Catsfield Pre-School

Inspection of Catsfield Pre-School Catsfield Village Hall, Church Road, Catsfield, Battle, East Sussex TN33 9DP

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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

Children thrive in this welcoming pre-school. Parents describe the staff as 'amazing'. The new manager has made many positive changes to the provision since she started. Although she has only been in post for a short time, the improvements to children's learning are notable. Activities are now planned purposefully so that children's next steps and interests are taken into full consideration. Children thoroughly enjoy the activities. They show sustained focus and concentrate well, working things out for themselves and showing increasing levels of independence.

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The provision is good

Funding is used particularly effectively to take account of what individual children need. Staff fully recognise the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emotional impact this has on some children when they first start. Staff have worked hard to help children learn to understand their different emotions with the use of stories, such as 'The Colour Monster'. These creative strategies are effective. Children who were previously unsettled now arrive at pre-school with excitement and enthusiasm for the day.

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The provision is good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff know the children well and provide activities that challenge children and help them to develop their skills and knowledge. The curriculum is structured appropriately and allows children to gain the important skills they need for future learning.

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need to do better?

n Leadership is good. The manager and committee members work tirelessly to make ongoing improvements. They are relentless in their approach towards ensuring high-quality provision. Parents also commend the way in which the setting is now run. They note the improvements to the level of teaching, the information they receive, and their own involvement in their children's learning. n Overall, the quality of teaching is good. The manager is leading her team well in developing the curriculum and providing children with more child-led learning opportunities. Staff now plan activities based on children's interests. Very occasionally, however, some teaching does not reflect the new approach and is less focused on what children know and need to learn next. At these times, children show less interest. A relevant programme of staff training is in place to improve consistency, but it is still too early to measure the full impact of this.

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need to do better?

n Children thoroughly enjoy their learning. They explore topics that capture their interests, and staff support this with appropriate visits and practical activities. For example, as part of the current theme of 'people who help us', children recently enjoyed a visit from the fire service and spoke excitedly about the fire engine that visited.

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need to do better?

16 January 2024 n Provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is particularly good. Staff accurately identify any gaps in children's learning. Good links are formed with parents and other agencies to ensure that assessment information is shared. Children who need extra help catch up quickly and receive good levels of support from staff. n Children behave well. They demonstrate how safe and secure they feel at pre- school. The relationships they have with staff are good, and children will often invite staff into their play. There is a fun, busy and purposeful atmosphere, and staff are very caring and attentive. Children follow staff's lead and are kind and respectful to their friends. n Staff prepare children well for starting school. From a young age, children develop confidence, independence and a strong desire to explore the exciting learning environment. Staff use imaginative strategies to encourage children to

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need to do better?

take care of their own needs. For example, the recent introduction of the 'toilet cards' has helped children to manage toileting routines independently and with minimal support from staff. n Children demonstrate very positive attitudes towards learning. They develop good language skills, as staff promote these well as they play and introduce children to new words. For example, as children explored building towers with different wooden blocks, staff successfully helped children learn new shape names, such as 'semicircle'. n Good attention is paid towards keeping children safe. Staff are vigilant in supervising children closely and acting promptly if they have any concerns about a child's well-being. Children learn about possible dangers as they play. For example, staff teach them how to handle scissors safely and to be aware of preventing injuries to themselves, and others, as they play.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n develop the staff team to ensure teaching is consistently good or better.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 109396 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10307949 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Catsfield Under Fives Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07532 188610 Date of previous inspection 23 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Catsfield Pre-School registered in 1994 and operates from the village hall in Catsfield, East Sussex. It opens from 9am until 3pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, during term time. There are five members of staff who work with the children. All staff have an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 or level 3. One staff member holds qualified teacher status. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about how the early years curriculum is delivered. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation and evaluated the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they plan for children's learning and what they do to keep children safe. n Children talked to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at pre-school. n The inspector took into account the written feedback provided by parents for the inspection.

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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 January 2024 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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