Stewartby Pre-School

Inspection of Stewartby Pre-School Park Crescent, Stewartby, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK43 9NN

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in the well-established pre-school. They embrace the learning experiences they receive through the exceptionally well-planned curriculum. Staff expertly plan activities and provide resources that target what children need to know and understand next. There is a clear sequence that builds on what children can already do, helping to prepare them for the next stage in their educational journey at school. For example, staff give children many opportunities to help strengthen and coordinate their core muscles. Children rapidly build their confidence to have a go, practise and strengthen their skills. This is in advance of refining children's fine motor control of their fingers and hands to help prepare them for early writing skills. Staff combine what they want children to learn next with seasonal themes and children's own interests. This helps to inspire and motivate children to enthusiastically continue to experiment and explore

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The provision is outstanding

Children are curious to find out about the world around them. For example, after playing a game to move small models of bees from honey to a dry dish, they carefully study honeycomb. Children cut, smell and feel the honeycomb. Staff encourage them to recall the facts they have been told about how honey is produced, emphasising words such as 'nectar'. Staff give children even more information to help build on what they already understand, helping to expand their knowledge even further. Children make the most of their play and interactions with staff. The industrious environment helps to promote children's desire to learn and cooperate with their peers and staff, leading to their highly positive attitudes and behaviours towards learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff know all the children exceptionally well. Together, they discuss the how they can support children in the most effective ways. They take into account the experiences children share with their families and ensure that all children make new and exciting memories to help optimise their learning. Children join in regular sessions provided by external professionals and specialists. Staff support their key children during these activities, frequently extending children's knowledge through the questions they ask. For example, while children enjoy a matching game based on the sounds of the letters they hear at the beginning of words, staff add more facts. They ask children what they know about moles and introduce more information and different words to children's vocabulary. n Providers ensure that all children make the best progress they can. They use additional funding that some children receive in ways that help close any existing

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need to do better?

or emerging gaps in their learning. Staff work very closely with other professionals and agencies. They seek advice and follow the strategies that

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 others have put in place to provide continuity in targeted areas. For example, speech and language therapists visit on a regular basis. They guide staff through new strategies and ideas that contribute to children's individual plans. As a result, all children make the very best progress in their evolving communication and language skills. n Children behave very well. Staff ensure that they support children to begin to recognise and regulate their emotions and behaviours. They explain to parents about the resources they use within the pre-school to support children's emotional development, such as particular storybooks. Staff acknowledge how children might be feeling, helping them recognise and manage their emotions. In turn, children learn how they can regulate their feelings and their behaviours towards others. This helps children to feel settled in preparation to continue learning. As a result, children feel valued in the calm and harmonious

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need to do better?

environment within the pre-school. n Parents report that they feel extremely well supported by leaders and staff. They describe how staff go 'above and beyond' to help them in their parenting roles. This helps to ensure that children continue to flourish. Staff sensitively hold discussions with parents and, when necessary, help them find additional support in the community. Staff give general information about different aspects of care and education through informative newsletters and a secure, private social media account. For example, they send screen-shots of how to navigate an application form for school. Parents feel they are listened to by staff and feel their children receive the very best care and education. n The dedicated team of staff is motivated to continue to develop their professional knowledge and understanding. They focus on areas of interest that purposefully support their work with any given cohort of children. They cascade

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need to do better?

new information and strategies to the rest of the team, helping to maintain a consistently high quality of teaching, assessment and care. For example, staff have recently attended a course to help strengthen children's vocabulary, confidence in speaking and opportunities to be creative. The structured creation of stories is observed by the team, who, in turn, take elements of the theory and practice they see into their own teaching. This contributes to the excellent teaching and learning fostered in the pre-school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a positive and open culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY548652 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10376040 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 36 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Stewartby Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07407438829 Date of previous inspection 14 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Stewartby Pre-School registered in 2017. It employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications, ranging from level 2 to level 6. The pre-school is open from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term- time only. The pre-school provides government funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed activities in the pre-school and garden. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk of the pre-school and described the curriculum that is used. n The manager joined the inspector to watch a planned activity. They discussed the quality of the teaching and how the activity related to the children's learning. n The inspector met with a member of the management committee. n The inspector looked at some documentation, including the evidence of the suitability of staff and committee members. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents. She also read emails and testimonials sent in for the inspector to read from a large number of parents. The inspector took their views into consideration in her evaluation of the provision.

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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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