Elham Pre School

Inspection of Elham Pre School Elham Village Hall, High Street, Canterbury CT4 6SX

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Despite previous inspections highlighting the weaknesses within the setting, the leadership and management have not yet fully addressed these areas. As a result, staff still do not clearly understand their responsibility in meeting the care and learning needs of children. Additionally, the provider has not made sure that members of the management committee understand their roles and responsibilities or that they have completed relevant documentation to ensure that suitability checks can be carried out by Ofsted. This is a breach of requirements.

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not experience an ambitious, focused curriculum that reflects their individual needs and stage of development. While some children play with the resources available, others tend to wander around, disrupting the play of those who are engaged. That said, children are eager to go outside to explore and run around. They collect leaves and enjoy transporting them around the garden using the wheelbarrow. Children have lots of space to develop their physical skills and explore nature. However, the provider has not put in place effective arrangements to help staff meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is inadequate

The provider's deployment of staff does not always ensure that the children's needs are met. This results in staff interactions with children being limited as they spend most of their time dealing with behavioural situations. Staff remind younger children not to snatch resources, but do not consistently provide them with opportunities to learn how to share and take turns with peers. Children do not receive consistent support to manage their behaviour.

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need to do better?

n The provider has not ensured that members of the management committee have completed the required vetting checks to verify their suitability. This includes notifying Ofsted of the names of all company directors. However, since the management committee do not have any contact with the children, this breach in requirements does not have a significant impact on children's safety and well-being. n The provider has not addressed the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection to ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Although the provider, who is also the manager, has sought some support from the local authority, they have not implemented sufficient change to raise the quality. The provider acknowledges that staff do not receive adequate support and training opportunities to enable them to improve their knowledge and teaching skills. In addition, the provider has not ensured that the management committee have

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need to do better?

been fully informed about their legal duties and their role in supporting the

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 setting. However, there are appropriate arrangements in place for responding to children's safety and well-being. n The provider follows the staff-to-child ratios as set out in the statutory guidance. However, they have not considered the diverse needs and ages of the children who attend to ensure that all the children's needs are met. For example, some children do not receive as much interaction from staff as others. The provider does not ensure that staff are effectively deployed throughout the day to address all children's requirements for attention and engagement. As a result, many of the children miss out on purposeful learning opportunities. n The provider has not ensured that there is a designated special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) within the setting to support children with SEND. There are no consistent arrangements in place to quickly identify gaps in children's learning or to implement targeted plans that help address these gaps.

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need to do better?

As a result, children with SEND receive limited interactions from staff and, at times, become frustrated and upset. The provider works with parents and other professionals to support individual children. However, due to the lack of a SENCo, there is no one to focus on collating information to ensure all children make the progress they are capable of. The provider is in receipt of additional funding and has make good use of this to purchase additional resources to support physical play. n The provider does not ensure staff have a secure understanding of how to manage children's behaviour. Staff do not provide children with appropriate opportunities to interact with others, to regulate their behaviour and to develop their social skills. For example, when children struggle to share and do not understand how to do so, staff remove them from the activity, which does not support their learning. Opportunities that staff plan to teach younger children

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need to do better?

how to share and take turns are not always pitched at the right level for their stage of development to ensure they have an impact on children's understanding. n The provider has not devised a well-structured, focused curriculum that is implemented by staff. Staff are aware of children's interests and next steps. However, they do not plan activities that build on what children already know and can do. For instance, although staff offer a variety of craft materials, they fail to take the time to help children to learn how to use these resources effectively. They do not show children how to cut with scissors correctly or explain how to use a glue stick for sticking paper together. n The provider does not offer children an engaging environment that meets their needs. The organisation of space and resources does not support staff to focus on children's capabilities and teach them the essential skills they need for future

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need to do better?

learning. However, children do have some favourite resources and activities. For instance, they are excited to jump on the trampette, and hold the hand of a member of staff as they learn to balance on the stepping stones. Staff make good use of praise to encourage children to have a go and join in as they develop their physical skills. n The relationships staff form with parents are a strength of the setting. Parents appreciate the flexibility of the setting's start times and the updates they receive from staff on their children's day.

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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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Due date

ensure that all staff and committee members receive appropriate training, coaching and support to understand and fulfil their roles and responsibilities 03/11/2025

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Due date

ensure that staffing arrangements are appropriate to meet the needs of all children 03/11/2025

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Due date

ensure there are arrangements in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including providing staff with appropriate training 03/11/2025

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Due date

ensure staff understand how to support and manage children's behaviour in an age-appropriate way. 03/11/2025

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Due date

implement an exciting and appropriately challenging curriculum, that builds on what children know and can do, and enables them to make good progress. 03/11/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500776 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10380010 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 12 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Elham Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 01303 840041 Date of previous inspection 3 December 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Elham Pre School registered in 2016 and is operated by the management committee of Elham Pre-School. The pre-school is situated in Elham village hall in Elham, Kent. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm, during term time only. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of early years education for two- and three-year-old children. They employ three members of staff, of whom two hold an appropriate early years childcare qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The manager completed a learning walk with the inspector and explained how they plan the environment and curriculum. n The manager carried out a joint observation of a tabletop activity with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. 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 told the inspector about what they like to do when they are at 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

23 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.

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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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