Brookhurst Preschool Group

Brookhurst Pre-School Group "Stepping Stones" Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 306501 Inspection date 24/02/2012 Inspector Kay Armstrong

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Setting address Brookhurst Road, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 0EH Telephone number 0151 343 0451, Email: carol-kerry@brookstep.co.uk Email Type of setting Childcare - Non-Domestic 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.

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You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as 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

Brookhurst Pre-School Group "Stepping Stones" has been registered since 1993. The provision is a registered charity, which is managed and run by a community based committee. The provision operates from a single storey building in the grounds of Brookhurst Primary School in Bromborough, a residential area of the Wirral peninsular. Children also have access to an outdoor play area. The provision serves families from the local area and is open from 9am to 12 noon and from 12.40pm to 3.40pm Monday to Friday during term time only.

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Description of the setting

The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of 26 children in the early years age range may attend the provision at any one time, of whom none may be under two years. There are currently 59 children on roll. All of these are in the early years age group of whom 40 receive funding for free early years education.

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Description of the setting

There are eight members of staff who care for the children. Of these one has an Early Years Foundation Degree, five hold a qualification at level 3 in early years and two hold a qualification at level 2 in early years. The provision receives support from the local authority and is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

A distinct feature of this provision is the staff's excellent commitment to providing a wealth of learning experiences. Children thrive and make excellent progress towards the early learning goals due to the highly effective support they receive from all staff. Children demonstrate excellent self help skills and nearly all opportunities to reinforce these are fully utilised. Inclusive practice is firmly embedded in all aspects of the provision. Children's individual needs are met exceptionally well through rigorous assessments and exemplary systems that help narrow any achievement gaps. The highly skilled, close-knit team have considerable capacity to maintain independent and continuous improvements through systems that successfully demonstrate reflective practice.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 Providing more opportunities for children to practice and refine their self- help skills at snack time, for example serving their own food. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Safeguarding procedures are robust and recruitment, induction and ongoing suitability procedures are rigorous and effective. Staff fully understand their role with regard to child protection and the procedures to follow should a concern arise. Consequently, children are effectively protected. Risk assessment procedures are thorough and are implemented exceptionally well. They promote safe practice extremely well and this includes children's personal care routines. These are carried out in a respectful and dignified way, such as, teaching children to use the toilet independently.

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the early years provision

Planning and assessment is highly effective. The next steps in children's learning are consistently identified and are effectively used to inform future plans. Equality and diversity are promoted thoroughly and staff place this at the heart of all their work. Highly successful links have been made with other Early Years Foundation Stage providers to promote a seamless approach to delivering the framework. There are exceptionally good transition arrangements for children preparing for school. Strong and trusting levels of engagement have been developed at the setting. Working with parents and carers as partners is excellent and they are highly complimentary of the setting. They are heavily involved in decision-making on key matters affecting their children as parents and carers form the well- established committee. Through the effective sharing of information, parents and carers are actively encouraged to support and consolidate their children's learning

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the early years provision

at home. Children's successes are clearly attributed to the consistent use of high quality furniture and equipment and the imaginative layout of resources. From a child's perspective, the provision is a magical place full of wonderful things to discover. For example, the sensory garden, the mud kitchen and the exciting outdoor play area.

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the early years provision

The managers are exceptionally successful in inspiring staff. Self-evaluation includes rigorous monitoring at all levels. Exceptionally good systems prioritise aspects of the provision to be developed extremely well. The continuing development of the outdoor play area is a relevant example. This is part of the continuous play provision and significantly enhances the learning outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children make outstanding progress as excellent opportunities are provided to support their development in all areas of learning. A strong feature of this provision is the staff's enthusiasm and the way in which they give children their full attention. All children are extremely confident and have clearly developed a positive attitude towards learning. Well-established routines help children to settle well and develop extremely positive relationships with the adults who care for them and their peers. They have developed excellent skills in negotiations. They listen to each other extremely well and share their ideas as they play imaginatively This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in the role play area. Children demonstrate an exceptional understanding of what standards of behaviour are expected. As a result, children have developed an extremely strong sense of belonging and overall their behaviour is exemplary. Risk

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and outcomes for children

taking is an integral part of the provision and this is done in a responsible way. For example children use cheese graters with support when participating in a baking activity.

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and outcomes for children

Children's creativity is successfully supported through excellent access to a substantial range of role play equipment, construction toys and an extensive range of art materials. They thoroughly enjoy exploring paint, dough and have many opportunities to design and make objects using recycled materials. Communication language and literacy is a very strong area. Children are confident speakers who express themselves exceptionally well. Many children competently link sounds and letters to words. They have great fun using one-handed tools for mark-making and drawing extremely detailed pictures. Children's development in numeracy and literacy and the use of information and communication technology is excellent. They learn about cause and effect when they use the computer and they develop hand and eye coordination when they use the mouse. This is part of the continuous provision alongside the use of other programmable resources. Effective

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and outcomes for children

measures like these provide firm foundations for children to develop knowledge, understanding and skills that are required for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate an excellent awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles. They enjoy well-balanced, nutritional snacks. Children have ample opportunities to develop their self help skills, for instance when putting outdoor clothes on. However, there are fewer opportunities for children to practice and refine their self-help skills at snack time for example, serving themselves food. They demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the importance of good hygiene routines and manage their own personal needs extraordinarily well. They particularly like to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Children enthusiastically access the outdoor play area on a regular basis. Making the most of every opportunity to take physical exercise in the fresh air. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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