Park Road Playgroup

Park Road Playgroup

Inspection report for early years provision

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Park Road Playgroup

Unique Reference Number 318677 Inspection date 04 July 2005 Inspector Joan Isabel Madden

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Park Road Playgroup

Setting Address Friends Meeting House, Park Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 6WX

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E-mail

Registered person Irene Carpenter Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Sessional 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 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 satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Park Road Playgroup opened in 1966. It operates from the upstairs room at the Quaker's Meeting House in Sale, Manchester. The group is a voluntary organisation and mainly serves the local area. There are 32 children aged 2 to 3 years on roll. The playgroup does not receive nursery education funding for children. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The playgroup opens every morning, except Thursday mornings, during term time from 09:15 to 11:45. It is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

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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 A total of two staff work with the children, assisted by parents on rota. The supervisor has an NVQ level three in childcare.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Daily routines include activities to help children develop a healthy lifestyle and physical skills. They play outside everyday in the large, pleasant grounds enjoying the fresh air and opportunities to move freely. As they play they use a range of equipment including wheeled toys, tunnels and footballs to help them develop control of their bodies. Indoors the children enjoy bouncing on the mini-trampoline and rocking to and fro on the see-saw. Suitable procedures are in place to protect the children from illness and infection. The premises are clean and tables are wiped down before snack time. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene as they wash their hands after using the toilet and at other appropriate times. This reduces the risk of cross contamination. Staff have clear procedures in place for recording accidents but there are gaps in documentation relating to administration of medication. No member of staff is

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Helping children to be healthy

appropriately qualified to administer first aid to the children. Nutritious and fresh food promotes the children's good health. They enjoy fruit and milk at snack time, however, fresh drinking water is not made available to them at all times. There are appropriate procedures in place for recording children's dietary needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean, organised and nicely decorated room on the first floor. The recently acquired, brightly coloured chairs and tables help to brighten the room. The children's work is displayed on the walls making them feel welcome and valued. The children need to be escorted downstairs to the toilet by staff which reduces their opportunities to develop self-help skills and inevitably activities are interrupted. Designated areas offer the children a varied range of activities, including the outdoor area where the children make use of a wide range of equipment to promote their physical skills. Particularly noteworthy is the good quality table top equipment, such as, puzzles, shape sorters and threading equipment that keep the children engrossed and interested for good periods of time. This helps to extend their concentration skills. Toys and equipment are very accessible to the children encouraging them to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

make choices and become responsible for looking after resources themselves. Resources promote equal opportunities giving the children a wider view of the world. Satisfactory processes are in place to keep children safe. Staff regularly complete a

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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 comprehensive risk assessment and report any issues identified. There is a stair gate at the top of the stairs and the room is secure, however, children do enter the kitchen. It is not evident that the fire drills and the fire log book meet the Fire Safety Officer's recommendations.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. There is a reasonable range and balance of activities to promote children's learning. Children follow a structured routine that includes child-initiated activities, snacks, outdoor play, quiet times and adult-led activities. The majority of children are making independent choices as they play. They make pleasing use of the paints, producing paintings from a range of colours thereby fostering their creative skills. Children choose books to look at and learn how to handle them appropriately. As they play on the floor mats with small world scenes and construction kits they are developing their imaginative skills. Children enjoy the daily singing session as they join in with favourites, such as, 'Wheels on the Bus' and 'Sleeping Bunnies'. There is no detailed planning that includes graded learning objectives, resulting in children not always being sufficiently challenged. Children display good concentration

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

skills as they expertly thread sponge shapes onto a lace; however, they are not guided into making the activity more testing by perhaps creating a pattern that involves simple counting. There are no achievement records kept on children, making it difficult for parents and staff to chart their progress and plan the next steps.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well-supported by adults to help them feel welcome and promote their self-esteem. They are treated with equal concern and all children have access to the activities available. Children play with a variety of toys and materials that reflect equal opportunities, however, there is insufficient emphasis put upon providing activities to help children appreciate and value each others' similarities or differences and gain a wider view of the world. The children are reasonably well-behaved and are learning appropriate behaviour for different situations. They sit at the tables for snack time and join in co-operatively at singing time. They help to tidy away toys and are encouraged to take turns using popular equipment, such as the trampoline. Generally, staff employ consistent strategies to promote acceptable behaviour but this occasionally breaks down with children whose parents are on duty.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff have built up good relationships with the parents who are very involved in the management and day-to-day running of the group. Consequently the parents and carers are well-informed about the provision and how settled and happy their child is at playgroup, but less so about the progress their child is making.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from a good adult-child ratio; they are happy and settled. However, due to the group's high dependency on volunteers, sufficient adults are not suitably qualified and the children do not belong to key groups that have consistent staff. This can result in a lack of continuity and progress in their care and learning. The children follow a sensible routine that includes child-initiated activities, snacks, outdoor play, quiet times and adult-led activities. The room is divided into separate areas to ensure the children experience a range of different types of activities, including time to play outside. Generally, relevant policies, procedures and documentation are in place, suitably underpinning the satisfactory care of the children, however, a couple of gaps have been identified. The supervisor is conscientious and has clear understanding regarding the conditions of registration and adheres to these, thereby, providing

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Organisation

appropriate care of the children. Overall children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was recommended that the group further developed the exchange of information between parents and the group. Parents are relied upon in order for the group to operate; they form the management committee and assist at each session on a rota basis to ensure suitable child-adult ratios are maintained. As a result they are well-informed about the provision and how settled and happy their child is at the group. They exchange information with the staff on their children during the sessions when they help. However, there is no effective procedure in place for parents to receive progress reports on their children.

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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 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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • provide more challenge and continuity in children's learning, for example through the use of Birth to three matters framework and Foundation Stage • develop and implement an action plan detailing how at least half of all staff will hold a level two qualification in childcare and children will belong to a key group that has consistent staff • improve documentation by setting up a procedure to gain parents' written permission and acknowledgement of any medication administered and including hours of attendance on the register • ensure fire drills and the fire log book are kept to the satisfaction of the Fire Safety Officer • ensure fresh drinking water is available to children at all times • make sure enough staff are qualified in first aid to ensure that at least one

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The quality and standards of the care

member of staff with a current first aid certificate is on the premises or on outings at any one time • provide activities to help children appreciate and value each others' similarities or differences and gain a wider view of the world.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures 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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