Squirrels Pre-School

Inspection of Squirrels Pre-School Highwoods Surgery, Highwoods Square, Highwoods, COLCHESTER CO4 9SR

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children arrive keen to start their day. They are greeted by happy attentive staff, who are genuinely pleased to see them. An individually tailored settling-in process, along with good partnerships with parents, means staff know the children well before they start. This ensures children are settled, confident and excited to attend. Children quickly busy themselves at a chosen activity. The management team are committed to provide good-quality teaching. The curriculum is planned to support children to develop skills they need to be independent learners and prepare them for a smooth transition to school. Activities provided are designed to build on what children already know, what interests them and includes termly themes, such as 'people who help us'. Children play in an inclusive environment. A variety of resources are easily accessible on open shelving and this encourages children to self-select and initiate their own learning.

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The provision is good

Children have established close and trusting bonds with their key person. For example, they are keen to sit on staff laps as they enjoy stories. They confidently approach staff when they want reassurance or help. The staff are calm and reassuring role models and offer children praise for their efforts. Children understand the rules and expectations of the pre-school and generally play well together, showing kindness and concern for their friends. Therefore, overall children's behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n Children experience a broad curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Staff use children's interests to help establish what they need to learn next. There is a clear focus on children developing the skills they need to be independent learners. For example, children become good communicators as staff encourage and support them well to take care of their personal needs. Staff recognise the importance of these skills to support children's confidence and ensure a smooth transition to school. n Outdoor learning is promoted throughout the year. Children relish their time outdoors and consideration is given to all areas of learning in the garden. This ensures those that prefer to play outdoors have the same opportunities. Children spend time mixing potions and making pies in the mud kitchen. They roll balls down drain pipes with skill into water. They learn to negotiate space well as they use ride-on toys. Children express themselves and their creativity as they use

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need to do better?

dressing-up clothes and instruments in the outdoor theatre. n Staff have a clear comprehension of how children develop their conversation skills. Children show sustained concentration and interest at group story time. They eagerly interact with the familiar story about a 'super potato' and continue discussion about being kind when the story ends. Staff are skilful in capturing

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need to do better?

2 July 2025 children's attention at this time and encourage conversations. On occasions, some staff do not ask questions to encourage children to think critically and give them time to respond. n All children, including those who require additional support, make good progress from their starting points. The pre-school staff have a comprehensive knowledge of all the children attending and confidently discuss children's individual needs. n Staff have high expectations for all children. There is a sharp focus on supporting their personal, social and emotional development. Through adult-led activities, children learn about emotions and the vocabulary they need to express their feelings. A quiet calm space is available for those who may need to sit quietly. n Children's behaviour is good and they understand what is acceptable. They are polite and demonstrate good manners. Occasionally, some staff are too quick to

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need to do better?

intervene. This means children are not learning to negotiate with one another to establish a positive solution to a problem, for example, when working together or sharing toys. n Parents speak highly of the nurturing staff. They comment their children have made very good progress since attending. They feel welcome and that they can contribute to their children's learning and comment that communication is good. n Staff say they feel valued and that their welfare and their own professional development are considered during supervision and staff meetings. They have some opportunities to access training of their choice. However, the management team have not considered a more targeted approach to identifying staff's training needs to raise the quality of teaching to a consistently high level.

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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 improve the use of effective questioning skills to give children more time to think and respond to questions n help staff to provide children with more opportunities to take responsibility for themselves and solve problems when negotiating how to share resources and resolve conflicts n strengthen training opportunities for staff to ensure they are effective to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 203962 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10409727 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 41

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Name of registered person

St John's & Highwoods Community Association

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 853111 Date of previous inspection 21 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Squirrels Pre-School registered in 2001. It employs eight members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions run from 9.15am to 3.15pm. 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

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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