We’re pleased to share that The Scott Centre Pre-school has received a glowing Ofsted report less than five months after a previous inspection downgraded it to inadequate. At the time of the first inspection in June, Head of Early Years and Childcare at the Scott Centre, Clare Wightman, had said that they felt the initial inspection was particularly tough having identified just two very specific areas that needed action, one of which the team addressed on the day.
There were just 15 weeks of term between the two inspections, and yet the second report is extremely positive about all aspects of the provision at the pre-school. In her verbal feedback to the team, the inspector said that what she saw was `very good`. She said there were elements of what the pre-school team did that she would like other pre-school settings to emulate.
The latest inspection report, carried out on 23 November said “the leadership team provide diligent oversight. Regular monitoring and evaluation are in place to assess the effectiveness of teaching, safeguarding measures, and overall progress for children”.
The report goes on to say that “staff are particularly skilled at helping children learn at their own pace” and “act as strong role models and children benefit from sensitive support that helps them manage their emotions successfully”. Commenting on safeguarding, the inspector noted that “safeguarding is of paramount priority. Staff reflect an exemplary level of vigilance and commitment to assuring children’s well-being” and “the leadership team maintains rigorous procedures to ensure a safe and secure environment.”
In response to the latest report, Clare Wightman said
“We are absolutely delighted that the inspector saw for herself the high-quality education and caring environment our Pre-School offers. We have always maintained that, whilst we recognised that there were improvements we could make, the previous inspection was not a fair reflection of what we have to offer children. We have always put safeguarding at the front of what we do, and we are very pleased that the inspector could see how embedded this is in our pre-school.”
Both inspection reports highlighted that the quality of education and, in particular, support for special educational needs, were good, noting that “support for children with special educational needs is strong”.