The Hamlet Centre Children's Service

Inspection of The Hamlet Centre Children's Service Johnson Place, Vauxhall Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1SJ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), really enjoy coming to this pre-school. They arrive with smiles on their faces as they are greeted at the door by kind and caring staff. Children, many of whom are new to the pre-school, confidently separate from their parents and settle.

p.2

The provision is good

There is an effective key-person system in place. The key person builds strong relationships with the children, and their families, from the very beginning. The pre-school offers home visits for families before their children start, where they gain a wealth of information about the children. Staff use this knowledge to ensure children's needs, some of which may be medical, are carefully considered. There is a wealth of resources to capture the interests of the children and support their learning. The knowledgeable staff have high expectations for children. Children are supported to be physically active as they explore a variety of activities to develop their large muscles and build strength. They have opportunities to use energy in the soft-play room or have a quieter time in the calming sensory room, both of which are purpose provided.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff are good role models and encourage children to be kind and respectful of each other and the environment. Staff are calm and consistent, when supporting children's behaviour, and helping children to recognise their own emotions. Staff provide children with simple strategies and resources, such as a familiar, safe cosy space, so that they can have time and space to self-regulate.

p.2

need to do better?

n Management and staff, with support from the local authority, have made swift progress since the last inspection. They have revised the curriculum and identified the important skills and knowledge that they want the children to experience and learn. They are building a curriculum with a key focus on being safe and healthy, independence and communication. There is an extensive mandatory training programme in place for staff, all of whom have experience in supporting children with SEND. New staff are appropriately inducted. There are plans to enhance staff supervisions, and embed and further strengthen the curriculum, but due to limited time this has not yet been achieved. n Staff to child ratios are high. Staff are aware of any risks and ensure children are always supervised. There is a good balance of free play, both inside and outside, where children can explore and experiment with the resources, with close staff

p.2

need to do better?

support. This is in addition to small group, adult-led learning, where children are supported to learn and practise new skills, such as listening, following instructions and turn-taking. n Personal care is sensitively carried out by each child's key person. Children

p.2

need to do better?

18 September 2025 benefit from consistent, predictable daily routines. Staff ensure the children understand what is going to happen next. They use pictorial images and involve children in a 'count down' strategy to prepare children to transition to the next activity. This helps children to know what is expected of them at different times of the day. n Staff use a broad range of strategies to support children to gain key communication skills. Staff chat easily with the children. They speak with clarity, get down to the children's level and use short sentences with familiar language. Staff take every opportunity to sing songs and rhymes with regular repetition. Staff further encourage children's communication and language development, using simple sign language, pictorial images, books, song sacks and other props. n Staff ensure children are supported to be as independent as they can be. Staff do this by careful modelling and positive encouragement and by adapting their

p.2

need to do better?

teaching to help children to make choices during the session. For example, when children want to sing the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', they point to the star to communicate their wish. n Staff help children to develop healthy lifestyle habits. They have plenty of opportunity for physical exercise and fresh air. Staff are very mindful of children's dietary needs. Children enjoy nutritious snacks, with staff encouraging them to explore new tastes and textures. The pre-school provides guidance and support to parents on healthy lunch boxes, but this has not been wholly successful. As a result, children do not receive consistent messages about making healthy choices while at pre-school. n Partnerships with parents and other professionals are strong. Parents speak extremely highly of the pre-school, praising the staff who go 'above and beyond'. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's progress and how they

p.3

need to do better?

can support their children at home. There is ongoing engagement with other professionals and outreach services and good links with schools, which children will eventually move on to.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n implement plans to enhance staff supervision arrangements and embed, and further strengthen, the recently revised curriculum n engage even more closely with parents, in order to promote healthier eating practices at lunchtimes for all children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY435182 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10411936 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 300 Name of registered person The Hamlet Centre Trust

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01603 766 566 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2025

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The Hamlet Centre Children's Service registered in 2011. The service specialises in supporting children and families with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The service operates a pre-school that opens Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 2.15pm. The pre-school employs ten members of staff, including the manager, nine of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school provides government funded early education for all eligible children. The service also operates stay-and-play sessions and a holiday playscheme during school holidays and some weekends.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the early years curriculum with the pre-school manager. 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 spoke to staff during the inspection. n The inspector and the pre-school manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team. 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 a number of parents and took account of their views.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

18 September 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6