Duchy Preschool And Playgroup

Inspection of Duchy Preschool And Playgroup Millway, Bradninch, Exeter EX5 4NL

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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

Staff warmly welcome children. They provide carefully planned learning activities for children to play with and explore. Staff know children well, and children are happy and settled. The curriculum children experience builds effectively on what they already know and can do. For example, children show a real interest in bugs and insects. Staff build children's interests and knowledge as they provide opportunities for children to plant seeds in new flower beds and care for growing seedlings. As children water the plants, they delight in watching small worms and ants moving in the soil. Staff speak with children about features of the bugs. Children eagerly share observations, saying, 'They are thin and wiggly and covered in lines.' Staff use the opportunity well to promote care for living things.

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The provision is good

Throughout the pre-school, staff form strong bonds with children, and children's personal, social and emotional skills flourish. Children are confident and eager to interact with visitors, asking them questions and inviting them to play. Children show respect and kindness towards each other as they play, and staff teach children strategies to promote sharing skills. Children's behaviour is good. Staff have high expectations of children in their learning and behaviour, and children make choices they feel proud of.

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The provision is good

Children experience rich and varied learning experiences that include visiting the local church, taking part in seasonal village events, working with children at the local school and visiting residents at the local care home. These help children develop a real understanding of the community they live in.

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need to do better?

n As staff speak with children about learning activities for the day, children confidently share their thoughts and ideas and listen to their friends when they share too. They are able communicators and excitedly discuss their choices and decide where they will play first. Staff provide clear instructions for children and, as a result, children engage with chosen activities with high levels of focus. n Story times and singing are regular activities. Staff model language well for children. Children eagerly listen as they read animal stories. As staff animatedly share stories, children excitedly join in with familiar parts and giggle at the different animal voices their friends make. n Staff encourage children to develop independence as they play and learn. Children superbly negotiate ideas in their play. For example, they thoroughly enjoy constructing a road network and travelling around in ride-on vehicles.

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need to do better?

Children take turns being road workers, where they delight in directing traffic using road signs that indicate stop and no entry. Children in their 'cars' excitedly follow diversions and tell staff they are busy. They exclaim, 'We must reverse

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 slowly, in a straight line, so we don't bump other cars.' n Leaders provide regular support to staff to engage in training opportunities and develop their skills, confidence and knowledge to meet the learning and development needs of the children they care for. All staff have taken part in British sign language training to support communication and language skills and use this as they interact with children. n Leaders are reflective and continually develop the curriculum experiences for children. They know that many of the children they care for enjoy being physically active so have developed large-scale physical play opportunities for children. Children excitedly climb and balance on apparatus and show care and respect for each other as they encourage friends to follow the route. Children share each other's joy as they develop new skills and try new things. n As children play and learn, staff challenge children's thinking and ask many

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need to do better?

questions to strengthen children's understanding or assess current knowledge. Children listen well to questions posed. Staff do not, however, provide children with adequate time to process and respond to questions asked. This limits children's opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge or explain their thinking. n Staff well-being is good. Staff value the levels of support and encouragement they receive from leaders. They feel their efforts and dedication to their roles are genuinely appreciated and feel confident seeking guidance when they need to. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have suitable plans in place that meet their needs. Staff monitor and assess progress regularly and swiftly identify children who may benefit from early help services. Staff ensure children receive targeted teaching to promote progress. For example, many children take part in regular sessions to support communication and

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need to do better?

language skills. Staff work well with outside agencies to best support the learning and development needs of all children. n Parents speak with such enthusiasm about the hardworking, caring staff. They value the range of experiences their children enjoy at pre-school and feel it really is at the heart of the community.

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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 provide children with adequate thinking time to process and respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536236 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10394740 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 59 Name of registered person Duchy Preschool And Playgroup CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01392881975 Date of previous inspection 23 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Duchy Preschool and Playgroup re-registered in 2016 and is managed by a group of volunteer trustees. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 7.45am until 6pm, during term time. The pre-school offers government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children. There are six members of staff working directly with children, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6. There is also an early years level 2 apprentice.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of

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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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