Springboard Opportunity Group - Weston

Springboard Opportunity Group - Weston Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY337966 Inspection date 18/01/2010 Inspector Denise Franklin

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Setting address Ashcombe Children's Centre, Stepping Stone Walk, Earlham Grove, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, BS23 3JW Telephone number 01934 426165 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Springboard Opportunity Group - Weston has been registered for many years. It is on the Early Years Register and both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. It now operates from new purpose built premises at Ashcombe Children's Centre, which is part of Ashcombe County Primary School. Some children may attend both settings. Children have separate accommodation, within the Children’s Centre, which consists of a large and small playroom, a soft-play room and a sensory room. There is also a parents/meeting room, accessible toilets, a shower room and a food preparation area. There is disabled access and disabled facilities on the premises. The children have their own fully enclosed garden area and they share a central all weather play area with other groups on site. The group has very close links with the Children’s Centre nursery, other pre- schools in the area and with the local primary schools.

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Description of the setting

The group is registered to take a maximum of 20 children under eight years of age. There are 36 children on roll, all of whom are in the early years age group. 16 of these children are funded. All the children who attend have additional needs. The setting is open each weekday from 9.15am to 11.45am and 1.00pm to 3.30pm term-time only on Mondays, Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays. Children attend for a variety of sessions within those hours. On Wednesday mornings the staff run a ‘stay and play’ session. A minimum of three staff plus volunteers work with the children. All staff, including the manager, hold appropriate childcare qualifications to level 3 or above.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Springboard Opportunity Group - Weston is highly effective and makes outstanding provision for the children in their care. The group has very strong links with parents, carers and other agencies, which very effectively ensure that every individual, often with complex needs, are fully met. Self-evaluation and professional development opportunities for staff are excellent. Leaders and managers are highly effective in striving for continual improvement in order to offer the best quality provision possible for each child. Therefore the capacity for further improvements is excellent.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 further develop the outside areas to support imaginative play and develop strategies to ensure the best use is made of the internal outside space to support children’s learning and development This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Strong leadership and management is a key strength of the group. Staff work very effectively as a team under the clear leadership of the manager and play leaders. The trustees of the group work closely with the manager and leaders very well and all strive hard to support the children and their families. Safeguarding arrangements are excellent, including detailed risk assessments and procedures to ensure staff are suitable to work with children.

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the early years provision

Self-evaluation is detailed and the group have made excellent use of the Bristol Standard Self-evaluation scheme to focus on their strengths and to identify areas for development. The group has rightly identified the need to develop the outdoor spaces more to encourage imaginative play. Targets for improvement are appropriate and clearly documented to show how they are evaluated. The manager has an additional plan, which she uses effectively to report to trustees, who monitor the progress of all targets set. As a result, children’s achievement and well-being are excellent in relation to their starting points. The group have successfully addressed all the recommendations from the last report and monitored the impact of the grooves between the doors. No accidents have been recorded. Resources are high quality, easily accessible to staff and children. Procedures for ensuring the safety and care of the children are comprehensive.

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the early years provision

The group complies with the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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the early years provision

Adults very effectively ensure that children are very well integrated so that their experiences are positive. Staff deployment is excellent and volunteer workers help to maintain a very high ratio of adults to children. Staff are flexible and effectively ensure that children have time with other staff as well as their key worker. This is particularly important for children with additional needs. Staff appraisals are clearly linked to training needs and staff are very skilled at understanding the often complex needs of each child. They have excellent knowledge of each child in their care which supports their individual needs extremely well.

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the early years provision

The setting is highly committed to working in partnership with others. The staff work very closely with other agencies, some of which are on the same site, to ensure the needs of the children and their families are fully met. They also have very close links with a number of other settings to support children who transfer to school or attend other pre-schools.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents and carers is outstanding and has been maintained since the last inspection. Key workers work closely with the families. Parents and carers are comfortable to discuss concerns both formally and informally. Regular meetings enable parents to discuss how well their child is doing and their next step in their child’s learning and development. Parents particularly appreciate having access to their child’s learning diary so they can share their child’s experiences. Workshops and events are held and newsletters provide parents/carers with comprehensive information about events and activities. The group also provide details of how parents and carers can extend their child’s learning at home. A comfortable parents’ room enables parents to meet informally with both staff and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 other parents. A wide range of leaflets and books are available for parents and

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the early years provision

carers. Staff are very willing to guide families with obtaining all the support to which they are entitled through access to other services. This is much appreciated by the families.

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and outcomes for children

The attractive and stimulating learning environment supports children’s learning and development extremely well. Children thoroughly enjoy their time and make significant gains in their learning and development. They demonstrate excellent progress from their starting points. Individual care and health plans are detailed and support the complex needs of the children extremely well.

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and outcomes for children

Planning, starting from the child’s interest, is detailed and carefully evaluated at the end of each session so that information is shared and used for future planning. Learning intentions for each area of learning, age and ability are clear. Children have individual sessions with their key worker to support targets set on the play plans as well as excellent opportunities to follow their own interests. Adults used a very good range of strategies effectively to ensure children have the opportunity to make choices about their learning, such as singing, showing pictures and using a voice recorder. One child, having made his intentions clear from listening to the voice machine, chose to do some gluing and with support was able to glue material on a picture of an elephant. Outside children enjoyed riding bikes, mark making and role-play in the stable. Children’s expressions clearly show they are enjoying their activities and time in the group. They also enjoy using the soft ball

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and outcomes for children

Relationships are excellent and a key strength. Children respond extremely well to the high standard of behaviour expected by adults. Challenging behaviour is dealt with positively and praise is used very effectively. All adults speak very clearly and use signing extremely well to communicate with the children. They use open- ended questions to develop children’s knowledge understanding and communication skills. Children feel safe because adults are conscious of their individual needs and at the same time provide excellent opportunities for children to develop independence.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy healthy snacks and have lots of opportunity for fresh air and exercise, particularly in the outdoor area. Children have access to an ‘internal outdoor’ area, shared with other settings who use the building. However, this space was not seen in use during the inspection. Children enjoy having responsibilities such as ringing the bell at end of each session and putting the mats out for children to sit on. The group operate a no shoe policy indoors to ensure the safety and hygiene of all the children. All the children are making excellent progress within their capabilities and are being extremely well prepared for their next stage of learning and development. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

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

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