Exmoor Stepping Stones CIC

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Exmoor Stepping Stones Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY381223 Inspection date 04/03/2009 Inspector Judith Harris

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Setting address Bottom Meadow Car park, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6AR

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Telephone number 01598753336 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Exmoor Stepping Stones pre-school was registered in 2008. The pre-school is held in its own self contained property in Lynton in North Devon. There is a secure and enclosed outdoor play area. A maximum of 16 children aged from two to five years may attend the setting at any one time. There are currently 16 children attending who are within the early years age range. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are three members of staff, including the providers. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications, two staff have NVQ level 3 qualifications and one member of staff has an NVQ level 2 qualification.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The overall quality of the provision is good; the pre-school has enthusiastically embraced the Early Years Foundation stage and successfully supporting children's learning and development. The pre-school team are developing good skills for the use of reflective practice. Children are effectively safeguarded and their welfare is supported through the warm, caring relationships they have with the staff. Good partnerships are built with parents and the local community.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 create daily opportunities for children to express their ideas through a wide range materials and mediums  continue to develop systems that effectively gather information about how children learn at home  ensure a record of risk assessments is fully completed which clearly states when it was carried out, with a date of any action taken

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provision

The pre-school is a well organised service that is led and managed by the providers. This is a small and close knit team of qualified and experienced childcare professionals who work very well together to provide children with a stimulating and comfortable environment. The team is successfully developing good skills for self-evaluation which enable them to identify the strengths and weaknesses within their service and develop their vision for continuous improvement. The pre-school has good partnerships with parents and the local community and children have outings to the local area and attend local events. The pre-school organises regular parents' evenings at which parents are able to speak with key-workers about children's achievements and their learning journeys. There is a good range of daily information for parents which includes information about events and activities and access to the policies and procedures. There is a newsletter for parents which

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provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 forms part of the local community newsletter. All required documentation records, policies and procedures are place including medication and accident records. The safeguarding policy is clear and staff are familiar with their individual roles. The pre-school is a safe and secure environment and a range of daily checks ensure that safety is maintained in all areas. A comprehensive risk assessment is carried out for each individual outing and the pre-school is in the process of completing an annual risk assessment.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy, confident and well settled in the pre-school's calm and comfortable environment. They have relaxed and flexible daily routines that successfully support the children to develop play through long free play sessions. Children have good opportunities to explore, experiment and discover through play. Children are making very good use of imaginative skills to develop a café game in the role play area. The staff are observant of the role play but only join in if invited to, allowing the children freedom to explore. The pre-school has a good range of creative resources but children do not currently have free daily access to these. Children are gaining an understanding of reasoning and numeracy through counting at different activities and using a good range of numeracy language and concepts. Children are beginning to develop hand-writing skills and most can recognise their names. The pre-school's special links with the community are

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

successful in supporting children to gain an understanding of the wider world. Children have access to a range of resources that support them to develop a positive image of people from different cultures. The garden area is directly accessible from the play room and children are able to free flow from inside to this area. In the garden children have areas for different activities including a planting area where they have planted bulbs. The adults make good use of all planned and naturally occurring situations to extend and challenge children through their enthusiastic and animated interaction. The pre-school is developing a versatile range of observation and assessment techniques and systems. These allow the staff to build a clear picture of each child's individual learning journey. Staff are beginning to gather some information about children's learning at home which is not currently extensive. There is an exceptional level of commitment to inclusion of

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

children with learning difficulties and disabilities. The whole staff team work together and work closely with parents and other professional to carefully and successfully ensure the inclusion of children with different needs. Children are well behaved and the long periods of free play ensure children are involved and have very good levels of independence and concentration. There is no set daily planning as the setting is using the daily routine and continuous provision records. Children are asked daily what they want to play with, these activities are identified at circle time where they use a system of pictures of activities and daily routine to allow children to choose what they do and when. The pre-school is effectively developing its practice in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage and successfully supporting children to learn through their own interests. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 2 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 2

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 2 How well are children helped to be healthy? 2 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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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