Tunstead Playgroup

Tunstead Playgroup Inspection report for early years provision

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309509 Unique Reference Number 05 June 2007 Inspection date Alexandra Cole Inspector

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Tunstead Community Cente, Haworth Drive, Stacksteads, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0SA

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Setting Address

07732 97294 and 01706 876 358 Telephone number

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E-mail

Tunstead 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 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?

Tunstead Pre School has been registered since 1992 and is run by a voluntary commitee. The group is situated in Tunstead Community Centre in the Stacksteads area of Bacup.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The group is registered to care for 25 children aged from two years to under five years and there are currently 42 children on roll that attend for a variety of sessions.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The Pre-School is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 09.15 to 11.45 and Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 12.45 to 15.00 during term-time only. with the exception of four weeks in the summer months.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children have access to a main hall area, rear garden and toilet facilities and there is a kitchen area for staff to prepare snacks.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are four full time members of staff that work directly with the children and over half of the staff hold a qualification appropriate to the post.

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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 benefit from regular physical exercise. For example, they access physical play in the outdoor area and, if the weather does not permit, the main play room is used for children to develop their physical skills. They develop their coordination skills and balance as they climb onto the climbing frame, wheel the bikes around and use the slide. The setting meets the requirements for first aid qualifications because all of the staff have attended appropriate training, ensuring children are fully protected in the event of an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are sufficiently protected from infection through sound hygiene procedures that include wiping tables before and after snack time, the cleaning of toys and equipment and the staff wearing disposable gloves during nappy changes. Children are encouraged to learn about personal hygiene through daily routines, such as hand washing. They have a clear understanding of why they need to wash their hands and inform the inspector it is because 'they are dirty'. However, children use a communal towel to dry their hands before snack time which does not help to prevent the spread of illness and infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are reasonably well nourished. Food and drink is stored and prepared appropriately reducing the risk to children's health. They are offered a range of nutritious snacks which includes the provision of fresh fruit. Staff talk to children about what is considered to be 'good and bad' foods, encouraging them to understand the benefits of a healthy diet. Staff gather information from parents regarding children's individual dietary needs. They comply with their special dietary requirements to ensure they remain healthy

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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, adequately maintained environment which is suitably organised to enable children to move around freely. Welcoming facilities are provided and examples of children's work and photographs of activities undertaken are displayed, contributing to children's sense of belonging. Children are able to access a range of toys and equipment that are safe and suitable for their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to move around safely in the environment and precautions, such as plug socket covers and safety gates are in place. The room is sufficiently arranged to provide different areas for play and for rest. Written risk assessments of the indoors and outdoors are undertaken regularly and any issues noted, ensuring the environment is a safe place in which children can play and learn. The children are sufficiently safeguarded within the setting as the door is kept locked whilst the session is in progress.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn how to keep themselves safe through regular reminders and explanations from staff, such as to be careful when on the climbing frame, and when they help children to sit on their chairs properly to prevent them from falling off. Staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities towards child protection and a password system is in place to prevent children from leaving with unauthorised adults. However, the child protection policy is not written in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures, compromising children's welfare.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled and they are fully involved in their play. Warm and caring relationships are apparent between the staff and children and they are generally confident and happy to arrive at the setting, contributing towards their sense of belonging. Children are confident in their relationships with staff. They play happily together and with adults, enjoying using resources, such as the mark making area, jigsaws and the book area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although staff do take time to observe what children are achieving, they do not ensure that observations are undertaken for all children attending. Consequently they are unable to use these observations to plan the next steps for each child's play, learning and development. Each child benefits from a member of staff that is their key worker. Staff work with children and their parents in order to develop a good understanding of children's individual needs and home circumstances.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's self-esteem is developed through the staffs suitable use of praise and support. For example, when they are praised for tidying up and sitting nicely before snack time. Children play well together, they learn to share as they enjoy reading books together in the book area. Children are involved, interested and enjoy their play, for example, as they spend a long period of time playing in the sand and creating a picture at the painting easel.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are adequately met and they are fully included in the setting. The staff gather information from parents regarding children's individual needs which enables them to provide appropriate care, for example, when children are learning to use the toilet. Children develop a positive attitude to others through having access to a range of resources which reflect diversity. However, there are limited activities that help children to learn about the wider world and community.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved because they are made aware of the boundaries and expectations. For example, when staff explain why they should not hurt each other. This helps children to understand the boundaries and play together harmoniously. Children respond well to the rules of the pre-school, for example, when the bell rings children happily line up and 'march' outside.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships with parents are friendly and staff record all of the necessary information and share policies and procedures with them. Children's progress is shared at the end of the session in an informal way. This ensures there is continuity of care for children between home and the pre-school.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The staff organise the setting sufficiently well to ensure that the children feel settled and secure and the suitable presentation of activities and resources enables children to initiate their own play and learning. Staff know their roles and responsibilities and sufficiently implement routines to give children a range of experiences. Children benefit from staff that give them appropriate support and encouragement, which helps them to feel secure and confident. All staff are appropriately vetted; ensuring children's welfare needs are met.

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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 Most of the documentation required for the safe and effective management of children is in place and appropriate. However, the procedure for recording accidents and incidents is not followed correctly. The required adult to child ratios are met ensuring staff are able to provide good levels of care and supervision. In response, children are confident and secure in their surroundings. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the group have improved children's access to activities encouraging choice and promoting their independence. The building has had a new heating system installed in order to ensure the environment is maintained at an appropriate temperature. Although the provision of resources that promote equality has been improved, there is an insufficient range of activities that promotes children's understanding of the wider world and community.

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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 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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop the range of activities that promote children's understanding of the wider world and community • ensure the child protection policy includes the procedure to follow if an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff • ensure staff observe what all children can do and use their observations to plan for the next steps in children's play, learning and development • improve hygiene procedures with regard to hand washing • ensure accidents and incidents are recorded correctly

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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 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 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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