Holt Pre-School

Inspection of Holt Pre-School The Gravel, Holt, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 6RA

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this engaging and motivational environment. They excitedly arrive and are greeted by extremely caring and dedicated staff. Relationships between staff, children and parents are exceptionally strong. These secure relationships help children feel safe and secure as they play and learn. Older children show high levels of independence in their learning and self-care. They self-register and put their coats and lunchboxes away without needing support from staff. Children's behaviour is impeccable. They freely use 'please' and 'thank you' to staff and to each other. Older children show they care for younger children. They hold younger children's hands and guide them to find what they are looking for, such as their water bottles.

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The provision is outstanding

Children show they are extremely confident and curious learners. They enthusiastically select their own activities and resources, create their own games, and challenge themselves inside and outdoors. They proudly tell staff when they achieve success in completing different tasks. Children show remarkably high levels of engagement in their learning and demonstrate resilience and perseverance. For instance, they spend long periods of time exploring different ways of making objects slide down guttering as fast as possible. Staff encourage them to experiment and work things out for themselves. Children persevere with changing the angles of the guttering and pouring water down the guttering to see if these changes make a difference to the speed. This helps children develop excellent problem solving and thinking skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have designed a highly ambitious and broad curriculum to give children an extremely strong foundation in the knowledge and skills they need for future learning. Experienced and dedicated staff make the most of every opportunity to deliver high quality teaching to embed their motivating and challenging curriculum. n Staff consistently provide children with opportunities to recall previous learning of specific concepts or vocabulary. For instance, children freely go to the 'learning wall' to look at and talk about the photos, paintings, and pieces of work displayed from a previous topic. They confidently talk to each other about the differences between 'frog spawn' and 'toad spawn' as they look at photos from a visit to a local pond. They point to writing and ask staff 'what does that say?' Staff take time to point to each word as they read the sentence. This successfully supports children's early literacy skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff expertly introduce new language and ask questions to deepen children's understanding. For example, children learn about the different types of sea creatures as they play a bingo game. Staff extend children's knowledge by

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 ensuring they teach children the correct names of the sea animals. Children listen intently and accurately repeat names such as 'orca' as they find pictures of a killer whale later in the game. Children rapidly become confident communicators. n The passionate and reflective leaders and managers ensure there are always opportunities for staff to further enhance the outstanding education and care they provide. Professional development opportunities are thoughtfully chosen to have the greatest impact on children's learning. For instance, staff recently received training to promote children's mathematical skills. This has increased children's interest in numbers and has enhanced children's use of mathematical language in their play. For instance, children laugh and joke as they talk about going on a number hunt to look for some missing clock tiles. They draw posters to show their peers which numbers are lost. They correctly say and write

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need to do better?

numbers to 10. n Parents speak extremely highly of the setting. They comment on how staff are nurturing, caring, supportive and approachable. Parents appreciate the strong communication they receive about their children's progress and learning. The setting actively fosters parental involvement through stay-and-play meetings, parents' evenings, sharing their weekly planning, and through other engagement opportunities. For example, staff share new knowledge they gain from training courses with parents at family workshops. These strong partnerships support children's consistency of learning. n Children are highly valued and respected. Staff provide exceptional opportunities for children to make decisions and choices about all aspects of their care and learning. Staff consistently listen to children's ideas and respond with genuine interest, positivity, and enthusiasm. For example, staff seek children's views on

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need to do better?

how they want to develop their new outside area. They involve children in risk assessing the environment. These opportunities help children develop a strong sense of self and builds their self-esteem.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476801 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10372671 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 28 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Holt Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 01225 782814 Date of previous inspection 30 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Holt Pre-School registered in 2014. It is situated in Holt, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire. There are six members of staff. Two members of staff have achieved qualified teacher status, three hold qualifications at level 3 and one staff member is unqualified. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, term time only. Opening hours are from 9am to 3pm. A breakfast club operates from 8am to 8.45am. The pre-school 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 a mathematics activity with the inspector. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children throughout 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

24 April 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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