Rising Fives at Smeeth School

Inspection of Rising Fives at Smeeth School Smeeth Cp School, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford TN25 6RX

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this outstanding nursery. Staff's vision is for all children to be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in their future. These include being creative, considerate, confident and curious. All staff demonstrate a real enthusiasm and commitment to caring for children. They quickly build close, nurturing bonds with all children. Staff support children to make excellent peer relationships, and build highly successful social skills. Children talk about their best friends. They ask them what they would like to play next and say 'I'll help you' when they need assistance. Children are well supported to quickly feel safe and happy here, ready to begin exploring and enjoying the many opportunities on offer.

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The provision is outstanding

The passionate and highly skilled staff team work tirelessly to provide a rich set of experiences for children. They ensure that activities ignite children's curiosity and support them to build a love of learning. Staff expertly adapt teaching to the individual needs and abilities of each child to ensure they all make excellent progress. Children engage extremely well and remain highly focussed as staff interact alongside them to extend and enhance their learning. For instance, as children enjoy exploring textures and smells while making magic reindeer food, staff help them to think about quantity and weighing. Children's faces light up with excitement and wonder as staff engage them in conversation about Santa and Christmas Eve. Staff also provide many group time activities, such as singing and story time to support children to gain a strong foundation of skills for their future learning.

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need to do better?

n The ambitious and dedicated staff team plan a highly successful, broad curriculum. They ensure it both motivates children and helps them to make excellent progress. Staff plan well to create opportunities for children to practise new skills and gain confidence and pride in their achievements. For example, children thoroughly enjoy using the new role play area to practise their early writing skills. They enjoy making shopping lists with their friends. Staff support them to draw the dolls and sign their art work. n Children's speech and language skills are superbly supported by every member of staff. Staff speak extremely clearly, ask children precise and well-considered questions and give them ample time to consider a response. Staff consistently extend children's language, using words such as 'stamp', 'sprinkle' and 'spread' when children create their own Christmas pictures. Younger children giggle as

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need to do better?

they repeat words such as 'splash', 'swim' and 'dive' when they play in the water tray. n The manager has developed highly effective systems for assessment. Staff work

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need to do better?

7 December 2023 closely with parents and conduct written termly assessments of children's progress. These procedures support staff to recognise when a child may require additional support and respond immediately. They liaise with parents, devise robust targeted plans and signpost children to appropriate agencies for support. n Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour. Staff have the highest expectations of children's behaviour. They have established clear strategies to support children to learn about the rules and boundaries. Each year children take part in helping to establish rules that are important to them. Subsequently, they have a great respect and care for each other and the environment. n The manager goes above and beyond to create enriching experiences for children that widen their understanding of the world around them. Nearby services such as police, firefighters and the Women's Institute are invited in to

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need to do better?

share their work. Children and families enjoy taking part in creating Christmas boxes to donate to the Samaritans. Staff embrace each child's uniqueness and help them learn about their differences. For example, parents recently spent time in the nursery, to help their children share the holiday of Hanukah. Children show great pride and high levels of self-esteem, talking and singing to their friends about their cultural heritage. n The manager is wholly invested in improving outcomes for children and supporting his staff to feel valued and empowered. He provides focussed and highly effective professional development for all staff. The manager knows his staff team extremely well and uses their strengths to drive improvement in the nursery. He has a strong culture of supervision and staff meetings in place to regularly reflect on practice and develop teaching further. n Highly effective partnerships with parents and professionals allow for great

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need to do better?

consistency in each child's learning and development. Before children start, staff spend time with families. This is used to plan effective learning experiences that meet children's needs and interests. Parents enjoy the welcoming settling in sessions where they enjoy time in the nursery alongside their child. Parents are extremely happy with the care provided for their children. They comment on the great communication and highly approachable staff and say they feel lucky to be a part of this exceptional nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a culture of safeguarding throughout the nursery that places the highest priority on children's safety and well-being. The manager and staff are secure in their knowledge and understanding of the signs that may suggest a child is at risk. Staff are clear about the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare or the conduct of another staff member. All staff are confident and would not hesitate to make referrals where appropriate. The manager follows a rigorous and effective recruitment procedure. He conducts regular supervisions and ongoing suitability checks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2652124 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10308699 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 20 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Rising Fives LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 07842551090 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Rising Fives at Smeeth School registered in 2021. It operates from a purpose-built provision in the grounds of Smeeth Community Primary School, in Ashford, Kent. The setting is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 3pm, during term time only. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs six members of staff, of whom four hold relevant early years qualification at level 3 or above.

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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 nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 with the manager. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector.

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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

7 December 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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