St Edmunds Pre-School Kindergarten

Inspection of St Edmunds Pre-School Kindergarten St Edmunds Church Hall, 9 Village Way, BECKENHAM, Kent BR3 3NA

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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 express happiness and comfort. They arrive with smiles, eager to join their friends and participate in familiar routines. They flourish in the care of the staff, who provide a joyful and secure environment. The excellent skills of the staff and positive guidance support the children in developing a clear understanding of boundaries. Children are supported to understand and manage their emotions, with staff using visual aids, positive behaviour strategies and responsive interactions. Staff are highly attuned to children's emotional needs and work closely with families to ensure continuity of care and support. Staff promote children's well- being to an exceptionally high degree.

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The provision is outstanding

Relationships are at the heart of their practice. Staff know each child remarkably well and work collaboratively to create a calm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued and confident. The setting is deeply embedded in the local community and reflects a culture of respect, kindness and high expectations. The curriculum is highly ambitious and inclusive, designed to meet the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. It is broad, well sequenced and responsive to children's interests and developmental stages. Children with additional needs benefit from tailored strategies, close monitoring and multi-agency collaboration. All children make excellent progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leadership is exceptional. Leaders demonstrate a steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality early years education. Their extensive experience and long-standing presence in the community are reflected in the strong relationships they have built. They have a deep commitment and passion for the setting. Staff speak positively about the support they receive, particularly regarding their well-being. Systems for regular supervision, training and collaborative planning and evaluation ensure that there is a shared understanding of high-quality practice. n Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and attitudes. They are confident, independent and highly motivated. Staff model respectful interactions and support children in understanding and managing their emotions. Children understand the routines, feel secure and know what is expected of them. They play harmoniously, follow rules and show kindness and empathy towards others.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to explore their identity, such as looking in mirrors to discuss skin and eye colour to create self-portraits. Children are encouraged to talk about their families and experiences, fostering a sense of self and belonging. Children's learning is enriched through science experiments, cultural celebrations and community visits. Planting, collecting natural objects, and

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need to do better?

24 September 2025 learning about festivals such as Diwali and Chinese New Year provide opportunities for exploration, cultural awareness and understanding of the world. n Early literacy is exceptionally well supported through letter recognition, mark making and story engagement. Children choose books to share with parents, promoting a love of reading and strengthening home-learning links. The thoughtful questioning, gentle prompts and praise from staff encourage children's independence while offering support when needed. The use of a doll to reinforce praise adds a playful and affirming dimension to the learning, enhancing emotional engagement. n Staff support children's communication and language skills extremely well by creating a language-rich environment with conversation, stories, singing and role play. Staff expose children to new and repeated words, helping them develop a wide vocabulary and engage in meaningful conversations, such as when children

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need to do better?

proudly talk about a dinosaur. High-quality interactions ensure that children are engaged, feel listened to and are learning at the right level to promote their growing understanding. n The setting places a strong emphasis on personal development. Self-care routines such as handwashing, pouring drinks and putting on shoes help promote independence skills. Children learn about safety through discussions and practical experiences, such as strapping dolls into buggies and participating in fire drills. Oral health is promoted through a toothbrushing programme, where children learn to brush their teeth and understand the importance of dental hygiene. n Parental feedback reflects an exceptionally high level of satisfaction with the setting. Families consistently describe the environment as calm, nurturing and safe. Children are reported to be happy, settled and eager to attend, which is indicative of strong emotional security and positive relationships with staff.

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need to do better?

Parents value the strong communication, personalised support and positive impact the setting has on their children's development and well-being.

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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 EY417451 Local authority Bromley Inspection number 10399567 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 30 Number of children on roll 9 Name of registered person Noad, Patricia Mary

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reference number

Telephone number 07762 098572 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

St Edmunds Pre-School Kindergarten opened in 1977 and has been operating under the current owner since 2010. It operates from a church hall in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley. The pre-school provides funded nursery education for two- and three-year-old children. The pre-school is open during term time only. It operates each Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 12.15pm and from 12.30pm to 3.45pm. It is open on Thursday from 9am to 12.15pm and is closed on Mondays. There are currently three staff members who work with the children. Of these, two staff members have relevant childcare qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this is having on the children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector relevant documentation, including the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke to staff and the children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

24 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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