Stanmore Baptist Church Preschool

Stanmore Baptist Play Group

Inspection report for early years provision

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Stanmore Baptist Play Group

509041 Unique Reference Number 04 October 2006 Inspection date Kay Williams Inspector

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Stanmore Baptist Play Group

Abercorn Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 2PH Setting Address

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E-mail

The Committee of Stanmore Baptist Church Playgroup Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Sessional care Type of care

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E-mail

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Stanmore Baptist Church Play Group was registered in 1992 and has been in operation for more than 40 years. It operates from several rooms within the church premises and shares the building with other users. The play group has sole use of its designated areas during operating hours. It is situated in Stanmore within the Borough of Harrow. A maximum of 41 children may attend at any one time. The group is open Tuesday to Friday between the hours of 09:15 until 11:45 during term time only. The children have limited access to a secure outside play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 40 aged two to five years on roll. The setting does not receive funding for early education. Children come from a wide catchment area. The play group supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The play group is a voluntary organisation and 13 volunteers make up the staff team. Seven of these, including the manager, hold an appropriate early years qualification and two are working towards a qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is generally well promoted. They are learning some aspects of the importance of good personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet, although the arrangements for washing their hands before eating their snack are less hygienic with some children sharing the same bowl of water. However, the staff are making the best use of the setting's facilities. Children are protected from the spread of infection as the staff follow appropriate procedures to ensure that children who are unwell are not permitted to attend until they have fully recovered. Children benefit further from clean hygienic routines such as staff wearing protective gloves when changing children's nappies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy eating as they enjoy their mid morning snack. They are able to make healthy choices between a variety of different fresh fruits and they happily tuck into cheese, crackers and cucumber that they have prepared for themselves. Food is offered to the children according to their dietary needs and staff are aware of their needs via a list that they all hold a copy of. Older children are able to help themselves to water from the cooler. Younger children are offered drinks regularly.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although children do not have regular opportunities to play outdoors in the fresh air they do enjoy a daily indoor session where the can engage in robust physical play. They are learning to further their skills such as balancing, climbing and crawling in and out of tunnels. They especially enjoy practising aiming and throwing skills as they learn to toss hoops onto the target stick. Fine motor skills are developing well as children are given opportunities to use real tools for buttering crackers and cutting fruit in preparation for their snack.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children part happily and settle quickly to their chosen activity. Staff are warm and friendly and enhance children's sense of belonging by creating a welcoming atmosphere. The premises are clean and child centred because the staff ensure to transform this shared accommodation into an interesting play environment for the children. Children's safety is assured as access to the premises is monitored by a designated staff member and the door is locked after all the children have arrived. Visitors to the premises are recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have independent access to a wide range of equipment and play materials. Resources are both safe and age appropriate and sustain the children's interest well. Children's risk of accidental injury is minimised as effective risk assessment procedures are implemented by staff and this in turn reduces potential hazards. For example during large physical play activities staff place themselves strategically at the apparatus in order to enable children to challenge their skills safely, secure in the knowledge that the adult will prevent them from hurting themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children are well protected as staff hold sound knowledge of the setting's child protection procedures. The manager is attending additional training to safeguard children's welfare further. Recruitment procedures are robust and ensure that only those adults suitable to work with children are allowed to do so.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy the time they spend at the playgroup. Upon arrival they display their "kangaroo" or "star" name tag on to the notice board to mark their arrival, this immediately gives them a sense of belonging. They then set about independently choosing an activity from the varied range offered to them. Their security is strengthened as they have established positive relationships with the staff who are always pleased to see them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although staff are not currently making full use of the Birth to three matters framework they are developing this within their planning. However, much of the existing good practice is reflective of the framework and the children's needs are met according to their individual stages of development. Staff know the children well and tend to their individual needs with care. For example, some new children take comfort in having easy access to their own buggy and staff enable them to sit in it from time to time and observe the other children or to have a drink and a snack.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing good relationships with their peers, "come and sit with me" children request of each other as they take their seat for snack time. They demonstrate care for others as older children advise an adult that younger children have a "runny nose" and spontaneously fetch a box of tissues. Children enjoy sensory experiences as they discuss the feeling of paint on their feet as they create a foot print collage. Staff ask the children open ended questions to further their learning "how does the paint feel? and "do the colours feel different?" Children respond with descriptive words such as "slimy" "slippery" and "cold". They further their sensory experiences as they play with water, sand and dough.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's self esteem and confidence are good. Staff effectively support this by allowing children good periods of uninterrupted free play and by having a rota for the older children to take responsibility for preparing the snack.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children listen attentively during group story time and make good independent use of the well resourced book corner. Staff take advantage of children's interest in books by offering several spontaneous story telling sessions throughout the morning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a good variety of art activities where they can create their own individual pictures using water colour, poster paint, glue, fabric and paper. They especially enjoy the daily opportunities to develop their large physical skills and demonstrate good levels of competence as they climb and balance. Children's interest is sustained during all activities with the exception of the music and movement session, consequently learning opportunities were missed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals as they develop a strong sense of personal identity. They enjoy looking at photograph albums of previous events and are able to recall the names of other children that they see in the pictures. Children are learning about their local community as they take trips to the library and the park. This learning is extended to the wider world as the children regularly participate in charitable events where they raise money for organisations such as "Children in Need". Visitors to the setting enrich their experiences as they interact with soldiers playing musical instruments and parents reading them stories in English and other languages.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported. Resources portray a variety of cultural and social diversity, including books and posters in different languages. Children's individual needs are fostered well. Staff are patient and committed to ensuring that all children cared for, for example, offering children with limited language a variety of different drinks until they find the drink of their choice. Children are well behaved as staff offer them lots of praise and encouragement and they are gently spoken with the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are a strength of the setting. The gradual settling in process for new children helps to establish good links with the parents. Children benefit from the shared knowledge between staff and parents to ensure their individual needs are met. Parents speak highly of the service provided, many returning with second and third children. Relationships with parents are friendly and informal and although they do not receive a written report on their child's progress they are kept well informed. Staff set aside time to speak with parents to highlight their children's progress. News letters and a notice board keep parents informed of the activities that their children are offered and they are also encouraged to help out in the setting so they can see for themselves.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The setting is well organised and children feel comfortable within the familiar, consistent routines of each session. Well written policies and procedures are consistently implemented by all the staff and parent helpers alike. Staff are strategically deployed and forge individual relationships with each new child, which helps to builds their self confidence.

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Organisation

This long established staff team work well together and they are committed to the setting which many of the current staff helped to set up. They have good links with the local authority and keep their knowledge up to date. The manager is currently updating her knowledge of child protection procedures and first aid, while other staff members have achieved a certificate of recognition from the "healthy eaters are better learners" project, run by the local authority. Some staff are enhancing their childcare qualification.

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Organisation

Children's records are carefully collated and stored appropriately. All required policies and procedures are in place and effectively support the existing good practice and are regularly

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 updated. For example, the recent changes made to the setting's complaints procedure are reflective of current legislation.

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Organisation

The provision meets the needs for the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the setting has improved the quality of their documentation and record keeping. The policies and procedures have been updated and records now meet the required standard and are appropriately stored. Consequently children benefit from these improvements as practice is now more consistent.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • provide children with more hygienic hand washing facilities • improve the outcome for children by considering the Birth to three matters framework.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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