Mickleover Methodist Preschool

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/06/2004 Inspector Name Fiona Stephenson

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Mickleover Methodist Playgroup Setting Address Mickleover Methodist Church Centre Station Road, Mickleover Derby Derbyshire DE3 9GH

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Mickleover Methodist Playgroup

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Mickleover Methodist Playgroup Address Mickleover Methodist Church Centre,Station Road Mickleover Derby Derbyshire DE3 9GH

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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

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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.

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Information about the setting

Mickleover play group opened in 1967. It operates from two rooms within the Mickleover Methodist Church Centre. The playgroup serves the local community and surrounding areas. There are currently 73 children from two-and-a-half years to four years on roll. This includes 38 funded three-year-olds and 20 funded four-year-olds. The play-group supports four children with special educational needs. There are currently no children attending who have English as an additional language. The group opens five days a week during school term time. Sessions are from 09:15-11:45 Monday to Friday; and 13:00 to 15:30 on Fridays only. Children attend a variety of sessions. Eleven staff work with children. During each session, half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 3. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Derby City Early Years' Development Childcare Partnership.

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How good is the Day Care?

Mickleover Methodist playgroup provides good quality care to children. The setting is well organised with good levels of staffing that are increased to give further support to children with special needs. Space and resources are used well, with all areas, including the outside area, being effectively utilised to support children's play and learning. The premises are safe and secure and are welcoming to parents and children. The setting provides children with an excellent range of activities and equipment that are accessible and stimulating. All regulatory policies and procedures are in place, however accident and medication records are insufficiently confidential and medication records are not signed by parents to acknowledge the administration of medication. Children's safety is well considered by staff and staff also promote the good health of children through good hygiene routines. Good health is also supported through the

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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 provision of nutritious and healthy snacks such as fruit, cheese and breadsticks. Staff have a good awareness of child protection issues, however the child protection policy does not include procedures to be followed if allegations are made against staff. Staff demonstrate a joy in working with children. They provide excellent play opportunities for children, and resources support anti-discriminatory practice. Staff listen well to children, and encourage children's creativity and individuality in all activities. The playgroup's special needs coordinator works very well in supporting children who have special needs and their families. Children behave very well, they are given ample praise and encouragement by staff and are fully occupied by

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How good is the Day Care?

stimulating activities. Partnership with parents is good. The manager and staff ensure they are available each day to allow parents opportunities to talk about their child. Parents are also provided with very good written information about the playgroup.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the setting agreed to ensure there were sufficient staff on duty each session who were qualified to an appropriate level. Staffing rotas have been changed to ensure compliance in this area. Children now have a key worker and this is working well in ensuring staff have a good understanding of the individual care and learning needs of each child. The setting agreed to ensure they kept a visitors book, that the registration system showed the arrival and departure times of children and staff; that permission was requested from parents to obtain emergency medical treatment or advice; and that records relating to fire prevention were kept. All of these are now in place, and further support the efficient and safe management of the playgroup.

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What is being done well?

• Support to children who have special needs is very good. The special needs coordinator for the playgroup is very informed and works closely with children and their families to ensure their needs are well met. • Resources and activities are excellent. Children are provided with a wide range of activities that stimulate and excite them. • Staff demonstrate a warmth and enjoyment of working with children. They listen and respond well to children's suggestions and ideas. • The setting provides children with a good range of nutritious snacks. • Parents views and ideas are well respected. The setting works hard to ensure parents are informed about their child's activities. The 'look what I'm learning at playgroup book' produced by the playgroup leader is an excellent reference book for parents.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• the confidentiality of accident and medication records, and to ensure the parent signs to acknowledge the administration of medication • the child protection policy to ensure that it includes the procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or a volunteer.

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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.

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by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 7 improve the confidentiality for the accident and medication records 7 ensure that the record of medicines administered to children is signed by parents 13 ensure that the child protection policy includes procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or a volunteer.

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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

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How effective is the nursery education?

