Yeoman Park Academy

Sandbrook Community Playgroup

Inspection report for early years provision

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Sandbrook Community Playgroup

Unique Reference Number 144643 Inspection date 04 May 2006 Inspector Moreen Johnson

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Sandbrook Community Playgroup

Setting Address 85 Sandbrook Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16 0SL

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E-mail

Registered person Sandbrook Community Playgroup Limited Type of inspection Integrated Type of care Sessional 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 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Sandbrook Community Playgroup Limited opened in 1978. It is run by a management committee. The playgroup operates from a two storey terraced house in Stoke Newington in the London borough of Hackney. It opens each weekday from 09.30 to 12.00 and 12.45 to 15.15 term time only. There are currently 30 children aged from 3 years to 4 years on roll. All children receive funding for nursery education. The group currently supports a small number

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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 of children with special educational needs. They also support a small number of children who speak English as an additional language. The playgroup employs 3 staff, all staff, including the manager hold appropriate early years qualifications. One staff member is currently working towards the NVQ level 3.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are developing a good understanding of their personal hygiene. They are encouraged to wash their hands after playing in soil in the garden and before eating their snack. Children are learning about the harmful effects of germs because staff explain that by washing their hands they get rid of the germs. Staff maintain good standards of hygiene throughout the premises, which ensures that children are protected against illness and infections. There are satisfactory medication and accident procedures in place. However, staff do not always ensure that medication records are dated. Children would be appropriately treated in the event of an emergency because most staff members are qualified in first aid. Children are developing a good understanding of the benefits of a healthy diet. Staff promotes healthy eating well by ensuring that children are given fruits, cheese and

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Helping children to be healthy

biscuits, water and milk for their snack. Children are learning about staying healthy. During snack time staff talked about the importance of eating fruits in order to stay healthy. Children are not offered drinks at regular intervals. For example, children spent a long period playing in the garden, on what was a very warm day but they were not offered a drink for a long period. Children have good opportunities to engage in physical play. They enjoy energetic play in the garden, running, climbing and balancing with good control. Children demonstrate good skills when they jump from the bench onto the ground. Children are confident about taking risks such as hanging from the pole on top of the decking. Staff are well deployed and supervise children well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in clean, bright and well maintained premises, in which they have ample space to move around safely. Children have access to a suitable range of resources, which are safe and well maintained. Children are cared for in a safe environment, they are protected from intruders because staff monitor the arrival and departure of visitors. Children are kept reasonably safe as they move around the building. Staff carry out daily risk

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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 assessments to ensure that children are protected from potential hazards. However, assessment records are not kept updated. Most areas meet with safety requirements but a plastic carrier bag used for storing play materials was accessible to children. This is a minor issue because staff ensures that children are closely supervised. Children are well protected by staff who have a clear understanding of how to implement the setting's child protection policies, which are in line with the London Child Protection Procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from good relationships with staff who provide children with attention and engage in the children's play. When children are hurt they are comforted and reassured by staff. Children have regard for each other. For example, whilst squirting water in the garden one child squirted water at another and apologised for doing so. Children engage in a suitable range of activities indoors and outdoors. They have good opportunities to initiate their own play. For example during free play indoors children choose the activities that they wish to engage in. This helps children to make satisfactory progress in all areas of their development. Nursery education The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. Children are making steady progress towards all of the early learning goals. Staff have a satisfactory understanding of the Foundation Stage. Staff continue to improve the systems for

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

planning. However, they do not have a clear understanding of how the current system works and daily planning lacks detail. Assessments and observations identify the next stage of children's learning but there are inconsistencies with recording of observations. Overall staff have a satisfactory understanding of children's needs. However, staff do not provide the more able children with sufficient challenge in order to support them to move to the next stage of their learning. Children are well settled and have good relationships with each other. On arrival they confidently leave their carers and join in activities. Many children greeted each other by saying hello. Children are developing a good understanding of right and wrong. When a child snatched a water bottle, a staff member intervened and explained that it is not nice to snatch. The staff member reminded the child that if he wants something he should

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

ask for it. The child responded by apologising. Children respond positively to other interventions by staff. For example, when a staff member encouraged the children not to push each other whilst climbing on the climbing frame. Children are independent, they freely choose activities and some children are encouraged to help with serving drinks at snack time.

