Howden Pre-School

Howden Playgroup Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

314652 Unique Reference Number 24 January 2008 Inspection date Duncan Gill Inspector

p.1

Church Hall, Off Market Place, Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 7BL

p.1

E-mail

The Trustees of Howden Playgroup Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Sessional care Type of care

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Howden Playgroup has been open since before 1974. It operates in the Minster Church Hall in the centre of Howden, a small town in the south-west of the county of East Yorkshire, and serves the local community.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 48 children aged from two and a half to five years on roll. Of these, 21 children receive funding for nursery education. The setting currently supports children with learning difficulties or disabilities.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The group is open five mornings per week from 09.15 to 11.45 during school term time only. There are four staff working directly with the children, with a parent helper on rota duty. Three staff have a level 3 qualification and one staff member has a level 2 qualification and is working towards a level 3.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children begin to develop a good understanding about healthy practices through topics and effective staff explanations. They wash their hands independently after messy play, after the toilet and before snack, and this helps them effectively understand the need to practise good routines of personal hygiene. Children enjoy exercise and develop a positive approach to this through regular opportunities for outside and inside physical play including bikes, cars, climbing equipment and a trampoline.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are kept very safe from the spread of infection as staff follow detailed hygiene procedures to ensure equipment and toys are clean and hygienic for the children. There are effective procedures in place to ensure food is stored and prepared safely. Children's individual dietary needs are well met and they are offered a healthy snack at each session, such as crackers, cheese and fruit.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The session is well organised each day to ensure there is regular opportunity for children's physical development, both inside and outside and children have a good awareness of space. They move around confidently, with control and in a variety of ways, including running and jumping. They competently use a wide range of small and large equipment, for example, scissors, paint brushes, bikes and a climbing frame.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very clean, well maintained environment which is effectively organised to enable them to move around freely and safely. The environment is warm and welcoming with displays of children's work and photos on the wall. There is a good range of toys and equipment available for the children including books, jigsaws, dressing up and small world toys. All equipment is well maintained and provides good challenges for the children.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from a good range of safety measures, for example, socket covers, heater covers and fire fighting equipment. Effective procedures ensure children are safe on outings, however, risk assessments are not carried out in the setting to help identify and minimise risks. Children have a good understanding about safety which is developed through good staff explanations, practicing the emergency evacuation and visitors to the setting, for example, fire fighters.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from possible abuse or neglect. Staff have attended training and are made fully aware of the policy to safeguard children. They have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and are fully aware of the procedure to follow with any concerns.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children's independence is well promoted through a variety of opportunities. They move around freely accessing toys and play equipment, choose songs to sing and learn to be independent with their own hygiene. Children are fully involved in a wide range of enjoyable activities, which

p.3

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 develop their mathematical thinking, imagination, language and creative development, for example, sand, water, role play and construction. A music teacher visits the children each week and children enjoy the regular opportunities to sing songs and play musical instruments.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They are keen to communicate with staff, enthusiastically showing them things they have done and talking to them about their experiences. Children benefit from staff who are very interested in them, giving them lots of praise and encouragement to help build their self esteem. Effective procedures help new children to settle and children play very well together, learning to share and take turns. Children build warm relationships with each other, building friendships and sharing their experiences.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. Staff have attended training on the Foundation Stage and competently put this into practice. They show good knowledge of the Foundation Stage and provide a wide range of activities and experiences to cover all areas of children's learning. Planning is flexible, clear and covers all areas of learning in the curriculum. Detailed planning for focused activities ensures clear learning intentions are identified for children. Suitable assessment records for each child clearly show children's approach to learning and their achievements, although they do not show planning for children's individual next steps in learning. The room is well organised and resources are attractively set out to stimulate children's interest in learning. Staff are keen to be involved in children's play and use open questions to effectively promote children's thinking and imagination.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are keen to share experiences with staff and other children and begin to communicate confidently and clearly, talking activities through and reflecting on what is happening. They enjoy books, accessing them independently and listening attentively to stories in small and large groups. They handle books carefully and begin to understand print carries meaning. Children count competently and reliably to five and beyond. They begin to use number names accurately in their play and develop their calculation skills well through a variety of activities including singing.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They show interest in the lives of people familiar to them and develop a good understanding of the natural world through topics and activities, such as growing plants, making bird feeders and learning about frogs. They have regular opportunities to develop their information and communication technology skills through regular computer sessions and using equipment, such as binoculars and telephones in role play. They enjoy using all their senses to explore a wide range of different materials including water, dough, and feeling activities. They have excellent opportunities to explore the different sounds musical instruments make and they enjoy singing familiar songs.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are highly valued as individuals. They develop a positive attitude to others and develop a good understanding about the wider world and community through celebrating festivals and visitors to the setting. They have access to a good range of resources which show positive images of culture, ethnicity, gender and disability. There are effective arrangements in place to care for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Staff work closely with parents and professionals to ensure all children have the opportunity to be fully included and reach their full potential.

p.4

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 Children behave well. They are given lots of praise and encouragement and learn to share, take turns and begin to accept the needs of others. They begin to understand right and wrong through consistent boundaries and age-appropriate methods used by staff to manage behaviour including explanation, distraction and rewards for good behaviour, for example, stickers.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents and carers is good. Children benefit from effective information sharing with parents through newsletters, daily chats and detailed notice boards. Good information on the Foundation Stage curriculum is available for parents and regular newsletters inform them of topics and activities. They have some opportunities to be involved in their child's learning by being parent helpers, however, they are given few ideas to extend their child's learning at home. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. The environment is well organised, staff know their roles and responsibilities and effectively implement routines to give children a broad range of experiences. Robust procedures are followed when appointing new staff to ensure they are suitable to work with children. Staff are well deployed. They consistently interact with children and give them effective support and encouragement, which helps them feel secure and confident. Children develop well as staff attend training and up date their knowledge and skills, for example, undertaking further qualifications. Children are well cared for through staff fully implementing effective policies including behaviour management and child protection, which help to keep children safe and healthy.

p.5

Organisation

The leadership and management of the nursery education is good. Staff have a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and are fully involved in effective planning to help children develop in all areas. Assessments records are regularly updated and clearly show children's achievement and development, although they do not include plans for next steps in children's learning. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the setting was asked to keep accurate records of practising emergency evacuation procedures and to provide parents with the address and telephone number of the regulator.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Children are involved in practising the emergency evacuation to help build their knowledge of safe practices and this is now recorded. The details of the regulator are now displayed for parents, providing them with information on who to contact with any concerns.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

p.6

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): • conduct a risk assessment of the premises identifying actions to be taken to minimise risks to children.

p.6

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): • develop opportunities for parents to be involved in their child's learning • develop plans to include planning for children's individual next steps in learning.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6