Splash and Dash Pre-School Playgroup

Splash and Dash Pre-School Playgroup Kingsdown Avenue, Ealing, London, W13 9PR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/01/2013 30/09/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children enjoy an adequate range of activities which enables them to develop across most of the areas of learning and development.  Staff are enthusiastic and understand most children's needs, responding adequately by being attentive and warm towards the children.  The manager although new in post is skilled at working well with the staff team to evaluate and improve the provision.

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It is not yet good because

 staff's certificates in paediatric first aid are out of date.  children who learn English as an additional language have few opportunities to practice both spoken English and their home language.  assessment and planning systems are inconsistent which means that children do not always develop their full potential.  weaknesses in planning lead to an underutilised outdoor environment and limited opportunities for older children to learn about the world around them.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children at play both indoors and outdoors and during snack time, in adult led and child initiated play.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had discussions with the manager, chair of the management committee - the nominated person, key persons, children and parents.  The inspector looked at a representative sample of documentation.

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Information about the setting

Splash and Dash Pre-School Playgroup is managed by a voluntary management committee, made up of parents of previous and present children attending the group. It opened in 1996, and operates from Kingsdown church hall in Ealing, within the London Borough of Ealing. A maximum of 26 children may attend the pre-school at any one time. It is open each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30am to 12 noon during term time. A lunch club is available until 1pm. Children have access to a secure, covered outdoor play area. There are currently 34 children aged from two years to under five years on roll, some in part time places. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four. The pre-school is registered on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The pre-school employs five staff, all of whom hold various relevant childcare qualifications. The

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Information about the setting

playgroup currently supports several children who learn English as an additional language.

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must:

 ensure that at least one person on the premises holds a current paediatric first aid certificate.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 extend opportunities for older children to think critically as they listen to stories, practise counting and begin to recognise sounds of letters so they are better prepared for school

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 extend opportunities for children who learn English as an additional language to practise their spoken English

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop assessment and planning systems so that the next steps in learning are identified with consistency

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop the use of the outdoor play space by providing opportunities for children to explore, use their senses and be imaginative.

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who attend

Staff demonstrate a generally sound understanding of the learning and development requirements. They observe children at play and make notes about their interests. This helps staff to plan activities accordingly so children are busy and engaged most of the time. Some staff relate children's achievements to their expected levels of progress using guidance documents so early interventions can be identified. However, monitoring is inconsistent so some children miss out on the next steps in their learning. Most children are involved in a range of activities which interest them. The majority of children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff are friendly and welcoming towards children, making them feel secure and happy. Parents feel welcomed into the setting and are able to communicate useful information to staff about their child's needs.

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who attend

Children explore materials at the art table creating their own collages. They express their creativity using interesting materials such as feathers, glitter and tissue paper and enjoy their time together with friends. However, children who learn English as an additional language have fewer opportunities to become confident in large group situations because they receive less support at these times. Overall, staff understand children's individual needs. They know that some boys have specific interests so they provide toy spanners and tools which the children can use in their constructions. Staff listen to children, offer cuddles and join in their play. However, the conversations between adults and children rarely promote thinking and further learning. Older children have limited opportunities to think about a story read to them, for example or to predict rhymes and begin to link sounds to letters.

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who attend

Children create imaginative sculptures such as ladybirds or birthday cakes out of modelling materials. They count the spots on the 'ladybird' and the candles on the cake. However, there are limited opportunities for children to understand the purpose of using numbers and to recognise numerals in the environment. Outdoors children ride bikes, play in push- along cars and run around. They enjoy the freedom of going in and out as they wish. Children race each other in their miniature vehicles and learn to be careful towards one another. Using a two-seater bike, a child gives her friend a ride showing that children learn to collaborate and make friends in this playgroup. However, not all the children are interested in fast cars and bikes, so some children are struggling to find interesting activities outdoors.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children, parents and staff feel happy and secure in this playgroup. Children have their own key adult as they start the playgroup, so they know who is going to be looking after them. They are able to develop secure attachments as a result and are able to share their worries within a trusting relationship. The playgroup has clear daily routines and children are familiar with staff's expectations. Transitions between activities such as play time and snack time run smoothly and children effortlessly move from one activity to another. Children learn to appreciate healthy foods in this playgroup. Morning snacks consist of fresh fruits brought in by all parents weekly. They enjoy their time together around the snack tables and this supports their increasing social skills. Staff use snack times for the most part, to promote children's speaking and listening skills.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Adults model friendly and respectful relationships and as a result children are kind towards one another in this playgroup. For example, a child gives her friend a lift on her bike outdoors. Another child helps her friend use the plastic cutter to make a sailing boat out of play-dough. Adults explain to children how to use tools safely and children know the correct way to pass a pair of scissors to a friend. Adults make children's safety a priority and the children learn to manage personal needs and to access the toilet area, accompanied by staff when necessary. The playgroup offers a large church hall as the main playroom, with plenty of natural light, well ventilated and newly refurbished. Overall, the play environment is well organised and children independently access resources they need in their games. This helps children to become confident and prepared for their next stage in their lives in school.

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provision

Staff show a generally good understanding of the learning and development and welfare requirements. The manager and the deputy manager are fully engaged in the life of the nursery. They read stories to children and join in their play throughout the session. This means that they continue to lead by example and create an atmosphere where staff feel part of a team. The manager, who is new in post, is in the process of consulting with staff on improved systems of monitoring children's progress. Staff make detailed observations of children's interests and learning styles using this information when they plan activities. This results in children being busy and enjoying the play experiences available in this playgroup. Most staff assess children's attainments in line with expectations given in early years guidance documents. This supports children making relatively good progress towards their early learning goals. However, planning for specific next steps in learning is

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provision

inconsistent, which means that children do not always fully achieve their full potential.

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provision

Children are safe because the playgroup makes safeguarding a priority. There are rigorous recruitment systems to ensure all adults are suitable to work with children. Staff demonstrate a secure knowledge of child protection issues and undertake regular checks of the environment. This minimises the risk of accidents. The manager and the staff team regularly evaluate the provision. They have regular meetings in which they discuss possible improvements to the provision. Although the manager has been in post for a very short time, she has already consulted staff and parents on introducing healthy foods at the morning snacks.

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provision

The manager is successful at integrating staff's knowledge and practice in improvement plans. The playgroup collaborates with outside agencies such as the local authority early years advisors and health professionals, for the benefit of the children. Parents are welcome to exchange information about their children with staff on a daily basis, so that children's needs receive a consistent response. The manager communicates regularly with parents through newsletters, informing them about events and developments in the playgroup. Staff meet with parents at certain times in the year, to discuss children's progress and to work together towards children's wellbeing.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 118187 Local authority Ealing Inspection number 900355

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Type of provision

Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 34 Name of provider Splash and Dash Pre-School Playgroup Date of previous inspection 30/09/2010 Telephone number 020 8566 2182 07786837637

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Type of provision

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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