Grove Preschool Stanway

Inspection of Grove Preschool Stanway 50 New Farm Road, Stanway, Colchester CO3 0PG

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and excited to start their day. They are greeted with warmth and kindness by the committed staff, who are happy to see them. Children settle quickly at a chosen activity and demonstrate that they are keen and eager to explore the planned activities provided. The team of staff provides children with a variety of fun experiences that capture their interest and cover all seven areas of learning, both indoors and outdoors. The curriculum is planned around careful observations and assessments of the children's developing needs. Staff plan in the moment and follow children's interests, which influences the activities provided but also introduces seasonal themes. For example, children learn about the circus and carnival. They decorate balloons and shakers and use these to join in the singing and celebrations.

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The provision is good

There is a strong emphasis on supporting children to develop the skills they need to be independent learners. The effective key-person approach ensures that children form secure attachments and settle well. Time is taken to get to know the child and their family and staff speak knowledgeably of all the children attending. Staff are positive role models to the children, which supports children to develop kindness and empathy. The team has high expectations and praise children for making positive choices, such as when they play well together and help to tidy up. Children understand the expectations and their behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching is good. All children, including those who need additional support, make good progress from their starting points. n Children demonstrate that they are confident communicators. They happily engage in conversation with visitors to the setting. For example, they carefully choose outfits from the dress up box and proudly twirl in their dresses, explaining they are going to a birthday party and that there will be birthday cake. n While children are offered a broad curriculum where there is a strong focus on supporting their personal and emotional development and promoting the skills needed to be independent learners, it is not consistently challenging. Therefore, sometimes, staff do not best support the most able children to build on what they already know, and extend their knowledge to an even higher level. n Children understand the importance of keeping safe and healthy. They know to

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need to do better?

wash their hands before eating and when they first arrive at pre-school. They are fully supported to take care of their own personal needs. They talk about the need for sun cream and hats when it is hot and the importance of drinking water to keep hydrated. n Children enjoy the fresh air and space to run outdoors. They engage in planned

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need to do better?

30 June 2025 activities in the garden. For example, they learn about cause and effect as they excitedly explore what happens to ice in water play. They show amazement at how quickly it melts. They have a wide vocabulary and tell staff it is because the sun is so hot and that it is 'incredible' how it disappears. n Children have many opportunities to practise early writing skills. For example, hand muscles are strengthened in preparation for pencil control as they manipulate dough. Children use tweezers and tongs in their play to develop their fine motor skills. They access writing materials and concentrate as they make tickets to visit the circus and cinema. n Parents speak highly of the pre-school and staff. They comment that communication is very good and they feel fully informed and involved in their children's learning. They say the staff are welcoming and friendly and that they are reassured their children are in safe hands.

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need to do better?

n The staff work effectively as a team. The session runs seamlessly. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities and say they feel valued. They welcome opportunities to support their own continuous professional development, such as training opportunities, as they understand this has a positive impact on outcomes for children. n Children access resources and books that reflect similarities and differences. As part of the pre-school ethos, they learn to respect one another. The curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn about different cultures. However, there are fewer opportunities and experiences within the curriculum to support children's knowledge about, and make sense of, the world around them.

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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 plan more opportunities within the curriculum to challenge children's thinking to consistently build on what they already know and can do n provide more opportunities within the curriculum for children to learn and understand the wider world and community in which they live.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2735046 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10398409 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 20 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Grove Pre-School (Stanway)

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reference number

Telephone number 07443966478 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Grove Preschool Stanway registered in 2023. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during school term time. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm. The pre-school provides government funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector around the areas that children access. n They discussed how staff organise the environment and plan the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of documents, which included evidence about staff's suitability and training. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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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

30 June 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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