Burma Court Playgroup

Burma Court Playgroup Inspection report for early years provision

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144556 Unique Reference Number 27 September 2007 Inspection date Asia Islam Inspector

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Mabel Thornton Community Hall, Burma Road, London, N16 9BG Setting Address

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E-mail

The Committee of Burma Court 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Burma Court Playgroup opened in 1972 and is run by a management committee. It is situated on a residential estate in the area of London borough of Hackney. Children have access to the hall, toilet and a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The playgroup is open each weekday from 09.30 to 12.00 during term times only.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The group is registered to care for a maximum of 14 children under five years at any one time. There are currently 11 children aged from two to under five years on roll. Of these, nine children receive nursery education funding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The playgroup employs three members of staff, including the manager and have parents on a daily rota basis as a volunteer helper. All staff hold appropriate qualifications in early years.

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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 outstanding. Children's understanding about hygiene is promoted extremely well because of the clear and consistent practice developed within the daily routines. These have helped children to make independent use of the toilet. They wash and dry hands very successfully because the necessary equipments are within easy reach. This area is made very bright and welcoming with interesting displays of posters and art materials. Older children are encouraged to remind and support younger children to wash hands before snack time, which reinforces their understanding. When they drop a spoon on the floor, they pick it up and put it a side and do not use it again because they know it is not clean. The medication, accidents and illness procedures are established. For example, the written parental permission to seek any medical advice and treatment in the event of an emergency is in place. All staff hold a valid first aid qualification and the first aid box is

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Helping children to be healthy

well stocked with the required supplies. Staff understand the information related to the control of infectious illness. These help to effectively promote children's health and well being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have fruit, crackers and milk during snack time. They select their favourite spread and they skilfully use the butter knives to spread the crackers with. Staff offer younger children support as needed. Drinking water is available within their reach throughout the session to promote their independence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Outdoor area is equipped with a wide range of stimulating resources to support children's physical development. These consist of rocket bikes, hoops, a climbing frame and wheelbarrows along side other interesting resources. They play with these with equal enthusiasm and imagination as learning and development is extended outdoors by the highly motivated staff. Children are gaining increasing control and they skilfully negotiate obstacles.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a very safe and secure environment, where they relish the exploration of activities and resources with independence. Regular risk assessments are carried out and the safety devices are in place to reduce any risks, although there are no records available. Entrance to the premises is monitored by the staff team to ensure children's safety and security. The premises is decorated with a stimulating range of posters and materials, which makes both the inside and the outdoor play areas feel warm and enticing. Children’s toys and equipment are in excellent condition. They are involved in making decisions about their safety as staff consistently discuss about the safety rules. Child protection procedures are clearly developed within the setting and staff understand the roles and responsibilities for safeguarding children's interest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy and settled in an environment, where there is a wide range of interesting resources and activities. As a result, they show high levels of curiosity, imagination and concentration in play. They actively explore the stimulating range of new experiences and express creativity through a variety of art materials. For example, a group of children make a card to celebrate one of their peer’s birthday and others paint pictures for their parents. The

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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 role play area is equipped with a very wide range of enticing and purposeful resources both inside and outdoors. These therefore serves multi purposes for children's interest and fascination about office work, home, shop, restaurant and a doctor's surgery. As a result, they self select play materials, initiate and extend their role play. Staff provide excellent opportunities to develop children's understanding and learning in accordance with their stages and ages of development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Staff consistently pays attention to promoting children’s learning in a fun and interesting way. Children have an excellent attitude to learning because the staff team take opportunities to introduce new ideas that build on what they already know. Their mathematical development is extended very well within the routines. Children can count up to ten and more. They readily use language such as less, more, big and small as staff discuss numbers and whether it is less or more when cutting the Birthday cake. Children’s writing skills are emerging and the more able children can recognise and form the first letters of their name. This is clearly shown when each child is encouraged to sign the Birthday card. Numbers, words and letter prints are meaningfully displayed across the play areas. As a result, children recognise numbers, words and letters successfully. Children are

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

offered consistent challenge in everyday situations to support their knowledge and understanding of the world. For example, they talk about the vegetable patch, where they have planted carrots, beans and sunflowers. Children observe the growth of the plants, talk about the changes with the staff and peers. Staff extend children’s vocabulary as they talk about the creatures that can camouflage on plants. Discussions about invisible friends and related stories are shared with the children. This is further developed in the writing area with invisible ink to help children make clear links in their learning. In this way, the staff team consistently offers challenge and extend children's learning in all areas. Children are familiar with the rules of the playgroup and they amicably take turns and share. They are highly motivated and fascinated by the resources and activities that stems from their own environment and experiences, which

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the highly skilled staff team build on. Their planning of activities and assessment records include the early learning gaols and inform children’s next step in learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are learning about cultures and disabilities within the setting. They have access to a variety of musical instruments, dressing up clothes, puzzles and books that reflect positive images of diversity. Children are involved in celebrating different community festivals such as the Chinese New Year. Relationships between the children and the staff team are well established. Staff pay attention to children’s interests and involve them in making decisions about their play. They are very amicable and successfully negotiate play with their peers. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is very well fostered. Information about children’s development is obtained from parents to provide an agreed care. Children’s progress is verbally shared with the parents at the end of the session. Parents are involved within the setting as management committee members and they play an active role on a weekly

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Helping children make a positive contribution

rota basis as volunteer helpers. All parents have expressed high regard for the group and one of them referred to it as a special place. The complaints procedure is developed and the staff is aware of the need to keep records about such issues and makes these available for parents to view.

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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 The partnership with parents and carers is good. Discussion about the nursery education is held with the parents and further related information about the Foundation Stage is displayed on the notice board. Regular meetings are held to actively involve parents in their children’s progress and learning. Parents are encouraged to provide children with supporting resources from home to make children’s learning better. For example, photographs of children when they were babies are provided to include in the topics about new babies.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides. It is an established group and is successful in their childcare practice. The staff team have used their imagination and creative skills to organise a wealth of resources that are interesting and stimulating to children’s ongoing development. Their individual care, play and developmental needs are given consistent and careful attention. As a result, children's health, enjoyment and achievements are commendable. Children are happy and relish the varied experiences provided by the highly skilled staff team. They have undergone the necessary vetting procedures for working directly with the children. Although the risk assessment records is not available, the required records for children are well maintained to support their welfare. The child:adult ratio is accurately maintained to make children feel secure and comfortable.

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Organisation

The leadership and management of the nursery education is good. The manager is committed with her staff team to provide safe and high quality education in partnership with parents. The staff team are highly motivated and skilful in their practice to successfully capture children's interests. They consistently support and extend children's learning imaginatively in everyday situation. The manager makes sure the staff team are well briefed in children’s initial starting point on entry to the group and thereafter, in the observations to identify their next step in learning. Although there are no formal systems for monitoring the staff’s delivery of the Foundation Stage, the manager daily observes and supervises their practice to ensure high quality teaching.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection, the playgroup was asked to provide a range of activities and resources that promotes positive images of disability, develop knowledge and understanding about child protection issues. The group was also asked to improve opportunities given to children to use information and communication technology for the nursery education aspect of the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A range of activities and resources are provided to further support children's understanding about diversity, including disability. The staff team have attended child protection training and are now clearly aware about the procedures to follow and safeguard children's interests. Computer equipments have been installed within children's easy reach for their independent use. As a result, it effectively supports children’s understanding about everyday use of technology.

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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

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 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 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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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): • further develop risk assessment records

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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): • further improve systems for monitoring and evaluating of the delivery of the Foundation Stage

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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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