St Marys Pre-School

Inspection of St Marys Pre-School St Johns Hall, St Johns Way, Corringham, Essex SS17 7LJ

p.1

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 Good

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Children enter the pre-school confidently and seek out their special friends. Children generally enjoy their pre-school experiences. However, weaknesses in the quality of teaching and planning for children's learning mean that they do not receive good enough learning experiences. Staff supervise the children and ensure that they remain safe, however, they do not always engage well enough with the children. Planning is not tailored effectively enough to ensure that there is a challenging and ambitious curriculum for all children. Key persons do not demonstrate secure enough knowledge of the children in their care, especially in relation to their next steps in learning. Children who speak English as an additional language are not supported well enough to enable them to make effective progress in their speech and communication skills.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Despite these weaknesses, children are busy and active. They enjoy playing with the large selection of toys on offer to them, indoors and outdoors. Children are well behaved and are familiar with the pre-school routines. For example, they know how to access their snack from their lunch boxes at snack time and again at lunchtime. On occasions, these routine times become disorganised and chaotic. Furniture is not always organised well enough to ensure that children can sit comfortably to enjoy their snack.

p.2

need to do better?

n The pre-school is run and staffed by a team who have worked together consistently for many years, with the newest member of the team being employed over 10 years ago. As a result, the team work well together and all staff say that they enjoy their job. The arrangements for the supervision of staff, however, are not sufficient enough to drive improvements in the quality of teaching. n The key-person system is not robust enough to ensure that key persons have a deep knowledge of the children in their groups. They do not plan effectively for every child's learning, ensuring that the curriculum is challenging and ambitious for them. Staff are not always clear about the children's next steps in learning, especially in relation to their communication and language skills. Key persons do not always use the knowledge they have about children to build on what they already know they can do. n Staff and leaders do not always take account of and improve their knowledge of

p.2

need to do better?

the languages children speak at home. As a result, children are not provided with opportunities to use their home language in play to help to strengthen their speech and language skills. n Children are generally familiar with the pre-school's routines, such as snack and mealtimes. They understand that they sit with their key person and the other

p.2

need to do better?

9 May 2025 children in their key person's group to eat a snack of their choice from their lunchbox. The organisation of this time, however, is not always conducive to children being able to sit comfortably. n Parents speak well of the staff and provider. They share positive comments about the way in which staff support them and their children and state that their children enjoy their pre-school experiences. Staff use an online system to share information with parent about what the children have been doing. n Children enjoy playing outdoors in the large pre-school garden. They confidently ride play cars and scooters around the path, being careful not to bump into each other. Children use a range of equipment to develop physical skills, such as balancing and negotiating the steps on a slide. Staff are on hand to support this play, supervising the safe use of the resources. n Some children enjoy exploring their interest in counting and numbers. They

p.2

need to do better?

confidently arrange number tiles in order in the garden. Children are encouraged to count the number of children present each morning during the focused circle time. They manage this with ease. n Staff help children to learn letters and sounds during focused activities. They repeat letter sounds using visual prompts and flashcards. Staff encourage children to join in with songs and music relating to sounds.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Due date

ensure key persons develop a deep understanding of the children in their key-person groups in order to promote their learning and development effectively 05/06/2025

p.3

Due date

consider the individual needs, interests and development of each child in order to plan challenging, ambitious and enjoyable experiences for every child 05/06/2025

p.3

Due date

9 May 2025 take reasonable steps to provide opportunities for children to use their home language in play and learning to further support their language development at home 05/06/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure the arrangements for staff supervision are robust enough to enable staff to receive coaching to improve their personal effectiveness. 05/06/2025

p.4

should:

n review the organisation of routine activities, such as snack and mealtimes, to ensure children are seated appropriately and receive purposeful interactions from staff during these times n guide staff to implement the curriculum effectively to support children in continually building on what they already know and can do.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY290992 Local authority Thurrock Inspection number 10403348 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Sloman, Jacqueline

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07800923224 Date of previous inspection 8 July 2019

p.5

Information about this early years setting

St Marys Pre-School registered in 2004. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday sessions are from 8.30am until 2.30pm, Wednesday sessions are from 8.30am until 11.30am. The pre-school provides government funded early years education for all eligible children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n Parents and carers shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

9 May 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7