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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 Children are learning to differentiate colours when mixing different coloured paints with water. They clearly identify a variety of colours. Children are developing their creative skills by doing lots of art and crafts activities. Children enjoy singing and readily join in singing a range of familiar nursery rhymes. Staff encourage children to actively participate in singing and to say what happened whilst singing " the farmers in the den". Children confidently state what happened next and enjoy taking part in the actions. Many children spontaneously sing to themselves whilst playing in the garden. Children enjoy role play. They play a wide range of games in the garden such as fire fighters and hospitals. Staff engage in the children's play and encourage them to talk about the numbers that they dial to call the ambulance. Staff do not sufficiently

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

challenge more able children. For example a four year old was engrossed in playing with a range of animals for a long period but staff did not intervene to extend the child's play. Children have good opportunities to explore their feelings. Children confidently talk about how they feel and a child commented on being cross when his mother tells him off. A staff member demonstrates great skill in reassuring the children that it's ok to be cross. The staff member encouraged the children to talk about a range of feelings. Children are developing an understanding of the natural world. They enjoy digging in the garden and planting bulbs and seeds. Staff talk about squirrels visiting the garden and some children demonstrate their knowledge by stating that squirrels eat hazel nuts. Children are developing an understanding of time. They talk about their past holidays, such as going to the seaside and being afraid of the sea and going skiing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Whilst doing the daily calendar staff encourage children to recognise past and present by identifying the days of the week. Some children were confused whether the day was Tuesday or Thursday. Staff responded by stating the day. Staff could have challenged the more able children by asking them targeted questions. Children confidently use a camera and a mobile phone to take photographs of each other. Although the group has a computer it is not accessible to the children. The computer is placed in the reading areas and is not used. Children are developing an understanding of their community. For example they visit the fire station and have access to a range of resources that reflect positive images of the different cultures in the community. Children have good communication skills. During snack time they confidently talk about their experiences. They talk about their siblings and talk about a range of other

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

topics. Children are encouraged to develop an appreciation of books and they enjoy listening to stories. Whilst reading staff encourage children to participate by asking them what happens next. Staff encouraged children to understand the meaning of the word author. The library is uninviting and some books are not easily accessible to

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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 children. Children are developing a good understanding of mathematical concepts. Whilst singing "10 speckled frog" children confidently count up to 10. They are also learning simple calculation. When each child leaves the group, staff encourage children to state "how many left". Children confidently count down from ten to number one. Children enjoy creating patterns as they squirt paint on the garden floor. They learn about of shapes when they create a road map on the ground.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children show a sense of belonging when they share their experiences with each other. Children's self-esteem is fostered well by staff giving them individual attention and encouraging them to be independent. Children with special needs receive good support from staff because they work well with parents. Children are developing a good understanding of right and wrong, when staff intervene to resolve disputes children respond positively. Children have good relationships with each other and show regard for each other. Children are encouraged to develop an appreciation of music and enjoy familiar songs. This positive approach fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The partnership with parents and carers is good. This ensures that children settle well. Children experience consistent care due to good communication systems between parents and staff. There are good systems in place for staff to share

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Helping children make a positive contribution

informal information with parents about children's progress.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. There are satisfactory recruitment procedures in place which ensures that staff and committee members are appropriately vetted. Staff work well together as a team and are deployed well to ensure that children are not placed at risk. All policies and procedures are in place and are implemented well by staff. However, the staff attendance record was not completed, some entries in the medication book were not dated and the visitors book does not record dates. Records on children and staff are securely locked away. Leadership and management of the playgroup is satisfactory. There is a commitment to develop the provision by acknowledging the issues regarding planning, the inconsistency with the recording of observations and providing more challenge for the more able children. Staff have satisfactory knowledge of the Foundation Stage and use this knowledge to plan activities generally well. Staff are supported in their work

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Organisation

through regular staff meetings. The manager demonstrates that staff contributions are valued. For example staff suggestions are explored and acted upon. Overall, the setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom they provide.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the group were in breach of a regulation by not carrying out criminal record bureau checks on committee members. It was also found that the system for recording assessments did not clearly identify children's progress. Children were not given sufficient opportunities to access arts and crafts resources. The group has improved their practice by ensuring that committee members are appropriately vetted, which means that children are well protected. Some improvements have been made in the recording of children's progress. Children now have access to arts and crafts material. This means that children are making steady progress in their development.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since April 2004. 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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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): • ensure that children are offered drinks at regular intervals • ensure that written risk assessments are kept updated • maintain up to date written documentation of medication records, the staff register and the visitors book

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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):

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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 • provide more able children with sufficient challenge • develop staff knowledge and understanding of how to implement a rigorous system for planning and observations.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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