A WEST DORSET pre-school has been rated good by Ofsted, despite being inspected just three weeks after the start of a new manager.

Broadmayne and West Knighton Pre-School, on Knighton Lane in Broadmayne, was inspected last month, just three weeks after new manager Kelly Strange had started in the job.

The pre-school hadn’t been inspected since 2008 and this was its first inspection under the new framework and it was rated good in all four categories which pre-school’s are graded.

It was rated good in effectiveness of the leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare and the outcomes for children.

The report praised the quality of the teaching, how staff work closely with paretns and that staff know their responsibilities when it comes to safeguarding children.

The report said: “The quality of teaching is good. The staff are deployed well around the pre-school in order to help and encourage children to develop and learn. Staff know how children learn best and their understanding of the curriculum is strong.”

The report went on to say how staff work closely with parents and give them ideas of how to continue their children’s learning at home.

It said: "Staff work closely with parents and give them ideas of how to continue their children's learning at home.

"Staff also build effective partnerships with other professionals.

"This helps staff develop the skills and expertise they need to guide families and their children."

The pre-school was praised for how its key-person system works.

The report said: “The key-person system is effective. Staff know their key children well because they take the time to make good relationships with families. This helps children to feel emotionally secure and to be settled and happy in their play. It also motivates them to learn.”

Kelly spoke of the whole team’s happiness at the result.

She said: “We’re very happy. We hadn’t had an inspection since 2008 so we knew it was due.

“We’re just relieved to have it done. I’d be here three weeks so it was a bit of a shock really.”

The report said that the pre-school is not yet rated outstanding as systems to monitor progress have not just been fully embedded and that there are few opportunities for children to develop skills in using technological toys and equipment.

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