Brinscall Playgroup

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/06/2004 Inspector Name Rod Green

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Brinscall Playgroup Setting Address c/o Hillside Methodist Church Parke Road, Brinscall Chorley Lancashire PR6 8QB

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Abbey Village and Brinscall Playgroup 1102416

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Abbey Village and Brinscall Playgroup Address 48 Windsor Drive Brinscall Chorley Lancashire PR6 8PX

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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

Brinscall Playgroup opened in 1974. It operates from a large hall and adjacent rooms in Hillside Methodist Church in Brinscall, near Chorley, Lancashire. It serves the local area. There are currently 34 children from two to four years on roll. This includes 15 funded 3 year olds and eight funded 4 year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The group opens five days a week during school term times. Sessions are from 09:15 until 12:15. Three full-time and four part-time staff work with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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How good is the Day Care?

Brinscall Playgroup provides good care for children. Space is well organised and there are a good range of toys and equipment available to provide for a variety of interesting activities for all ages and abilities of children. Most documentation is in place. Some procedures need updating. Safety is a high priority with staff conducting daily risk assessments to ensure risk to children is minimised. Toys and equipment include many reflecting diversity. There are a very good range of snacks available to ensure children have choice and develop an understanding of healthy eating. Staff are experienced in working with children with special needs and ensure activities are devised which include all children. Health and hygiene is a high priority with good written policies and children encouraged to wash hands after messy play or using the toilet and before snack. Staff update written plans of activities on a regular basis and all children are offered

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How good is the Day Care?

a wide variety of activities to encourage development in all areas. There is a good

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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 behaviour management policy and staff are sensitive and considerate in their management of behaviour ensuring children develop a sense of fairness and right and wrong. Relationships with parents are very good and there are good lines of communication between staff and parents ensuring that children's individual needs are recognised and met and that there is consistency between home and the Playgroup.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection, the provider agreed to make the kitchen area safe, keep records of staff, and ensure the outside play area was properly supervised. The kitchen area has been completely re-furbished, all staff records and clearances are in place, and the outside area is only used by small groups which are closely supervised. These action have enhanced the care offered to children.

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What is being done well?

• Space and resources are well set out to provide for a variety of interesting activities for all ages and abilities of children. Children have choice in the activity they pursue. • There are a good range of toys and equipment which children enjoy having access to at their level and which supplement the activities provided and which children use to develop imaginative play. • Safety is a high priority and daily risk assessments are conducted to ensure any possible harm to children is minimised. • Good lines of communication with parents are in place with daily discussions, newsletters, social events, all being used ensuring children's individual needs are recognised and met. • The range and variety of snacks available is particularly good with children being afforded a choice and able to develop an understanding of healthy eating. • Behaviour is managed well with a good written policy in place understood by

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What is being done well?

children and staff and staff concentrating on rewarding and praising good behaviour and acting as good role models so that children develop a sense of right and wrong.

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What needs to be improved?

• the procedures for appointing and inducting staff and maintaining at least minimum levels of qualified staff • the content of the operational plan • the resources reflecting positive images of gender and disability • the knowledge and understanding of child protection.

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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

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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 1 ensure there are effective procedures for appointing staff 2 develop and implement an action plan detailing how at least half of all childcare staff will hold a level 2 qualification in childcare,and ensure a complete operational plan including an effective induction procedure is in place 9 ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice 13 develop staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection issues

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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?

Brinscall Playgroup provides good quality education overall which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provision for personal, social and emotional development and creative development are a strength and children are making very good progress in these areas of learning. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff provide a very warm welcome to children and parents. They have a generally good understanding of the Foundation Stage and promote children's learning through experiences that are interesting, however some areas of learning and the organisation of groupings have weaknesses. Staff use praise very well to boost the children's self esteem with good behaviour being supported well through a balance of praise and reminders. They provide good role models for the children by promoting kindness and a caring manner. Staff have due regard for the Code of Practice for the Identification and

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How effective is the nursery education?

