St Mary's CofE Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 17/05/2004 Inspector Name Ruth Tharme

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Moreton-in-Marsh Playgroup Setting Address St. David's Centre Church Street Moreton-in-Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0LT

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Moreton-in-Marsh Playgroup Address St. David's Centre Church Street Moreton-in-Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0LT

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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

Moreton-in-Marsh Playgroup opened in 1969. It is managed by a committee and operates from a community hall in the Cotswold town of Moreton-in-Marsh. The playgroup serves the surrounding area. There are currently 42 children on the roll. This includes 18 funded 3-year-olds and 16 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports children with special needs. There are no children attending who speak English as an additional language. The group opens five days a week during school term times. Sessions are from 09.00 to 11.45. There is a preschool session on Wednesday afternoons from 12.15 until 14.45. There are 3 full-time and 1 part-time staff members who work directly with the children. All of the staff have a qualification in childcare. Some staff members are currently on training programmes. The group receives support from a Foundation Stage Consultant through the Early Years and Childcare Service.

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How good is the Day Care?

Moreton-in-Marsh Playgroup provides satisfactory care for children. Staff welcome families warmly into the bright and airy play room. The premises are clean and well maintained. Staff are well informed about health and safety issues. They are generally vigilant and take positive steps to minimise risk. Children wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. All staff hold an appropriate first aid qualification. Some adults who have not been cleared as suitable sometimes have unsupervised access to children and there are no clear procedures in place for ensuring that all new staff members are checked for suitability. Children take part in a wide range of activities which are planned to promote their all-round development. They clearly enjoy their play and are happy, relaxed and settled within the group. They behave extremely well. Staff have a calm approach

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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 and have an excellent relationship with the children in their care. Well-maintained equipment is used effectively to support well-resourced activities. There is an emphasis on healthy eating and children bring fresh fruit each day to eat at snack time. Staff are well informed about individual needs. They work closely with parents to ensure that care is appropriate and make sure that activities and resources are accessible to all. There is a good relationship with parents. Staff are available on a daily basis to share information with them. A notice board and information file also help to keep parents suitably informed. The child protection procedure has not been made available to parents and does not include procedures to be followed in the event of

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How good is the Day Care?

an allegation being made against a member of staff. Parents have not been asked for consent to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. Documentation is generally clear and accurate although parents have not signed all entries in the accident book.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection there were eight actions set. The group were required to produce an action plan detailing how they intended to meet the qualification requirements for the person in charge. A suitable action plan has been effectively implemented and the person in charge is expected to be suitably qualified by summer 2004. They were asked to extend the policy document into an operational plan for the group. This has been done with all policies, procedures and aims for the group clearly laid out. A further action was set to ensure that the children could not lock themselves in the toilet. The locks have been changed and can now easily be opened from the outside. The group were also required to ensure that access to the premises is managed to ensure the security and safety of the children and staff. The door to the hall is now kept locked and staff monitor who is on the premises. All visitors are registered in the visitors book to help ensure safety. An action was set to

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What has improved since the last inspection?

ensure that the provision for hand washing and drying prevents the spread of infection and is in line with Environmental Health recommendations. Soap and paper towels are now available for children to use after using the toilet and before meals. There was a requirement to record significant incidents linked with behaviour and to inform parents on the day. A system has been implemented to record incidents in a record book which is signed by parents after any incident. The complaints procedure needed to be extended to clarify the routine and relevant contacts. Parents now have access to clear procedures which include details of the regulator. Finally the group was required to extend the child protection policy to clarify procedures. This has now been done so that clear information is available about procedures staff will follow should they have any concerns but some detail is still missing.

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What is being done well?

• Staff use their observation of children's progress to plan a wide range of activities which help to promote their all-round development. Children enjoy their play and are happy, relaxed and settled within the group. • Staff give advice on healthy eating and encourage children to eat fresh fruit

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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 every day. • Individual needs are well managed. Staff are well informed about particular requirements and work closely with parents to ensure that care is appropriate. Relevant policies are well implemented and staff ensure that all children have equal access to resources and activities. • Staff manage children's behaviour well. They have a calm approach, model good behaviour and set clear boundaries. Children are fully engaged in their activities and behave extremely well.

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What needs to be improved?

• procedures to ensure that children are not at risk from persons who have not received clearance and all new staff members are suitable • documentation to show that parents have given consent to seek emergency medical advice or treatment and parents have been suitably informed of all accidents • the child protection statement to include details of procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and the availability to parents of all child protection procedures.

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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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The Registered Person must take the following actions by the date shown

Std Action Date 1 Implement effective procedures to ensure that all staff members are suitable and that children are protected from persons who have not been cleared. 19/07/2004

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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 Std Recommendation 7 Request consent from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment and ensure that parents sign all entries in their child’s accident records. 13 Expand the child protection policy to include procedures for dealing with allegations against staff members. Make all child protection procedures available to parents.

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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?

