St Martin's Pre-School CIO

Inspection of St Martin's Pre-School CIO Worple Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 7AA

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are welcomed by enthusiastic, happy staff who show they are genuinely pleased to see them. Children make good progress at this pre-school, and this is thanks to the dedication and hard work of the leaders and staff, who have made a number of improvements since the last inspection. Staff value every child. They praise children's achievements and their largely positive behaviour through kind gestures, such as a thumbs up or by saying 'well done'.

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The provision is good

A key strength of this setting is staff's willingness to let children explore their environment freely, move resources around, mix materials and make mess. As a result, many children show high levels of engagement in their chosen activities. For example, outside, children explore with shaving foam and water and then mix them to find out what happens next. Inside, children make models with clay. Staff encourage them to add water and talk about what it feels like as the clay gets 'slippery' and 'slidey'. Children then decide to make ramps and independently search the room for objects they could make ramps with to enhance their play.

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The provision is good

Staff provide an inclusive setting. They make sure that all children benefit from a full range of learning experiences. For example, children take part in rugby sessions, music and movement sessions and walking to the post box to post letters. Staff welcome parents into the setting to read stories in their home languages. This promotes children's cultural capital.

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need to do better?

n The management team, committee and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to implement positive changes to the setting. Risk assessments are more thorough, and staff have completed relevant training to enhance their knowledge and understanding of how children learn. A member of the leadership team has attended training in order to become an emotional literacy support assistant, and staff carry out peer-on-peer observations, which also helps to raise the quality of teaching. n Thoughtful consideration has been given to the support for older children to become ready for school. For instance, the management team has improved relationships with the feeder school, resulting in children experiencing trips to the school's library and forest school. Children enjoy making hats with a picture of their new class name and proudly wear them. Staff plan yoga sessions to teach children calming and breathing exercises to help those who may be feeling

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need to do better?

anxious. n Staff know the children very well and plan a varied curriculum where children can learn both inside and outside. Overall, staff organise the learning environments well. However, not all areas are consistently well resourced. For

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need to do better?

2 July 2025 example, on the day of the inspection, a painting wall set up outside had no paint. Indoors, staff had set up numbered padlocks for children to find the corresponding keys and use their physical skills to open them. However, once unlocked, staff did not regularly set these back up for other children to have a go. n Children are learning about healthy lifestyles. They all enjoy daily fresh air and physical play. Fresh drinking water is available, and hand hygiene practice is embedded into the routines of the day. Children bring in their own snacks and packed lunches, and staff work hard with parents to encourage healthy choices. Children enjoy talking to their friends about their lunch, comparing their fruit and vegetable choices. n Staff remind children gently about the rules and boundaries of the setting and encourage children to be kind. Staff are keen to work with parents to establish how best to support children who struggle a little more with their behaviour. At

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need to do better?

times during the day, some children can become a little over excited, which disrupts the learning of other children. Staff are not always prompt in explaining to children how their actions can have an impact on others. n Parents and committee members speak positively about changes to the pre- school since the last inspection. They say they receive more feedback about the activities their children have taken part in and get good information about their child's progress and next steps in their development. Parents welcome the hard work being put in by managers to support their children's transition to school.

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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 support staff to consider the learning environments and activities inside and outside more thoroughly so that they are consistently well resourced to support children's play and learning n enhance children's understanding of behaviour expectations to further develop their personal development and consideration of others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478347 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10381610 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 32 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person St Martin's Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 0779 355 4340 Date of previous inspection 10 December 2024

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Information about this early years setting

St Martin's Pre-School CIO re-registered in 2014. It is situated within the grounds of St Martin's C of E Infant and Junior Schools in Epsom, Surrey. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, term time only. Children aged three and four years attend morning sessions from 8.45am to 11.45am or can stay all day. An optional lunch session is offered from 11.45am to 12.15pm. Younger children aged two to three years attend afternoon sessions from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. There are 13 staff employed to work with the children, of whom 10 hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 2 or above. The pre-school provides government-funded early education places for children aged from two to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke with the management team about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

2 July 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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