Early years · Early years inspection (CIF)
PSD Ltd Children's Centre
Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Inspection datesingle source
18 Mar 2014
- Inspectors verified
Samantha Smith
- Overall effectivenesssingle source
Requires improvement
- Postcode verified
N18 1PA
- Name on report verified
PSD Ltd Children's Centre
- URN verified
EY409370
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
Join free to get a short, plain-English summary of any report.
Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- OverallRequires improvement
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
Reads more critically than most reports of this type graded Requires improvement.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No standout praise found.
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Children are happy and content in the setting, where they have established positive relationships and close attachments with staff. p.1
- Children have regular opportunities to engage in outdoor activities and systems are in place to promote their health. p.1
- There are suitable systems in place to support children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs. p.1
- The educational programmes, particularly for the older children lack depth and breadth across the seven areas of learning and therefore children are not always being challenged in their play. p.1
- Some staff lack skills in observations and assessments, which means that they are unable to monitor, track or make assessments on children's progress effectively. p.1
- Some group times, particularly lunch and circle time are not organised effectively to meet children's individual needs or to enable children to increase their independence skills. p.1
- Some parents are unaware of their child's key person. p.1
- Babies have few opportunities to explore natural resources. p.1
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 11
- Words of findings
- 1,837
- longer than usual (typical 773)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 45, typical 48
- Average sentence
- 18 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 8
- Hedged sentences
- 17%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
PSD Ltd Children's Centre St Aldhelm's Church Hall, Windmill Road, London, N18 1PA
p.1
Inspection date
Previous inspection date 18/03/2014 26/10/2010
p.1
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
p.1
This provision requires improvement
Children are happy and content in the setting, where they have established positive relationships and close attachments with staff. Children have regular opportunities to engage in outdoor activities and systems are in place to promote their health. There are suitable systems in place to support children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs.
p.1
It is not yet good because
The educational programmes, particularly for the older children lack depth and breadth across the seven areas of learning and therefore children are not always being challenged in their play. Some staff lack skills in observations and assessments, which means that they are unable to monitor, track or make assessments on children's progress effectively. Some group times, particularly lunch and circle time are not organised effectively to meet children's individual needs or to enable children to increase their independence skills. Some parents are unaware of their child's key person. Babies have few opportunities to explore natural resources.
p.1
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
p.2
Information about this inspection
scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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 scheduled at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
p.2
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.
p.2
Inspection activities
The inspector observed activities in all the play areas. The inspector engaged in discussions with staff, children and parents. The inspector sample documents relating to children and staff.
p.2
Inspection activities
The inspector engaged in a joint observation of the pre-school room with the manager.
p.2
Information about the setting
PSD Ltd Children's Centre registered in its new premises in 2010. It operates from a church hall in Edmonton in the London Borough of Enfield. Access to the building is at ground level directly from the adjacent footpath. The setting offers a day nursery and after school club, adult training and healthcare. The childcare provision is open every weekday, from 7.30am until 5.30pm, all year round. Children have the use of two playrooms and a secure outdoor play area. The centre is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The centre employs 11 staff in total, including four senior staff most of whom are suitably qualified. The proprietor has Early Years Professional Status. A maximum of 51 children under eight may attend the setting at any one time and, of these, no more than 15 may be under two years. Currently there are 87 children on roll, attending various sessions throughout the
p.3
Information about the setting
week. The nursery supports children who have special educational needs and/or difficulties and those who speak English as an additional language.
p.3
must:
develop the educational programme in all areas to ensure that there are a good range of resources to provide challenge for children of all ages
p.4
must:
put in place an effective training programme to support staff developing their observations and assessments skills to enable them to better track children's progress and complete appropriate assessments on children including the progress check for two year olds
p.4
must:
provide parents with up to date information about their child's key person
p.4
To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:
further develop staff's questioning skills so that they build on children's learning by encouraging them to think more frequently and increase their vocabularies
p.4
To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:
review the organisation of meal times to enable older children to develop their independence and to ensure that children do not spend long periods sitting and waiting
p.4
To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:
review the organisation of some group activities to encourage children's full participation and for staff to pitch it at an appropriate level to the children taking part
p.4
To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:
provide babies with a variety of natural resources and real objects to enable them to explore different materials
p.4
who attend
Most of the children attending come from ethnically diverse backgrounds and overall, staff demonstrate an adequate understanding of their needs and support their learning. However, the quality of teaching is not consistently good to help all children make good progress. Some staff are confident in their roles and support children's learning appropriately. For example they engage in children's play, talking to them and using appropriate levels of questioning to challenge and increase children's thinking and speaking skills. Other staff lack confidence and do not facilitate children's learning as well and their interactions do not always challenge the children. In addition, the quality of the observations and assessments is variable across the staff team. For example, some staff observe and document children's achievements well. However, others lack purpose and the identified next steps are not well aimed at promoting children's development. As a
p.4
who attend
result, the progress that children are making is variable across the group. This has been identified through recent monitoring, and support is being given to staff to help improve this.
