Eastglade School

Epsom Downs Play Group

Inspection report for early years provision

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Epsom Downs Play Group

122507 Unique Reference Number 07 February 2007 Inspection date Sandra Patricia Jeffrey Inspector

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Epsom Downs Play Group

Rosebery Road, Langley Vale, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 6AF Setting Address

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E-mail

Epsom Downs Playgroup Registered person Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Epsom Downs Playgroup is owned and run by a parent committee. Children are cared for in the village hall of Langley Vale and the playgroup have sole use of the building during the operational hours. There is a large hall, an entrance lobby, kitchen and toilet facilities. The playgroup is open five mornings a week, term time only from 09:30 to 12.15.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Most children live in the immediate vicinity and progress to the local infant school with whom the playgroup have established good links. This helps the transition to school for the children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There is a manager and deputy in place and four additional care staff. Of these staff members, four hold a recognised early years child care qualification. A qualified teacher also works in the playgroup two days a week and three staff have first aid training and hold current certificates.

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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 The pre-school is registered to accept 26 children each day, aged from two to five years. There are currently 35 children on roll who attend for a variety of sessions. This includes 31 three and four year olds who are in receipt of nursery education funding. The pre-school provides support for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and for whom English is an additional language.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a welcoming and clean environment, where they are beginning to learn the importance of personal care and hygiene through generally effective daily routines. They have a clear understanding of why they must wash their hands before they eat, and after using the toilet. Children are mostly protected from risks of cross-infection because adequate systems are in place. However, the current practice of sharing pre- prepared water for hand washing does not safeguard against cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected as three members of staff have first aid training, therefore enabling them to deal appropriately with any accidents that may occur. Documentation for the recording of accidents and medicines are in place and are well maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy healthy snacks including various fruits and salad items. Staff ensure food is properly prepared and complies with any dietary and/or religious requirements. Children have some understanding of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. They are able to help themselves to fruit, salad and biscuits during snack time, but are not able to pour their own drinks. This limits their independence and self help skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a suitable range of activities, which contribute to their health. Daily physical activity such as music and movement sessions in the hall, helps children to begin to develop their large motor skills and control of their bodies as they move confidently around the hall. Children also learn to balance and climb confidently on the climbing frame and when jumping on the trampoline. Children's fine motor skills are developed through activities such as construction and completing puzzles, and by the use of tools such as paintbrushes and scissors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from playing in a spacious environment where they can play freely and independently. The premises are secure and suitable for their purpose. Children are able to move around safely as an effective risk assessment is in place. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe with gentle reminders from staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to independently select from a range of toys and equipment that are generally organised effectively. The staff remain vigilant and ensure children are supervised at all times. The security is effective, ensuring children cannot leave the premises without a suitable adult. There are regular risk assessments, both indoors and out, that enable staff to identify and

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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 address any potential hazards, with broken bottles outside the building for example. There are detailed policies for non collection of children and lost children. These measures promote the safety of the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire evacuation practices are carried out using a whistle, there is a written fire evacuation procedure and fire extinguishers are checked regularly. The building however, does not have any equipment for fire detection. This poses a risk to children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of child protection policies and understand the procedures to follow if they have any concerns, this supports children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children attending the pre-school are generally confident within the setting and have built sound relationships with the staff. They arrive happily and are settled at an activity by their parents. Children are familiar with the regular daily routine. Equipment is set out at low levels, which enables children to self-select their choice of activity and allows them to explore and investigate. Staff members are not always consistent in letting the children know what is available for them to play with which hampers their selection occasionally. Staff are developing an understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and are implementing it into their planning. The children relate well to each other and socialise and make friends with other children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. Children make steady progress towards the early learning goals with the support of staff who have a basic understanding of the Foundation Stage and of how children develop and learn. They plan a range of activities that help children progress in all areas of learning, however planning sometimes lacks challenge, and staff members are not always deployed appropriately to provide a stimulating environment. Planned activities are not always evaluated and therefore do not always ensure that they are challenging for the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are suitable role models and demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning and endeavour to present activities in an enthusiastic manner. Children's observations are generally well written and are up to date, but these are not always used to aid planning for their individual needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children speak readily to peers and adults. They willingly talk about their friends and families and express themselves clearly. Children learn to be independent and to take care of their own needs when they visit the toilet or wash their hands after messy activities for example. Some children are beginning to form letters when they write and some can recognise the letters in their names. The children have some opportunities to write for different purposes, for example within the role play area and more able children are able to write their own names on self made sticker badges for example.

