Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Achievement verified
Expected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
St Paulinus Pre School Limited
- Inspection datesingle source
3 Mar 2026
- Inspectors verified
Steph Graves
- Postcode verified
DA1 4ET
- Name on report verified
St Paulinus Pre School
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
2745064
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- AchievementExpected
- Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Leaders use additional funding well to provide resources and learning experiences that provide disadvantaged children with the same chances to thrive as their peers. p.4
- They have high expectations for children's development and work together to meet children's individual needs. p.3
- All children thrive because of the two-way communication between staff and parents that results in staff meeting their individual needs. p.5
Concerns
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No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Leaders should strengthen opportunities for adapting the learning environment to help all children concentrate and enjoy the teaching taking place. p.5
- Leaders should continue to encourage staff to help children learn about foods that are good for them, and why, to further encourage their awareness of healthy eating. p.5
- Leaders should continue to work with parents and carers to encourage a shared approach to healthy eating to benefit children's good health. p.5
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,759
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 45, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 17 words
- Next steps
- 3
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 7%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
St Paulinus Pre School
Unique reference number (URN): 2745064 Address: St. Paulinus Community Hall, Manor Road, Crayford, Dartford, DA1 4ET Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 08/09/2023 Registers: EYR Registered person: St Paulinus Pre School Limited
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Safeguarding standards met
The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.
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How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
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How we evaluate safeguarding
Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.
p.1
Achievement Expected standard
Children make typical progress from their individual starting points. All children learn new skills through play experiences that cover all areas of learning. Children facing barriers to their learning develop increasing confidence in their communication and language abilities. For example, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn to speak in progressively longer sentences. Children also use language to persuade others to join in with their play. For example, they call their friends over to help paint their pretend house. During group discussions, children confidently talk about the emergency evacuation procedure and how to stay safe in different situations.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children, including the most disadvantaged and those with SEND, learn new skills in small and achievable steps. Children confidently communicate their feelings and ideas to others, as part of developing their personal, social and emotional abilities. Sometimes, the environment becomes noisy, and children are less able to focus and concentrate on their learning than at other times. However, all children receive the support they need to progress towards the next stages in their learning and school.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders and staff gently remind children of their expectations for positive behaviour. They offer close support and supervision where needed to help children regulate their behaviour and to learn how their behaviour may affect others. Generally, they adjust the play environment to maintain expectations and to accommodate children's individual needs and circumstances. All children follow simple instructions and guidance with ease, including those who face barriers to their learning. For example, some children show confidence in following visual prompts that enable them to make choices, follow routines and understand what will happen next.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Staff work typically well together to help all children learn about behaving in safe and respectful ways. Children arrive eager to start their day and play safely and cooperatively together. Staff are quick to praise children for their achievements, such as when less- confident children begin to join in with group activities.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders strive to work well with parents and carers to encourage children's regular attendance. Staff know children and their families well and form close relationships with them. Children show trust and reassurance in their presence and play amicably with others. The key-person system is successful in terms of helping children to develop a sound sense of belonging.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Leaders and staff implement policies and procedures for meeting all children's needs generally well. For example, the snacks they provide are healthy, balanced and nutritious. Staff sit with children while they eat to keep them safe. However, leaders recognise that they do not take all opportunities to teach children about healthy eating to further encourage their understanding of good health.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff form close relationships with all children to encourage their sense of belonging and wellbeing. They are responsive to children's unique needs. Staff help children newer to the setting, or those going through change, to feel emotionally secure and content. The impact of this practice is clear as children seek out their key person for support or to share their feelings throughout the day.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff encourage children to develop independence with routines, such as washing their hands before eating and putting on their coats for outdoor play. They teach children how to keep safe in different situations. For example, children are knowledgeable about why they are not allowed into the kitchen. During discussions, they make comments such as, 'We need to look to see if any cars are coming,' to demonstrate their understanding of road safety.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff typically provide children with opportunities for outdoor play to develop their physical skills and sense of wellbeing. Children learn to balance, climb and negotiate space safely as they move in different ways.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders monitor the curriculum well overall and understand what they want children to learn by the time they leave the pre-school. Staff implement the curriculum in simple steps that help children to learn progressively, but at their own pace. This is particularly successful for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff provide ongoing support that allows these children to explore and learn by following their interests. Occasionally, staff do not take all opportunities, mainly when noise levels rise, to adapt teaching to help children concentrate more consistently.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff typically encourage children's communication and language skills well. They ask interesting questions that encourage children to respond in full sentences. They provide an environment rich in language, where children, including those with SEND, easily communicate their ideas and needs.