Holy Family Pre-School

Inspection of Holy Family Pre-School Holy Family School, Mansel Road West,Millbrook, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 9LP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this warm, nurturing and stimulating environment. Staff get to know every child exceptionally well and build deep and meaningful relationships through very high-quality interactions. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure as they actively involve staff in their play and share their experiences and achievements. For example, staff show genuine interest in children's thoughts and ideas as they explore the investigation station, children know their thoughts are valued and staff frequently share children's learning with parents via an online learning journal. This helps children develop a secure sense-of-self, as well as high levels of self-esteem.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff prioritise children's speech and language development at every opportunity and understand how this underpins learning across all other areas of development. Staff skilfully teach children a wide range of new words, broadening their vocabulary. For example, younger children hear simple key words repeatedly, which they then use independently during their play. Older children develop skills that allow them to hold back-and-forth conversations with others. This helps children become highly effective communicators.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well and gain a clear understanding of the expectations, which staff model consistently. Children follow the rules and are able navigate conflict by independently solving problems and negotiating with others. Children develop high levels of self-control and seek support from staff when they need it. Children are keen to share their own ideas during their play and show respect towards each other's opinions and contributions.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff develop a highly ambitious and thoughtful curriculum that is well embedded into everyday practice, enabling every child to reach their full potential. Teaching is consistently outstanding. All staff receive exceptional support that enable them to develop practice that is of the highest standard, through effective staff supervision and practice monitoring. Leaders are highly reflective. They continually promote opportunities to improve staff knowledge at all levels, to secure the very best outcomes for children. n Staff use assessment and robust progress monitoring arrangements to accurately identify what they want children to learn next. They use this to form a tailored approach that ensure all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language, to make excellent progress within their learning.

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need to do better?

n Children have an abundance of opportunities to learn about the world around them through carefully planned and purposeful experiences. For example,

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need to do better?

8 July 2025 children learn about life cycles, as they observe the growth of pumpkins. They note what happens to the fruit as they observe decay and how seeds are then scattered, creating new plants. Children are keen to talk about what they know from previous activities and make new links as staff expand this further. n Children develop an early understanding of mathematics, which staff embed during every interaction. For example, staff introduce new mathematical language as children build towers. Children use 'taller' and 'shorter' as they compare the heights of their creations. Children also learn about volume as staff create learning experiences with water and containers, such as jugs of varying sizes. This prepares children exceptionally well for their next stage in learning, including their eventual move to school. n Children develop excellent physical skills as a result of carefully sequenced activities. For example, younger children develop coordination as they move

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need to do better?

their bodies in time with music. Older children develop their pincer grip as they use a wide range of mark-making tools in preparation for future writing. n Staff provide a wide range of opportunities that enable children to do things for themselves. For example, children learn to peel and cut their own fruit, skilfully pour their own drinks and attend to their own personal care. Children follow instructions very well and work together when tidying up. Children are proud of their contributions. This not only builds children's confidence and self-esteem but also supports them to make valued relationships with their peers. n Partnership working is highly effective. Staff work seamlessly with other professionals, including teachers of neighbouring schools and speech and language therapists. This helps provide children with exceptional support from the earliest point. In addition, the partnerships that staff form with parents are

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need to do better?

extremely meaningful. For example, parents speak highly of the care and education that children receive and genuinely value the regular updates on their children's learning. This creates a consistent approach and provides children with consistency across all settings, including home.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 131537 Local authority Southampton Inspection number 10407428 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Holy Family Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 023 8039 9675 Date of previous inspection 8 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Holy Family Pre-School registered in 1998 and operates from premises within the Holy Family Primary School on the Millbrook Estate in Southampton. The pre-school opens each weekday during school term times. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.15pm. The pre-school employs eight staff, all staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one member of staff with level 5. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed with the manager the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. 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

8 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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