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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 The children enjoy looking at books and they turn the pages carefully. The book area is brightly coloured and very welcoming. The children listen well and enjoy story time, they also spend time ‘reading’ and sharing books with friends and adults and can retell well-known stories by looking at the pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have sound recognition of numbers below 10. They choose number activities during free play but this is not always organised well enough to capture their interest. Children are beginning to understand the concept of simple addition and subtraction through practical activities and songs, and they can say what is one more or one less. Children’s understanding of space, shape and measure is developing. They recognise the properties of simple shapes and are able to follow simple patterns with number flash cards for example. Children learn how to use numbers in everyday situations and show that they understand time through practical activities such as setting the egg timer when using the computer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children investigate using their senses. They discuss similarities and differences using natural objects such as pine cones and have access to equipment such as magnifying glasses and bug boxes to investigate independently. Children have opportunities to use information and communication technology by using a computer independently. There are adequate opportunities to use programmable toys and equipment to aid their learning and to question why and how things work. Children are beginning to understand past and present, they discuss people, places and events in their own lives. Children learn about different cultures and beliefs through topic work such as exploring other countries and religious festivals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy art and craft activities, such as drawing and painting. Children are involved in music and movement sessions that encourage them to sing and move to the music and have opportunities to play musical instruments and experiment with sound independently. Children use their imagination in a variety of role-play situations including the vet corner, where the children took great pleasure in 'making the animals feel better'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Cutting, sticking and painting activities are provided on a regular basis and the children make good use of these creative materials and take home a variety of art work.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. All children are welcome and included in the setting because staff value and respect their individuality. Children feel good about themselves and learn to show respect for other people. They receive positive messages about people's differences which helps them to develop sensitivity towards others. Children have access to a meaningful range of activities to promote a positive view of the wider world and increase their awareness of diversity. Children learn about cultures that may be different from their own with meaningful activities relating to Chinese new year, Easter, Diwali and Christmas for example.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are supported within the playgroup. Staff have a calm and consistent approach to managing children's behaviour. Overall, this results in a calm atmosphere, which helps children to behave well. Children are treated with respect and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 are given lots of praise and encouragement to promote their self-esteem. The provision fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents and carers is satisfactory. Relationships with parents are friendly and supportive and parents feel welcome in the setting. Parents receive regular information regarding the children’s activities through newsletters and the parent notice board. They also receive information about what and how their children learn. This ensures parents understand that play has an important role in developing children’s skills for the next stage of learning. Parents state that they are happy with the service that is provided.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Leadership and management of the care and nursery education is satisfactory. Space and resources are suitably organised to create an accessible environment, where children are busy and occupied. However staff deployment is not always effective enough to enable the children to get the full benefit out of their activities. Weaknesses in staffs' knowledge of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and of the Birth to three matters framework lead to a lack of stimulating and challenging activities at times.

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Organisation

The team work well together but are sometimes unsure of their individual responsibilities and seek continued guidance from the manager. Staff have sound knowledge and understanding of child development, and appropriate staff ratios are maintained, ensuring children are well supervised.

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Organisation

The children are organised appropriately into key-worker groups and key staff are responsible for ensuring the observations and assessments are recorded and shared with parents. Staff are supported in their work by the manager and ongoing training is actively encouraged. This helps them to reflect, monitor and improve the quality of the care and education that they offer to the children.

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Organisation

The management have taken suitable steps to address the recommendations and actions from the last inspection and to ensure that the teaching and learning for funded children is improving. The manager demonstrates a sound understanding of the playgroup's strengths and the areas that need improvement.

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Organisation

Robust recruitment procedures ensure children's safety, these effective recruitment procedures ensure staff are suitable to work with children. The required records, policies and procedures which contribute to children's health, safety and welfare are all in place. These policies and procedures generally work effectively in practise. Overall, the setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the previous inspection the playgroup was asked to make improvements in the following areas. Records, polices and procedures, relating to day care activities, and including a written procedure to be followed in the event of a complaint were to be available on the premises at

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 all times. The playgroup has now addressed these issues and all required documents and polices and procedures are now available for parents and inspectors as required. This helps to ensure the effective management of the setting.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The playgroup was also asked to improve the planning and implementation of suitable activities for the children. Some improvements have been made in this area, however there is now a new staffing team in place and additional support and guidance is still required in this area.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Fire safety procedures were to be displayed clearly and staff knowledge in relation to their roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency, were to be improved. These issues have now been satisfactorily addressed, which helps to ensure children's safety within the premises.

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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. 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 then those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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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): • reduce the risks of cross infection by providing more appropriate hand washing facilities for children and also allow the children to develop their independence and self help skills during snack time • improve fire safety precautions by ensuring that a smoke alarm, which conforms to BS EN standards, is available and maintained in working order

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve the evaluation of planned activities and the current system for identifying the next steps in children’s learning, and use these to aid planning for individual learning needs

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 • continue to improve less experienced/unqualified staffs' awareness of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and of the Birth to three matters framework in order to facilitate a stimulating and challenging environment • ensure effective deployment of staff to enable the children to get full enjoyment out of activities

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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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