Mickleover Methodist Playgroup provides high quality nursery education overall. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of the curriculum. Teaching is very good. Staff have a very good understanding of the foundation stage curriculum and this is evident in the written observations and assessments of children, with planning being linked to the individual needs of each child. Rooms used for learning and play have demarcated areas to encourage learning in areas such as writing, mathematics and creativity. Staff clearly demonstrate how learning in one area of the curriculum, impacts and supports learning in other areas. There is an excellent balance between child initiated play and adult directed activities. Management of children's behaviour is very good. Children with special educational needs are also making very good progress and support given to them by the

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How effective is the nursery education?

playgroup's special educational needs coordinator is very good. Leadership and management is very good. The leader of the setting has a team of staff who work well together and who are as motivated as she is to ensure there is a high quality of play and learning opportunities for children. The leader leads by example. She attends training for her own self development and encourages staff to attend training to meet their developmental needs. Training is cascaded to the remaining staff group. The leader has a good understanding of the strengths of the playgroup and areas requiring improvement are addressed at staff meetings. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents consider staff to be helpful, informative, and readily available to discuss any issues concerning their child. There are good systems in place to support parental awareness of the curriculum, such as a notice board and newsletters. Parents receive a report at the end of their child's

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How effective is the nursery education?

time at playgroup, however information about their child's next steps in learning is insufficient.

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What is being done well?

• Children have excellent opportunities to be creative and imaginative in all areas of the curriculum. A wealth of resources that are easily accessible to children, and a staff group who understand the value of free expression, provide an excellent grounding for these areas of learning. • Topic planning provides children with many stimulating opportunities to explore and investigate change and growth. • Children's self esteem and confidence levels are high. Staff value the thoughts and ideas of children, and give good praise to written and creative work.

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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 • Support to children with special educational needs is very good. The special needs worker, works well with parents and professionals to support children with special needs in the playgroup. • Children have excellent opportunities in mathematics to explore shape, patterns and sequencing and to use mathematical ideas to solve practical problems.

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What needs to be improved?

• partnership with parents to further parents understanding of the individual learning needs of their child.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. Introduction of the key worker system has provided staff with a clearer understanding of the learning progress of individual children. This has linked in with activities that have been extended to support more able and older children in linking sounds with letters and with the recognition of common words and it has also supported more able children's understanding of addition and subtraction. Additional resources have also been made available to improve children's progress in these areas. Communication with parents is a strength of the playgroup with parents now having daily informal opportunities to become aware of the life of the playgroup.The parents 'Look what I've been doing at playgroup' as well as newsletters and the parents notice board give parents a good understanding of the six areas of learning, the planned curriculum, and how they can support planned topics in the home environment.

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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

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good A wealth of resources and activities encourage and develop children's interest and excitement to learn. Children demonstrate confidence and high levels of self esteem. They behave well during both adult led and free play activities and have good relationships with their peers and staff. Children are developing a good understanding of what is right and wrong. They have very good levels of independence. Children are developing a growing understanding of the cultures and beliefs of others.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children demonstrate excellent verbal communication skills and language for thinking when talking amongst themselves and with staff and when engaging in role play scenarios. They are developing an enjoyment of books and readily pick up books to read themselves or ask a member of staff to read them. They have many opportunities to develop early writing skills, with older and more able children writing their own names, and short words.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to count to ten and beyond. Older and more able children recognise numerals from one to five. Children have excellent opportunities to explore patterns through looking at wall paper designs and to explore measurement by measuring feet in a 'shoe shop'. Children have a good understanding of shape and can link the concept to shapes in the environment such as windows and doors. Early calculation skills are well supported through songs such as five speckled frogs.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children have excellent opportunities to explore man made objects such as water pumps, and living things such as mini-beasts and growing plants. They are encouraged to look at change, such as night and day and why things happen and work, such as when washing clothes. They have good opportunities to use technology such as telephones, microwaves and binoculars in role play scenarios. Children demonstrate a good sense of time and an awareness of where they live.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are progressing very well in their use of tools and materials. They use tools such as scissors, glue sticks and paint brushes well. Excellent use is made of both the indoor and outdoor areas to support progress in children's movement, control and co-ordination. Children have a developing understanding of health and body, with older children growing in awareness of the effects exercise has on their bodies.

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PHYSICAL 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

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy opportunities to use their imagination through role play, small world activities, painting, collages, sand and water play, and junk modelling. They express and communicate their ideas well in all these activities. They enjoy daily group singing time and have favourite songs and rhymes. Children have good opportunities to explore music, musical instruments and musical sounds. They move well in music and movement.

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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

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

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

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to improve the following: • further improve partnership with parents to provide more frequent information on the next steps in their child's progress and how this can be supported in the home environment.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

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.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

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

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STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

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

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NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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