Rowhedge Under 5's

Inspection of Rowhedge Under 5's Rowhedge Village Hall, Rectory Road, Colchester, Essex CO5 7HR

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children happily arrive and leave their parents with ease. They are welcomed by attentive and nurturing staff who are genuinely pleased to see them. Skills for independent learning are promoted as children are encouraged to self-register and store their personal belongings on arrival. This also creates a sense of belonging and self-worth. Staff speak kindly to the children and are good role models. Children receive praise and encouragement for their efforts and achievements.

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The provision requires improvement

The education programme is influenced by the children's interests and also includes the pre-school ethos of 'be kind', 'believe themselves', and 'be passionate learners'. However, children are not offered sufficient challenge to extend their learning. For example, knowledge of how children learn is variable and staff do not consistently consider potential learning opportunities when planning activities, which has an impact on their progress. However, while there are some weaknesses in children's learning, children demonstrate they are confident, feel safe and form friendships with others attending. They have established close, trusting bonds with their key person. They understand the routines and expectations in place and they behave well and are polite.

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need to do better?

n The management team are new to the pre-school. Since the last inspection, they have made significant changes that have had a positive impact on outcomes for children. They have a clear vision, ambition and commitment to make the necessary improvements and ensure they are fully embedded in practice. Detailed development plans are in place and they actively seek support from the local authority. n While many changes have been made, the quality of teaching is variable and not yet at a consistently good level. The staff do get to know the children and observe them well as they play. However, they are not always ambitious and do not consistently challenge children's knowledge. This means that although children make progress, staff do not fully support them to make the best possible progress they can. In addition, the organisation of some activities does not provide challenge to extend children's knowledge further and promote a

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need to do better?

strong focus on learning, in particular supporting opportunities to explore and be creative. n The management team provides supervision to check staff's well-being. They support staff with their professional development and model good practice. Staff are encouraged to share new ideas and the team speak positively about changes made. However, some staff's professional development is not focused sufficiently on improving their teaching skill to ensure children make consistently good progress.

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need to do better?

15 October 2024 n Caring staff engage children in conversations and speak to children with respect. Children are confident and ask questions. Daily routines support children's communication and listening skills. For example, they interact at group time as they recall the expectations of the pre-school as the discuss the golden rules. They follow instructions when it is time to tidy. However, while staff pose questions, there is a tendency to ask too many and they do not always allow children time to think, process information and respond. n Parents speak positively of all aspects of the pre-school. Many comment on the significant improvements made in a short space of time. Parents spoke of the positive routines and structure that is now in place. They are very complimentary about the management team and say their children are very happy to attend. Many say the pre-school is calm and they feel their children are safe, engaged

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need to do better?

and learning. n While positive partnerships have, and continue to be established with parents, systems in place for communicating regarding children's learning are in the process of changing to ensure they are effective. This means that staff are not currently communicating as effectively to discuss what children already know, their experiences and interests at home, to enable opportunities to continue learning in pre-school. n Children thoroughly enjoy the time outdoors. They are able to choose where they play and flow freely from indoors to outside. They enjoy the fresh air and exercise and have fun in the large sand pit. They develop balancing skills, using equipment to make obstacle courses. n Staff supervise children well and help them understand the importance of staying safe. For example, a tree swing is very popular. Children learn the importance of how to use the equipment safely. They sit to the side on tree

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need to do better?

stumps and effectively use timers to wait their turn.

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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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Due date

15 October 2024 seek professional development opportunities for staff that improves their knowledge of how children learn and how to provide an ambitious and challenging play environment. 30/04/2025

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should:

n help staff to extend opportunities for children to develop higher levels of imagination, exploration and creativity n strengthen staff's use of effective questioning skills to give children more time to think and respond to questions and enable them to share their thoughts and ideas n continue to strengthen partnerships with parents to find out what children already know and can do and what interests them so that teaching can be adapted accordingly.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489490 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10362301 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 35 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Rowhedge Under 5's CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07709621636 Date of previous inspection 16 May 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Rowhedge Under 5's registered in 2015. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday during term time only, from 9am until 3pm. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector around the areas that children access. They discussed how staff organise the environment and plan the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children, and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the pre-school documents which included evidence about staff's suitability and training. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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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

15 October 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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