Jiminy Crickets Pre-School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/06/2003 Inspector Name Christine Cutts

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Ashford Hill Playgroup Setting Address Ashford Hill Playgroup Chapel Lane, Ashford Hill Thatcham Berkshire RG19 8BE

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of ASHFORD HILL PLAYGROUP COMMITTEE

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name ASHFORD HILL PLAYGROUP COMMITTEE Address AS BEFORE U/A

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.1

ABOUT THE INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality and standard of day care in accordance with the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding; and that the nursery education for funded three and four year old children is of an acceptable quality. Inspection of nursery education also identifies strengths and weaknesses so that providers can improve the quality of educational provision and help children to achieve the early learning goals (elgs) by the end of the Foundation Stage. This inspection report must be made available to all parents. If the setting has been inspected previously, an action plan will have been drawn up to tackle issues identified. This inspection, therefore, must also assess what progress has been made in the implementation of this plan.

p.2

Information about the setting

Ashford Hill Playgroup operates from Ashford Hill Cricket Club, Chapel Lane, Thatcham situated in a rural area. The hall offers the playgroup the use of a hall and access to kitchen and toilets. The outside play area surrounds the to hall The Ashford Hill Playgroup has an open admission policy serving the local community and is open from 09.00 to 12.00 Monday to Friday and a four plus group 12.30 to 15.00. Term time only excluding Bank Holidays. The playgroup caters for 15 children per session aged two to five years. The playgroup is run by a parents committee. The committee employ three members of staff including a supervisor, deputy and assistant. The majority of staff have a pre-school qualification. The Ashford Hill Playgroup has some funded three and four year olds and caters for special needs children.

p.2

How good is the Day Care?

The Ashford Hill Playgroup provide satisfactory care for children in a warm and welcoming environment. The staff made good use of the accommodation and resources by frequently changing the activities to allow children the maximum amount of learning experiences with the limited space available. The majority of staff have childcare qualification and work well as a team to support the children's learning. The

p.2

How good is the Day Care?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 playgroup is still developing a full range of documentation to enable them to provide for the children's care. Children's health and welfare is promoted with staff encouraging children to develop independence skills. Hygiene routines are not always well supported. The individual need's of the children are identified and valued. The playgroup give positive support to special needs and child protection issues. The children are supported and encouraged in their learning with planned activities offering a range of learning experiences. Staff are interested in the children. They listen and talk to the children about their likes and dislikes and experiences from their own lives. Children's behaviour is generally good, the children show

p.2

How good is the Day Care?

understanding of others and their needs. Parents actively support the playgroup. Comments received show they are happy with the care offered and information given about their children.

p.3

What has improved since the last inspection?

The previous inspection was transitional and did not highlight areas for improvement

p.3

What is being done well?

• The staff made good use of the accommodation and resources by frequently changing the activities to allow children the maximum amount of learning experiences- given the limited space available. • Playgroup uses wall displays to make the learning environment warm and welcoming to children. • Staff are very aware of safety issues and the protection of the children in their care to allow children to explore and play with confidence in a safe environment. • The playgroup celebrate festivals and events from other cultures and offers a good range of books and resources which reflect the diversity in our society. Supporting the children's knowledge of others and to value differences. • Staff work well together to offer a consistent approach to children's behaviour encouraging children to develop strategies to share and play together. • Parents appreciate that staff make themselves available at beginning and

p.3

What is being done well?

end of session to talk to about their children's care and development.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• a full range of documentation, still being developed; • opportunities to develop children's personal hygiene skills in every day situations;

p.3

What needs to be improved?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.3

CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION

All registered persons must comply with all conditions of registration included on his/her certificate of registration. As a result of this inspection conditions of registration have been imposed / varied / removed and a new certificate of registration will be issued.

p.4

by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 14 Develop a full range of documentation including, operational plan, risk assessment, record fire safety records and develop planning to include children’s individual needs and interests.

p.4

by the time of the next 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; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.4

How effective is the nursery education?

Children make generally good progress towards the early learning goals with strengths in personal, social and emotional development. The Ashford Hill playgroup offers children a warm and welcoming environment in which good use is made of the accommodation and resources to promote children's learning. Children are encouraged to be actively involved in their learning. Quality of teaching is generally good with staff having a secure knowledge of individual children and their progress towards the stepping stones. Staff praise, encourage and support children's learning. Some areas of mathematics, creative development and communication language and literacy are less well supported with practical activities. Children's behaviour is generally good with staff supporting children to learn and understand the rules of the playgroup. Planning has some weakness. It lacks sufficient detail and does not promote some areas of creative develop.

p.5

How effective is the nursery education?

Leadership and management are generally good with much of the success of the setting due to the commitment of the staff team. The supervisor and deputy are committed to building good staff relationships. Staff are committed to extending their understanding in early years education undertaking further courses and accessing the local early years development in childcare partnership for training and support. Partnership with parents and carers is generally good. Parents are actively supportive of the playgroup. Comments received show that parents appreciate the information exchanged on their children's progress.

p.5

What is being done well?

