St Nicholas Pre-School

Inspection of St Nicholas Pre-School St Nicholas Church, Broadway, Bournemouth BH6 4EP

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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 enjoy attending this calm and caring setting. They rush in happily, say hello to staff, and quickly settle at one of the exciting activities staff have prepared for them. Children build strong bonds with the nurturing and supportive staff. They happily involve staff in their play and confidently go to them for affection or to ask for help. These warm relationships help children feel safe and secure. New children in particular settle incredibly quickly.

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The provision is good

Staff provide a wide range of learning opportunities inside and outdoors. The environment is carefully planned to enable children to make their own decisions about what they play with. For instance, older children choose to draw and use stencils, while younger children beam as staff teach them how to pedal and steer trikes and how to navigate obstacles on their scooters. These engaging activities help build children's knowledge and skills across all areas of learning. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Staff prioritise getting to know children and their families. They use regular observations of children and discussions with parents to plan and deliver a curriculum based on children's needs and interests. For example, children are full of smiles as they freely paint. They enjoy telling staff what colours they are using, and what shapes they are making with their brushes. These carefully planned activities provide opportunities for children to gain new knowledge and skills and continually build on what children know and can do. n Children benefit from the calm environment staff provide for them and immerse themselves in learning opportunities that interest and motivate them. For instance, children spend a long time using a range of tools and resources to make collages. They talk to staff and each other about what they are trying to create and show pride in their finished creations. This helps develop children's

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need to do better?

focus and concentration skills, supports their creative and physical development, and helps them develop positive attitudes towards learning. n Children behave very well. They listen to staff, follow instructions, and join in with the daily routines. However, when children become upset or show some frustration, staff do not always help them identify and manage their feelings and emotions. For example, staff try to distract children instead of talking through how children feel and supporting them to manage these feelings in appropriate ways for their age. n Parents are extremely positive about the care and education children receive. They comment on the 'family feel' of the setting and appreciate the regular communication staff share with them about what children are learning and the progress they are making. Parents talk about how staff 'create perfect conditions

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need to do better?

13 March 2025 for children's learning' and how keen children are to attend each day. These positive relationships help children's consistency of learning. n Staff consistently interact with children in a supportive and encouraging manner. They ask questions to check children's understanding, introduce new vocabulary, and extend children's learning through meaningful conversations. For example, staff take the opportunity to teach children about 'weaning' as children play with baby dolls in the role play area. Children listen intently as staff explain how babies drink milk when they are very young but are able to eat soft food when their teeth start to grow. Children demonstrate they understand this explanation. They join in with the conversation and pretend to mash up some fruit and feed the baby dolls with a spoon. n Staff take great care to listen to children's thoughts and ideas and give children opportunities to express themselves and make their own decisions. However, at

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need to do better?

times staff miss opportunities to fully support children's independence. For example, staff get children's lunch boxes for them and take the lids off before children have attempted to do this for themselves. This does not give children consistent opportunities to learn and practice the skills they need ready for school. n The staff team are passionate about what they provide for children and regularly reflect on their practice and make improvements where necessary. They have high expectations of children's learning and work closely with other professionals to make sure all children get the help and support they need. Staff recently undertook training on how to support children's language and communication. They use this new knowledge to help them identify any gaps in children's speech and language development and to implement a range of teaching strategies to address these concerns swiftly.

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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 implement strategies to consistently help children understand and manage their feelings to fully support children's emotional development n make the most of all opportunities to encourage children's independence to enable them to learn and practice the skills they need ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481145 Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Inspection number 10388453 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Ormesher, Wendy Catherine

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reference number

Telephone number 07546 889868 Date of previous inspection 11 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

St Nicholas Pre-School registered in 2014. It operates from the church hall in St Nicholas Church, in Southbourne, Dorset. The pre-school operates from 9am to 1pm Monday Tuesday and Wednesday and 9am to 3pm Thursday and Friday. It is open term time only. All three staff members have a level 3 qualification. The setting offers government funded places.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises with the manager. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about her curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n Staff talked to the inspector throughout the inspection and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented and how children's progress is monitored. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account. n The manager carried out a joint observation of snack time with the inspector. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children throughout the inspection. n Children spoke to 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

13 March 2025 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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