Assessment of Special Educational Needs and there is an effective system in place to provide support. Staff make very good use of the space in the building. The leadership and management is generally good and has a positive impact on children's progress. The provider actively participates in the daily life of the group and supports staff well to attend training and continue their self development to ensure that practice is kept up to date. There is however insufficient ongoing review of planning and organisation to ensure that there are no gaps in the service. The team has a strong commitment to the continuing development of the group and improving the quality of care and learning for the children. The partnership with parents is very good with good information being shared about the groups events and activities as well as the children's progress. Parents are very happy with the group and feel involved. They value the caring friendly manner of the

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How effective is the nursery education?

staff and that their children are happy and settled.

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What is being done well?

• Staff use praise very well to boost the children's self esteem with good behaviour being supported well through a balance of praise and reminders. They provide good role models for the children by promoting kindness and a caring manner. • Children are observing, manipulating and investigating well using their senses. They comment that the water play activity, "smells like mum's bath". Children manipulate the play dough well to make a spider and roll it to make eight legs. • Children very confidently take on responsibility for their own personal independence through daily routines. They help themselves to drinks of water regularly throughout the session and attend the bathroom including washing

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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 hands competently. • Sharing of information both verbally and more formally between staff and parents about children's achievements and aspects of care is good. There are good opportunities for parents to access policies and procedures. A clear written report of children's progress is provided each term as well as ongoing access to the children's achievement folders of work.

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What needs to be improved?

• the challenges for children to develop and practice their balancing skills • the gaps in planned resources to enable children to spontaneously attempt writing for a variety of purposes, learn to recognise and order numerals, encounter people and natural objects to provide real life learning situations • the organisation of groups to increase children's ability to speak, listen and express their ideas at group times, such as 'show and tell'.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The group has made very good progress since the last inspection. It was agreed that the group would provide opportunities for children to solve simple problems using addition and subtraction. Good opportunities are included in the short term planning for children to solve simple problems using addition and subtraction through practical activities. Children are now calculating more than and less than when looking at spiders in books and counting model insects and their features. It was also agreed that greater staff intervention would take place when children were climbing to challenge and extend children's developing skills and coordination. Staff now offer support to children at the climbing frame and slide to challenge and extend their developing skills on a daily basis.

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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 enter the group confidently and happily. They engage eagerly in their choice of activities with their friends. Children are helpful towards each other as they play. They readily share equipment and resources and patiently wait their turn for the slide. Children are happy to help to tidy away during the session, joining in with gusto to help staff role the carpet and sort toys into containers. They competently help themselves to drinks of water throughout the session.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children speak confidently while playing and add ideas to stories well, stating the caterpillar "had eaten all those things so has a poorly tummy". Children have an enthusiasm for reading choosing and handle books well in the book area. More able children are forming letters well however they rarely attempt writing for a variety of purposes. Children are gaining confidence in recognising their own names when entering the group and they link sounds with letters well in their names at snack time.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy singing number rhymes. They confidently count to 10 and in some cases 11 when counting baby spiders in a book. Children show interest and perseverance when exploring size and shape with jigsaws, connecting shapes and fitting smaller barrels inside larger ones. They have less experiences to learn to recognise and order numerals during every day routines. When playing with the puppets children use positional language well as they identify "he's under or on top of the table".

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy talking about past events linking them effectively to current ones. In the butterfly activity a child told the group about the purple butterfly she had seen at her grandmas. Children confidently build a range of models using construction kits as well as sticking and joining re-cycled materials. Learning opportunities for children to encounter people and objects in real life situations are limited however they use their senses well noting the "water smells like mum's bath".

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

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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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children move confidently and safely with good control and have a good awareness of space. Children identify nutritious food through eating healthy food at snack time. They follow good established hygiene routines competently and inform staff that you wash hands after being in the garden "so you do not get germs". Children enjoy moving, they jump and hop spontaneously as they move between activities, as well as crawling, climbing and sliding confidently however balancing activities are scarce.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children express themselves well through a variety of painting, modelling and collage activities. They become engrossed in creating pattern and texture with glue free collage materials from the very well resourced craft area. Children express their thoughts and feeling well through imaginative play in the home play area and with the well resourced small world play. They use a variety of voices for the puppets while forming very expressive facial expressions themselves.

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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

• increase the availability of resources in everyday activities to enable children to spontaneously attempt writing for a variety of purposes, learn to recognise and order numerals, encounter people and natural objects to provide real life learning situations • ensure that the organisation of group size enables children to increase their ability to speak, listen and express their ideas • provide more challenging activities for children to develop and practice their balancing skills.

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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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