• Children are actively involved with their learning, selecting from a wide range of good quality resources. • Children show an awareness of others needs and help younger members of the group. • The playgroup takes advantage of the local environment for children to explore. The playgroup celebrates festivals and religious events from many cultures. • Children's physical development and well being are promoted well with children developing good fine motor skills and pencil control and gross motor skills through sports and games.

p.5

What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • Children use language well to negotiate and express ideas, engaging in conversations with each other and with adults, exploring new words and rhyming sounds. • Children enjoy books and " Read" for pleasure to adults and other children. • Children use mathematical language with confidence, enjoy counting and freely count to up to 20. Children recognise numbers 1 to 9 and use numbers for a purpose. • Children plant seeds and observe changes in growth and talk about what living things need to grow.

p.5

What needs to be improved?

• children's opportunities to partake in planned creative activities to meet all learning goals; • opportunities for more able children to write words and simple sentences. • opportunities for children to use calculation and problem solving in everyday activities; • planning to include children's individual needs and interests and how children will be grouped; • children's understanding of text and that print carries meaning and is read from right to left and top to bottom and to know how to use books to locate information.

p.6

What has improved since the last inspection?

Generally good progress has been made since the last inspection although the staff team has changed completely and have no knowledge of the actions raised by the last inspection. The playgroup have an effective system for identifying and monitoring children with special needs and work closely with the area SENCO if they have any concerns about individual children. Information for parents has improved and contains details of the education provision and the Foundation Stage areas of learning. Curriculum planning is under review and areas of mathematical and creative development continue to require some extension, although all areas of learning are covered more systematically with the current planning.

p.6

What has improved 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; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.6

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are active in their learning, have an understanding of others and show concern for each other. The children show confidence and are developing independence skills. Opportunities for them to recount personal experience and the opportunity to listen and take turns in speaking support their growing sense of self worth and self confidence. Children's behaviour is generally good.

p.7

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good The playgroup provide opportunities to practise emerging writing skills, understanding of letter shape and sound. Children enjoy books and "read " to adults and others for pleasure. Children talk clearly and use language effectively to negotiate and make their feeling understood. There are less opportunities for children to write simple words and sentences or understand text and how to use books to locate information.

p.7

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Staff make effective use of topics for children to count and sort. Children count with confidence and use mathematics in a variety of situations. There are less opportunities to support children understanding of calculation and problem solving in everyday situations.

p.7

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good The playgroup makes good use of the local environment for children to learn about growth and change by growing plants,local walks and discussions. The playgroup celebrate festivals and religious events from many cultures.

p.7

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good The playgroup provide resources for fine manipulative development and the use of tools, malleable materials and pencil control. Large physical development is well catered for with sports and games, with staff making good use of the surrounding playing fields.

p.7

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children explore colour, texture, shape, form and space in two and three dimensional media with paint, chalks, crayons, playdough, clay and collage materials. There are less opportunities in this area for children to express their ideas, thoughts and feelings in a wider range of media.

p.7

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.7

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.8

OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of good quality overall. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. The next inspection will take place in three to four years time.

p.9

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• extend all children's opportunities to partake in planned creative activities to meet all learning goals; • extend opportunities for more able children to write words and simple sentences. • extend opportunties to use calculation and problem solving in everyday activities; • develop planning to include children individual needs and interests and how children will be grouped; • support children's understanding of text and that print carries meaning and is read from right to left and top to bottom and to know how to use books to locate information.

p.9

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

The provider must draw up an action plan within 40 working days of receipt of this report showing how the key issues detailed above will be addressed. The action plan must be made available to all parents and to the Local Authority if required. An evaluation of the action taken will form part of the next inspection of funded nursery education.

p.9

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.9

STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON

Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

p.10

STANDARD 2 - ORGANISATION

The registered person meets required adult: child ratios, ensures that training and qualifications requirements are met and organises space and resources to meet the children's needs effectively.

p.10

STANDARD 3 - CARE, LEARNING AND PLAY

The registered person meets children's individual needs and promotes their welfare. They plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop children's emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.

p.10

STANDARD 4 - PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming to children and offer access to the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote their development.

p.10

STANDARD 5 - EQUIPMENT

Furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are of suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to safety standards.

p.10

STANDARD 6 - SAFETY

The registered person takes positive steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.

p.10

STANDARD 7 - HEALTH

The registered person promotes the good health of children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.

p.10

STANDARD 8 - FOOD AND DRINK

Children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.

p.10

STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.

p.10

NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is

p.10

NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 proactive in ensuring that appropriate action can be taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of the child within the setting in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties.

p.10

STANDARD 11 - BEHAVIOUR

Adults caring for children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development.

p.11

STANDARD 12 - WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND CARERS

The registered person and staff work in partnership with parents and to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group. Information is shared.

p.11

STANDARD 13 - CHILD PROTECTION

The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.

p.11

STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

Records, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, or to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. Records about individual children are shared with the child's parent.

p.11

STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.11