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff help children to develop skills in all areas of learning. For example, they encourage children to explore mathematical concepts through counting, completing puzzles and using mathematical language to describe different quantities. Staff support children's personal, social and emotional skills well. They form close attachments with children, encourage their participation and are sensitive to their emotional needs. Staff plan and provide activities that encourage children to be physically active. For instance, they encourage children to take part in activities to practise their balance and coordination. Staff assess all children's progress from their unique starting points to identify and close any gaps in their learning.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders quickly identify and strive to meet children's diverse needs from when they first start. They work with outside agencies, specialists and parents and carers to support children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work together to remove any barriers to children's learning, particularly for the most disadvantaged. Leaders take action to implement support strategies that have a positive impact on children's care and learning, including for those previously known to children's social care. In general, staff adjust teaching and adapt the environment to include children in all routines and learning experiences. They have high expectations for children's development and work together to meet children's individual needs.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders provide staff with appropriate training and development to help them assess children's progress and to plan for their needs. They review the effectiveness of inclusive practices and the impact these have on children, including those who face barriers to learning.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders use additional funding well to provide resources and learning experiences that provide disadvantaged children with the same chances to thrive as their peers. For example, they understand that some children with SEND initially cope better with one-to-one support, while others are ready to take part in group activities.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders and those responsible for governance work generally well together to monitor the quality of provision. They take action to improve practice and reflect on the impact of this to keep children safe and well cared for. Leaders work alongside staff to act on any concerns about children's development and to provide support for children and their families. Leaders and staff take time to form trusting relationships with parents and carers and keep them informed about their children's progress. They sensitively encourage parents to provide healthy food choices in children's packed lunches. The impact of this work is not yet consistent in terms of encouraging children's awareness of healthy eating.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
In general, leaders adapt the environment in ways that help all children to learn and develop. They are ambitious for all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those previously known to children's social care. Leaders work with staff, families and outside professionals to identify children's individual needs and help them to overcome any barriers in their learning.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders follow recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure that adults working with children are suitable. They check the ongoing suitability of staff through regular supervision sessions, support and training. Opportunities for staff to engage in professional development create positive outcomes for all children. Leaders support staff and help them manage their workloads. This results in a team that feels supported and works typically well together.
p.4
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children achieve typically well from their unique starting points given their individual needs and interests. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who face other barriers to their learning, enjoy equal access to the learning experiences provided. Children enjoy exploring and following their interests. For example, some enjoy scooping soil with diggers and playing with construction materials, while others independently explore books and stories.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children increasingly learn to do things for themselves. For example, they help to tidy away the toys, wash their hands, pour drinks and put on their coats to go outside. Children show confidence as they take part in planned experiences, such as singing songs or group discussions, where they develop their communication and language skills. They also confidently move around and choose their preferred activities. Children develop a sound sense of belonging and develop the emotional resilience they need for their future learning.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are involved in risk assessment and ways to help keep the environment safe. For example, they tidy away toys that other children could trip over. Children are typically well prepared for their next stages of learning. Staff form close relationships with children, including those with SEND, and ensure that they are all included in all experiences. They work with parents and carers to understand children's needs and their home routines. Children are safe and show that they feel safe in the care of the staff team and their key persons.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Leaders work with parents to promote the importance of regular attendance. They generally share information well and value parents' contributions to their children's care and learning. For example, leaders follow up on any concerns parents may have about their children's development. Staff regularly communicate with parents to meet children's individual needs, including for children with SEND or those previously known to children's social care. All children thrive because of the two-way communication between staff and parents that results in staff meeting their individual needs.
p.5
Next steps
Leaders should strengthen opportunities for adapting the learning environment to help all children concentrate and enjoy the teaching taking place. Leaders should continue to encourage staff to help children learn about foods that are good for them, and why, to further encourage their awareness of healthy eating. Leaders should continue to work with parents and carers to encourage a shared approach to healthy eating to benefit children's good health.
p.5
Address:
St. Paulinus Community Hall Manor Road, Crayford Dartford DA1 4ET
p.6
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.6
Address:
Registered person: St Paulinus Pre School Limited
p.6
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 09:00 - 16:00
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Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
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About this inspection
The inspector spoke with those responsible for governance and oversight of the pre-school, the nominated individual, who is also the manager and special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator, and staff and parents and carers during the inspection.
p.6
About this inspection
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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Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
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Expected standard
The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.
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Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
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Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
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Urgent improvement
services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.
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Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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 .
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Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
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