p.5
who attend
Overall, the learning environment is sufficiently planned to cover the seven areas of learning. Babies are beginning to learn early skills to support future learning as they move around freely, showing a real interest in their environment. They show their excitement as they crawl through tunnels and have fun kicking and throwing the brightly coloured balls. This promotes their physical development well. Babies enjoy climbing on the large apparatus and have fun exploring the texture of the paints and cornflour to enable them to explore textures. The soft cushions in the room provide a comfortable place for babies to sit and look at books with staff or on their own. However, there are no resources to support their curiosity in everyday and natural resources, for example through the provision of treasure baskets. Experiences provided are not consistently of a high quality, particularly in the pre-school and toddler room. Activities in this room lack range and
p.5
who attend
depth. Although some have value and encourage children's participation, they often do not have clear learning intentions. For example, children are provided with basic provisions of paper and pencils for to practise early writing skills and there are a few displays of letters. However, they are not encouraged to take their writing further by copying, tracing or experimenting with writing in different areas of their play. In addition, while playing with the small world figures, children are not provided with additional resources to enable them to extend their imagination further. In the mathematics area, children are provided with model bears and dinosaurs for sorting. However, children are not given any instructions or provided with sorting cards. As a result, their play and learning lack purpose.
p.5
who attend
The setting has a number of children who speak English as an additional language and children with special education needs and/or disabilities. On the whole there are suitable systems in place to support them. Staff gather basic words in children's home language and they use these to support better engagements with children. Some staff speak the same home languages and provide regular opportunities for children to use their home language in their play. There are systems in place to support staff who are new to the role of supporting children with special educational needs. In addition, staff have developed links with other appropriate professionals in order to support children with additional needs. The setting have begun to involve parents in their children learning by asking them to share information about their children, look in their children's profile books regularly and attend progress reviews.
p.5
The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children
Overall, children are generally content and settled in their environment. They benefit from the positive relationships that they have established with staff. The key person system generally works in promoting positive partnerships with parents and supporting children in developing appropriate attachments within the nursery. However, not all parents have been informed of their child's key person.
p.5
The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children
Both the indoor and outdoor environments are suitably risk assessed and appropriate action taken to minimise potential hazards to children. The indoor environment is clean and appropriately maintained, and there are suitable hygiene practices in place, which promotes children's good health. Children have regular opportunities to engage in outdoor activities and they enjoy a suitable range of experiences. Staff regularly change children's nappies so they are comfortable. Older children independently take care of their personal needs when they visit the toilet and wash their hands. Babies and young children rest and sleep according to their needs on low-level beds. Parents provide lunches for their children and these are stored and reheated appropriately. However, the organisation of mealtimes does not support children's growing independence. This is because children spend a long time waiting for their meals to be served. Once they have finished their meal, babies are
p.6
The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children
sometimes left in their high chairs with little to do while staff clear away. In addition, other group times are not well organised to encourage children's full participation.
p.6
The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children
Behaviour is generally good; children mostly play well together and respond appropriately to staff requests. Staff set appropriate boundaries and manage children's behaviour reasonably well. They spend time on the children's level and provide them with appropriate explanations. As a result, children are receiving clear messages about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. On balance, children are generally emotionally well prepared as they move from room to room because staff provide appropriate support through these transitions.
p.6
provision
The inspection took place following a notification from an outside agency that raised concerns in relation to planning, the educational programmes, assessments, general suitability matters and qualifications, training support and skills. In addition, there were concerns raised about the premises, key person and child supervision, staff deployment, managing behaviour.
p.6
provision
The inspection found that the premises are suitably maintained, but resources to promote children's learning are limited in some areas. Staff ratios are met and overall, staff are suitably deployed to supervise children. The educational programmes for children across the seven areas of learning lacked depth and provide little challenge or scope for children to take their learning further. In addition, the quality of some observations and assessments were not consistent with good practice, because some staff lacked the skills to enable them to monitor and track children's progress effectively. Some parents are not aware of their child's key person. Most staff are suitably qualified. Children's behaviour is managed appropriately, and they are generally well behaved.
p.6
provision
Overall, the nursery is sufficiently managed and safeguarding and welfare requirements are being adequately met. The required policies and procedures are in place, in line with requirements and appropriately understood and implemented by staff. The provider and staff demonstrate a sound understanding of their roles in safeguarding and promoting children's welfare. They are aware of signs and symptoms that may cause them concern and they know the procedures to follow should they need to report their concerns. All staff are currently renewing the checks to ensure that they continue to be suitable to work with children and there are suitable induction procedures in place for new staff and students.
p.6
provision
Regular risk assessments are carried out for both the indoor and outdoor environment and suitable action taken to minimise potential hazards. This promotes children's safety on the premises. Overall, the nursery encourages positive partnerships with parents. Staff welcome them on arrival and keep them regularly updated about their children's progress and parents are beginning to contribute towards their children's learning as they attend progress reviews and share their observations of their children.
p.7
provision
The nursery demonstrates a reasonable capacity to improve. There are systems for performance management in place and staff are being supported in improving aspects of their practice where they are not strong. At present the setting does not work closely with the local authority, although the registered person advises that she is keen to work on this in order to improve the quality of the provision and by accessing further training opportunities for staff.
p.7
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
p.7
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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement action. 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
p.8
Grade Judgement Description
the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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.
p.8
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.
p.9
Setting details
Unique reference number EY409370 Local authority Enfield Inspection number 960744 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 51 Number of children on roll 87 Name of provider Professional Support and Development Ltd Date of previous inspection 26/10/2010 Telephone number 07871 487 597
p.9
Setting details
set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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.
p.9
Type of provision
For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:
p.9
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.
p.9
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.
p.9
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, which are usually the childminder’s own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.
p.10
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,
p.10
Type of provision
If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.
p.11
Type of provision
T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk
p.11
Discuss this inspection
Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.
Join the discussion