Outstanding result for Cold Ash Pre-school

COLD Ash Pre-school is celebrating after being deemed outstanding, by Ofsted – the highest grade offered.

Inspector Natasha Crellin visited the pre-school, which runs out of the Acland Memorial Hall in Hermitage Road, and rated all three pre-school assessment areas – how well early years provision meets the needs of children; the contribution of the early years provision to the well being of children; and the effectiveness of the leadership and management – as outstanding following an inspection in March.

Mrs Crellin said that the quality of teaching was exceptional, with staff planning and providing highly engaging activities, while language development was seen as a high priority.

Children were found to settle quickly and staff are also armed with an excellent understanding of their responsibility to safeguard and protect them. Mrs Crellin said that all children were well-prepared for school displaying confidence and high levels of self-esteem.

There was also a close relationship between pre-school and parents, and the leadership and management was judged as inspirational, with staff and parents stating that the new manager, Candice Kilbane, had rejuvenated the pre-school.

Indeed, the inspector said that the manager and staff worked as a close and supportive team; committed to delivering high standards of care and learning to children.

And the dedicated committee worked exceptionally well with the manager and demonstrated “an uncompromising ambition to deliver a first-rate service”.

Chair of the pre-school’s management committee, Holly McEnaney, said: “It’s very rare for a voluntary pre-school to get Outstanding and the Ofsted inspector who visited us said that it was almost impossible for a ‘pack-up’ village hall pre-school to be Outstanding.

“We are so proud of these results – the pre-school leader Candice Kilbane, all the staff and committee have worked so hard to make this happen together with our wonderful children and their families.”