Eaton Socon Pre-School

Inspection of Eaton Socon Pre-School 38a Queens Gardens, Eaton Socon, St Neots PE19 8DN

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in this well-run and welcoming pre-school. They form firm friendships with their peers and play cooperatively together. Staff consistently support children to regulate their feelings and actions for themselves, which is embedded in the clear ethos and curriculum all staff helped to create. Young children learn to regulate their emotions while they begin to take turns in simple games with staff. Children quickly progress to finding ways to communicate how they feel and find the words they need to ask others to share and to be kind. As a result, minor disputes are quickly resolved, contributing to the harmonious and industrious environment.

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The provision is good

Children follow their interests while they play and explore. They welcome the attentive and friendly staff to join in their explorations. Staff support children's developing communication and language skills effectively. Children snuggle up to staff to listen to their favourite stories, turning the pages of the books and talking about what they see and hear. Staff take time to answer children's questions. Children hear how sentences are constructed, helping them build on their own vocabularies when they answer open-ended questions themselves. Staff use a variety of ways to support children who speak English as an additional language. They show children pictures and objects to help them understand the words they hear. Parents share key words and phrases in the language children use at home, helping staff to support children right from the start. By the time they leave for school, children are articulate and confident individuals.

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need to do better?

n From an early age, children master skills to help them become independent. For example, they learn how and why they need to wash their hands and brush their teeth. Children wait patiently before they use their own toothbrush to clean their teeth. They follow the instructions staff give them, carefully making sure all their teeth are brushed. This activity is embedded in the daily routine within the pre- school, helping children establish positive attitudes to health and hygiene. n Staff know children very well. They find out key information to help them understand what each child likes, already knows and has an interest in. This helps them provide resources and activities that children want to engage with. This enables staff to use their skills and knowledge to incorporate what children need to learn next into both adult-led and children's self-chosen play and investigations, contributing to children's good progress throughout the pre-

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need to do better?

school. n Staff quickly build very strong and trusting partnerships with parents, helping them have an even deeper understanding about children's progress. For example, they find out what children have been doing at home. Staff support

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need to do better?

27 February 2025 families through different aspects of parenting, such as toilet training and getting ready for the transition to school. Leaders have an excellent knowledge of the local area and sensitively give parents information about groups and professionals who can also help, if needed. Staff encourage parents and carers to borrow books to share with their children at home, helping to promote a continuity of learning, both in pre-school and at home. n Senior staff work closely with parents to help find out the best ways to spend any additional funding that children may be entitled to. Through careful review and assessment, leaders monitor how effectively funds are used to help give every child high-quality experiences and education. While planning their curriculum, staff incorporate memorable and exciting trips and events, helping to broaden the experiences children have during their time in the pre-school. This

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need to do better?

contributes to children's positive attitudes towards learning. n Children with special educational needs and/ or disabilities make good progress in their learning and development. Staff work together to help ensure that individual plans target the specific needs of children. Other professionals and agencies involved in children's health and well-being visit the pre-school and give advice to support the effective strategies staff put in place. Regular meetings with parents help to ensure children have a good start in their educational journey. n Staff work very well together. They use their skills to identify when to let children play alone and when to support their continued learning. They have a clear understanding of the sequence of learning children experience, which is rooted in the curriculum. However, there are times that the enthusiastic staff do not give children sufficient time to find different ways of doing things or solving

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need to do better?

problems for themselves. As a result, children's developing thinking skills and creativity are not optimised.

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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 give children even more time to find alternative ways of doing things and solve problems for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545190 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10376202 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 100 Number of children on roll 146 Name of registered person Eaton Socon Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01480 406047 Date of previous inspection 21 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Eaton Socon Pre-School re-registered in 2017. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Morning sessions are from 9am until 12 midday. Afternoon sessions are from 12 midday until 3pm. All-day sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school employs 23 members of staff who work with children, 19 of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 2 and above.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed activities in the groups rooms and garden areas. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n A member of the senior team took the inspector on a learning walk of the pre- school. They talked about the curriculum. n The inspector and a member of the senior team watched an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching they saw. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and carers. She took their views about the pre-school into consideration. n The inspector held meetings with the manager and with a member of the management committee.

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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

27 February 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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