The provision for nursery education at Moreton-in-Marsh Playgroup is acceptable and is of good quality. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Progress in personal, social and emotional development and knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage and ensure that all adults are well informed. They plan a variety of activities which support children's all-round development. Activities are well organised and are generally well presented. Group story times are particularly well presented. Aspects of the programmes for mathematics and language and literacy are not extended to provide sufficient challenge for more able children. There are few opportunities for children to experience music as they play. Staff observe and keep records of children's progress in each of the six areas of learning. Their

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How effective is the nursery education?

assessments are evaluated against the stepping stones and are used as a basis for planning the nest steps of children's learning. The leadership and management of the playgroup is generally good. The committee and staff team are mutually supportive although not all committee members are clear about their roles. Staff take time to evaluate activities and practice. They demonstrate a clear commitment to getting things right. Additional support is received from a Foundation Stage Consultant through the Early Years and Childcare Service. The partnership with parents and carers is generally good. Parents spend time in the setting and are given clear, written information about the Foundation Stage and the curriculum the children are following. They talk informally to staff about their children but staff do not take positive steps to share information about children's progress or to involve parents in the assessment of their own child's progress.

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What is being done well?

• The programme for personal, social and emotional development is very effective. Staff organise activities well, encourage children's self-confidence and self-esteem and help children to develop their independence. • Children's progress in the area of knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. They show curiosity and take an interest in the world around them. They are learning to respect the culture and beliefs of others. • Staff have a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage and the principles on which it is based. There is a strong emphasis on learning through play and staff use their observations and records of children's progress to plan for the next steps of their learning.

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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 • Parents are well informed about the curriculum the children are following. They are given a written explanation of the Foundation Stage and forthcoming activities.

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What needs to be improved?

• the involvement of parents in the assessment programme and the sharing of information about children's progress • the organisation and presentation of the book corner to encourage children to make more use of it • the provision for music within the programme for creative development • the provision for more able children to ensure that they are provided with sufficient opportunities to calculate and link sounds with letters.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Progress with the three key issues identified at the last inspection has been generally good. The first one was to include more opportunities for the development of literacy skills and provide activities to improve the children's knowledge of letter sounds, sounds associated with rhymes, words and syllables and encourage the children to communicate by using symbols, words and letters. The programme for language and literacy has been reviewed and now generally supports children's learning effectively. Children take part in a range of activities which extend their vocabulary, encourage verbal communication and mark making. There are still few opportunities for children to practise linking sounds with letters. The second key issues was 'ensure children receive a balanced educational curriculum by encouraging them to take part in the activities, particularly those relating to mathematics and language and literacy. Ensure that more able children

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What has improved since the last inspection?

are sufficiently challenged and that they maintain appropriate progress.' Staff provide a wide curriculum which covers all areas of children's development. They informally 'track' children to ensure that they take part in a range of activities throughout the session and encourage those who need it, to try new things. Challenges are now generally appropriate, although there are still some aspects of the communication, language and literacy and mathematics programmes where more able children are insufficiently challenged; such as identifying different sounds and practising skills for calculation as they play. The final key issue was 'ensure that staff are well deployed at all times and are supporting children in their activities. Organise the staff's time and tasks more methodically so that all areas are covered.' Staff are well deployed to support children effectively throughout the session. They organise their time to ensure that

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What has improved since the last inspection?

they are always available to support children's learning.

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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 Children concentrate well and sit quietly when appropriate. They initiate interactions with others and are forming clear friendships. They play co-operatively together and behave well. Staff encourage children to develop their independence. They are able to take the initiative and manage tasks for themselves. Children have a positive self-image and take pride in their achievements.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children listen carefully to stories but make little use of the book corner for themselves. Staff effectively support children to increase their vocabulary. Children talk confidently and 'read' their own names. They enjoy mark-making activities, but have few opportunities to identify sounds. Some children are beginning to form recognisable letters and write their own names.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children show an interest in numbers and can count confidently. They recognise numbers of personal significance and can recognise some numbers. They are able to separate objects into two groups but more able children are not always sufficiently challenged to calculate. They make patterns with geometric shapes and can match shapes by recognising similarities and orientation. Children use mathematical language such as 'big' and 'little' correctly as they play.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children show curiosity and have an interest in the world around them. They investigate a wide range of construction materials and construct with a purpose in mind. They confidently use information and communication technology which is provided throughout the session. Children remember and recount past experiences and can describe significant events such as birthdays. They are gaining an understanding of the culture and beliefs of others as they celebrate various festivals throughout the year.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children move spontaneously and manoeuvre efficiently. They judge their body space well as they line up or find a place on the carpet. Many show a clear preference for left or right hand. They confidently push and pull wheeled equipment and retrieve, collect and catch rolling hoops. Opportunities for climbing are infrequent. Children have a good sense of bodily awareness and put on their sun hats before going outside to play. They confidently use one handed equipment such as scissors.

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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: Generally Good Children identify colours as they play the 'snail race' game. They construct in three dimensions using a variety of media. They enjoy imaginative play and small-world activities and imitate what adults do. There are infrequent opportunities for children to experience music as they play. Children show an interest in what they see and confidently talk about their personal intentions.

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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 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.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• Take positive steps to share observations of children's progress with parents and encourage them to share what they know about their child. • Review the presentation and organisation of the book corner so that children are encouraged to use it more often. • Provide further opportunities for more able children to link sounds with letters and calculate. • Expand the programme for creative development to provide opportunities for all children to hear and create music as they play.

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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.

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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

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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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