St James Pre-School and After School Club (Church House)

Inspection of St James Pre-School and After School Club (Church House) St James Church Office, Church House, Ferndale, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3RL

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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

Leaders and staff create a welcoming environment for all children. From the moment they arrive to the time they leave, children are supported, taught and nurtured by caring and compassionate staff, who know them well. Staff work closely with parents to help children feel comfortable and reassured when they start at the pre-school. They settle in new children slowly, giving them time to learn routines and build strong relationships with staff.

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The provision is good

Leaders develop a curriculum that is ambitious for all children. They precisely monitor children's behaviour, learning and development. This helps them sequence children's learning to support their continuous progress. They promptly adapt activities when they watch how children play and interact with resources. This means all children receive appropriate attention and challenge to meet their needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language.

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The provision is good

Staff keep children safe while they explore the exciting and stimulating environment. This promotes children's natural curiosity, motivation and focus. Staff share children's delight when they pretend to make dinner in the sand, splash in glittery water and sing their favourite songs. Children learn to make friends and share their experiences with others. This provides them with a strong foundation, from which to build friendships and a love of learning together.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff successfully help children make progress and become resilient, confident learners. From the outset, they work with parents to identify children's learning styles, interests and unique characters. This helps staff create a curriculum that successfully builds and consolidates children's skills, knowledge and learning. n Leaders ensure they use any additional funding effectively to provide better outcomes for all children, including those with SEND. They work with other professionals to provide tailored support for children and their families when required. They build good relationships with other settings that children attend. n Leaders support staff well. They hold regular meetings to discuss children's progress, staff well-being and professional development opportunities. Staff demonstrate confident and successful teaching strategies. For example, they reflect on, plan and extend all children's learning at the right time, to provide

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need to do better?

appropriate guidance to support their individual needs. n Staff develop children's communication and language skills well. They create innovative ways to support all children to express their needs. For instance, staff place visual communication cards in all areas of the pre-school to help children

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need to do better?

18 September 2024 voice their choices or requests. Staff strengthen this further when they speak clearly and use sign language to develop children's vocabulary. This helps children build confidence to speak and use new words, including familiar words in their home language. n Staff provide children with opportunities to build their strength, coordination and spatial awareness. Children enjoy physical activities, such as digging, running, climbing and pushing themselves on ride-on cars. Staff challenge and extend children's skills, such as during exercise and movement sessions. Children gain a growing awareness of their bodies and their physical capability. n Staff read stories and sing rhymes to children throughout the day. This provides children with a chance to snuggle up and relax, and to share their own experiences with one another. Children understand familiar words and phrases. Staff develop effective ways to improve and nurture children's love of books. For

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need to do better?

instance, parents borrow books to read with children at home. n Staff provide children with consistent routines that support good health and self- care. They encourage children to develop their independence skills, such as during snack time. Children have opportunities to practise and hone their new skills in preparation for their future learning, such as when they go to school. n Leaders and staff create an inclusive environment where all children feel comfortable and relaxed. For example, they embrace the diversity of the families who attend. This supports children to appreciate their uniqueness and to develop a sense of self-worth. However, staff do not make the most of opportunities to enhance the curriculum further, to help all children learn more about the lives of others and their community, in real and meaningful ways. n Children demonstrate positive behaviours when they spend time with staff. Staff

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need to do better?

help children understand their feelings and emotions, especially at times when they might feel overwhelmed or anxious. In time, this helps children's self- confidence to develop new friendships and enjoy the company of others.

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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 enrich the curriculum to further extend children's understanding of the richly diverse communities in which they live.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538338 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10360058 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 20 Number of children on roll 18

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Name of registered person

The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St James, Tunbridge Wells

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reference number

Telephone number 07905276612 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

St James Pre-School and After School Club (Church House) registered in 2016 and is in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. It opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12.30pm, term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children. The pre-school employs seven members of staff, of whom three hold appropriate early years qualifications. The manager holds qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 with parents and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during snack time. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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

18 September 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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