Little Angels Uppingham LTD

Little Angels (Uppingham) Ltd Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY404939 Inspection date 12/10/2010 Inspector Janice Walker

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Setting address 4-5 Ayston House, Ayston Road, Uppingham, OAKHAM, Rutland, LE15 9RL Telephone number 01572 823680 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as

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you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Little Angels (Uppingham) Ltd became registered in 2010. It is a privately run setting and operates from converted premises close to the centre of the market town of Uppingham in Rutland. The setting provides care for nursery aged children and also operates a before and after school provision and a holiday club for school children aged up to 11 years. The building is on two floors. The baby room on the ground floor takes children up to the age of around 20 months. On the first floor there are two rooms, one for children moving from the baby room to aged three years and the other for children aged from three to five years. On the ground floor there is also a free-flow room which is where the school aged children are cared for and which is also used for meal times and large group activities. There is a secure enclosed area for outdoor play. The setting serves families from the local and surrounding rural area. The owner has established good links with local

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Description of the setting

schools and the setting also provides play worker support for the local Children's Centre and wider family support.

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Description of the setting

The setting is registered on the Early Years Register and also on the compulsory and the voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. It is registered to provide care for 58 children under the age of eight years, all of whom may be in the early years age range. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four years. It is open from 7.30am for the breakfast club and from 8.00am for the nursery and closes at 6.00pm. It is open each week day, for 50 weeks of the year, closing for public holidays and for two weeks over the Christmas period. Children attend a variety of sessions each week depending on the individual requirements of each family. There are currently 80 children on roll aged up to 11 years, 46 of whom are in the early years age range. The setting supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language.

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Description of the setting

The setting employs 12 staff to work with the children, nine of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification. Two staff are working towards Early Years Professional Status or Qualified Teacher Status. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe, family orientated environment where each of them is valued strongly and respected as an individual. They access a stimulating range of learning experiences which support their progress towards the early learning goals and systems to monitor this are mainly effective. Their welfare is well promoted and their health and safety maintained through the setting's clear practices, policies and procedures, which are fully understood and implemented by staff. All staff work well together as part of a team, fostering positive relationships with parents, carers and other professionals. The setting's excellent system of self- evaluation enables them to fully monitor all aspects of their provision and they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 have clearly identified strengths and areas for development. The highly motivated staff team demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review the sleeping arrangements for babies in order to improve their opportunity for them to rest undisturbed  improve the links between planning and assessments in order to ensure that individual children are provided with appropriate levels of support and/ or challenge  extend the emerging systems for sharing information with parents to improve opportunities for them to support their children's individual learning and development.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded well because all staff are fully aware of their child protection responsibilities and have attended relevant training. Designated staff attend regular training and have established positive links with other organisations to ensure safeguarding procedures are implemented effectively. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensure that all staff are thoroughly vetted for their suitability to work with young children. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place and along with vigilantly undertaken daily checks these contribute effectively to the safety of children. The setting's comprehensive procedures and policies, which are clearly understood and implemented by the staff team, contribute to the safe and efficient management of the provision and ensure that children's individual needs are met. Staff are deployed well to ensure children receive high levels of support and supervision in their play and daily routines. Toys

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the early years provision

and resources are of good quality and are effectively monitored to create an accessible, stimulating environment where children learn through play. However, although, currently under review, space in the baby room is not yet organised to best enable young children to rest or sleep undisturbed.

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the early years provision

The strong ethos relating to valuing individuals results in extremely positive relationships with parents. Staff gather and share information with all parents on an ongoing basis in order to ensure children's individual needs are continually met. Each family's circumstances are well-known to staff who use this to personalise children's experiences in the setting. Through ongoing verbal exchanges and the daily record sheets, parents and carers are kept well informed about their children's achievements. However, systems for sharing information about identified goals and how parents can support their children's progress are not yet consistently embedded in practice. Staff share clear information with other providers to promote the integration of children's care, learning and any extended services. The setting also provide staff to run sessions in the local Children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Centre, which offers support to children and families in the wider community.

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the early years provision

The owner has high aspirations for quality which is shared by the staff team who work hard and demonstrate exceedingly high levels of commitment to continual improvement. This is a newly registered setting but comprehensive systems for rigorous and extensive monitoring and analysis of all areas of the provision which include input from the staff team and from parents, are implemented exceptionally well. They lead to a clear, well-targeted and regularly updated action plan which all staff share ownership of resulting in a positive impact on the provision for the children. There are comprehensive processes for managing the performance of the staff team and their professional development which are meticulously implemented resulting in a highly motivated and enthusiastic team who eagerly strive for continual improvement. They attend regular short courses to keep abreast of good childcare practices and several members of the team are currently working

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the early years provision

towards a higher qualification. They work very well together to complement each others strengths and to create a welcoming, inclusive, happy and stimulating environment where all children are safe and happy.

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and outcomes for children

Children are greeted by the friendly and caring staff team along with a bright and stimulating environment. A wide range of activities in each of the group rooms along with enthusiastic staff, encourage them to explore and learn and they do so with evident enjoyment. Well-considered and regularly reviewed daily routines ensure that there is a good balance of adult-led and child-led activities. Children's interests are taken into account when planning these and newly implemented systems ensure each child makes a contribution. Planning is detailed and clearly linked to the areas of learning to ensure that children access activities which support their progress towards each of the early learning goals. Assessment systems are good with useful and regular observations feeding into a check list and the next steps for learning identified. However, this information is not yet used effectively to help plan activities that ensure each child received an appropriate

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and confident in this setting because staff are caring, kind and supportive. There is a warm and welcoming atmosphere and children confidently express their views and opinions. Even very young children are confident communicators, indicating through gestures and vocalising their needs and wishes, confident that staff will positively respond. Staff support activities well, they pose problem solving situations and encourage children to describe their experiences, such as, the consistency of cornflour and water, by asking questions which extend vocabulary and knowledge. Mathematical concepts of size and capacity are explored during fun water play sessions and children practise their counting skills and number recognition as part of small group times, outdoor play and daily routines. Younger children investigate water with their hands, swirling and splashing with squeals of laughter. Computers are available along with battery

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and outcomes for children

operated toys. These activities strongly support children with the skills they need in order to secure future learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children behave well because staff have clear expectations and they are keen to please, eager for rewards, such as, being a 'helper'. They learn to care for their environment through routines, such as, tidy up times. Through well-planned routines along with gentle support from staff, they learn to care for their environment and each other. They share toys and resources and older children thoroughly enjoy 'helping' with those who are younger. Children learn how to keep themselves healthy through routines, such as, hand washing before meals and by having free access to drinks when they are thirsty. They enjoy healthy, varied and nutritious meals which have been influenced by a dietician and are freshly

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and outcomes for children

prepared by the onsite cook who plays very close attention to individual dietary needs. Meal times in the setting are relaxed social occasions, children's social and independence skills develop well as staff encourage and support them to serve themselves, cut their own food and participate in group discussions. Children have regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise through twice daily times in the enclosed outdoor area along with regular outings in the local community. Children walk sensibly up and downstairs and know they wear high visibility vests when out in the local community, showing they are aware of and understand certain health and safety rules. Planned routines and activities, such as, emergency evacuation practices and visits by the fire service further promote children's ability to keep themselves safe. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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