Lavender Hall Kindergarten

Lavender Hall Kindergarten The Gattinetts, Hadleigh Road, East Bergholt, Colchester, Essex, CO7 6QT

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 September 2015 8 July 2010

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff have a good knowledge of how children learn. They use this to provide a wide range of exciting and stimulating activities that promote children's development well. As a result, all children make good progress.  Children form warm, caring bonds with their key person, other staff and each other. Staff provide a well-resourced and welcoming environment where the children feel safe, happy and are confident to access resources and toys independently.  The management team are passionate and committed to improving outcomes for the children. They promote a positive working environment where staff work well together and are supported to access further training to improve their knowledge and skills.  Staff form successful relationships with parents. They regularly update them on their children's progress. Parents are well informed and effectively extend their children's learning at home.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always consider how children with different capabilities can all be fully involved when taking part in activities together.  The management's checking of staff practice is not always sharply focused enough to achieve and maintain the highest level of teaching.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 enhance the organisation of some group activities, so the learning needs of all children taking part are fully considered, to extend further the good progress they are making in their development  strengthen the monitoring of staff's practice to further improve the quality of teaching to the highest level.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed the joint observation with one of the senior kindergarten managers.  The inspector spoke to staff and held a meeting with the kindergarten managers and provider. She looked at relevant documentation, including the kindergarten's self- evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the kindergarten.  The inspector spoke to a large selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The well-qualified staff and the experienced management team have a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements and implement them well. Safeguarding is effective as staff know how to protect children from harm. Policies and procedures reflect current guidance and are robust. The management evaluate the kindergarten well. They regularly obtain the views of parents, children, staff and other professionals and set challenging but achievable targets for improvement. The management effectively oversee all children's progress. Any gaps in learning are promptly identified and swiftly addressed to ensure that all children continue to make good progress. The management check staff's assessments and planning for children to ensure they are accurate. However, they are less focused on observing and evaluating the quality of teaching in order to raise the level of practice even higher. Staff form successful

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

relationships with schools and other early years settings. They share a good amount of information to provide consistency for the children's care and learning.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know the children well through regular observations and accurate assessments of their capabilities. They use this information to plan exciting and stimulating activities that are tailored to the children's individual enthusiasms and interests. As a result, all children make good progress. However, staff sometimes focus on one age group of children during some larger group activities. They do not always adapt the activities to the highest level to fully involve all children in the group.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have many opportunities for physical exercise and access to fresh air. They play in the garden daily and attend outings to places, such as the forest and farms, with staff. Children develop good levels of independence as they are encouraged to help set up activities and attend to their own care needs. Staff provide children with healthy snacks and advise parents of healthy food choices for lunchboxes. They encourage children to have a positive attitude towards healthy eating. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They set clear boundaries and gently remind the children of these throughout the day. Staff encourage children to be aware of people's feelings and to show care and concern for each other. Children develop good social skills and staff praise them regularly for their achievements.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are well-prepared for the next stage in their learning, including the move on to school. All children make good progress given their starting points and capabilities. Children develop good physical and mathematical skills that prepare them for learning to write, count and recognise colours. Staff engage children in conversations and add new words into their vocabulary to support their communication and language development. They ask children purposeful questions that promote their critical-thinking skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 251765 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 854790 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 57 Number of children on roll 86 Name of provider Andrea Clare Lewison Date of previous inspection 8 July 2010 Telephone number 01206 299511

p.4

Setting details

Lavender Hall Kindergarten was registered in 1998 and is one of two kindergartens that are privately owned and managed. The kindergarten employs 10 members of childcare staff all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3 or 4. It also employs four administrators. The kindergarten opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The kindergarten provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Setting details

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.4

Setting details

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

p.4

Setting details

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5