rainbow. Children behave exceptionally well. Staff are wonderful

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need to do better?

role models. Children learn about sharing and taking turns and are caring and considerate. They are kind and respectful to others as they begin to understand how they and their friends feel. n The manager is extremely knowledgeable about early years education. She has a clear passion for delivering high-quality care and education for all children. She is wholly committed to professional development and training for all staff. Staff continually strive to improve their professional knowledge and practice. They benefit from regular training and professional development opportunities. These are sharply focused on enabling staff to implement the curriculum consistently well, thereby further improving the outcomes for children. Staff report consistently high levels of support for their well-being. n Parents are exceptionally happy with the high-quality levels of care and education their children receive. Staff ensure that parents are an integral part of

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need to do better?

their children's learning. They provide parents with an abundance of information and support, such as guidance on vaccinations and keeping children safe online. Parents are extremely appreciative of all the support and information they receive from staff. This strong partnership means that there is a continuity of approach, which helps children to make excellent progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children from harm. They can identify signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm or abuse. All staff understand the procedures for referring any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and information to ensure their knowledge is current. Information about signs and symptoms and the process to follow is displayed in the hall for the wider community, as the hall is shared with regular youth groups. Safe recruitment procedures are in place and adhered to, which ensures that all staff are suitable to work with children. Risk assessments are reviewed to ensure the ongoing safety of children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 509799 Local authority Bromley Inspection number 10308102 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 48 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person St Mary's Pre-school Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8462 7663 Date of previous inspection 26 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

St Mary's Pre-school Playgroup registered in 1993. It is located in Hayes, within the London Borough of Bromley. The pre-school employs 13 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. Two hold qualifications at degree level. The pre-school opens from 9am to 3.45pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 9am to midday, Tuesday and Friday, during term time only. 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents and childminders during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

4 October 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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