Marsh Lane Under 5's

Marsh Lane Under 5's Marsh Lane Community Association, Community Centre, Main Road, Marsh Lane, SHEFFIELD, S21 5RH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 September 2015 5 May 2010

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not always gather sufficient information from parents about what their children already know and can do. This means that planning does not consistently provide activities that are purposeful and offer sufficient challenge.  Managers do not effectively monitor the effectiveness of teaching to swiftly tackle weaknesses in practice.  The attached outdoor space lacks stimulation and provides limited opportunities for children.

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It has the following strengths

 Parents have regular meetings with staff where they can talk about their child. They are provided with a broad range of information and materials to help extended play activities at home.  Children form secure relationships with the adults who are caring for them. This helps children feel safe and settle well, particularly younger children and those who are new to the setting.  Children are well mannered and show care and respect for each other.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the monitoring of practice to identify weaknesses and use effective supervisions to raise the quality of teaching 23/10/2015

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Due Date

 develop planning further so that children are more consistently provided with purposeful activities that are sufficiently challenging 23/10/2015

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Due Date

 gather better information from parents about what children know and can do, and use this to effectively support their progress. 23/10/2015

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 create a more stimulating environment for children when playing in the adjacent outdoor area.

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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 two joint observations with the playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager, the deputy manager and the chairperson of the playgroup committee.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Following an unsettled period, a new manager has been appointed who, overall, understands the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The staff team are well qualified. However, the rigour with which leaders check and review the quality of the provision is not yet secure. There are inconsistencies in some teaching practices, which are not fully identified through the monitoring and supervision arrangements undertaken by leaders. Appropriate policies are in place and working procedures help to keep children safe. Recruitment procedures make sure that staff are suitable to work with children. Leaders and staff know what to do if they suspect a child is at risk of harm. Consequently, the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not consistently gain the most effective information from parents, in respect of children's learning. Therefore, activities do not always give children strong opportunities to make the progress they are capable of. Staff make regular observations of children's learning. Appropriate systems are in place to complete the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years. Children enjoy a range of activities. They add paint to spaghetti and use large spoons to transfer the spaghetti into weighing scales to explore the concept of heavy and light. However, activities sometimes lack purpose and do not always provide enough challenge for more-able children, who lose interest and move away. Even so, some staff have effective teaching skills. They ask questions, such as, 'how many more carrots do we need to make five?' and 'what will happen if we add another colour?'

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are happy and well settled. They have formed strong relationships with the staff and seek them out for comfort and reassurance. All children show respect and care for each other. They take turns and help each other by, for example, fetching tissues to wipe eyes and noses. Children are emotionally secure and gain useful skills in readiness for school. They are independent and most attempt to put on their own coats and outdoor shoes when going to play outside. The adjacent outdoor area at the setting lacks stimulation and does not motivate children. However, children also use the local school playground to enhance outdoor play activities. Parents report that they feel welcome at the setting and appreciate the close working relationships they have developed with their child's key person.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

While most children are making typical progress in their learning, the more-able children are not making the progress that they are capable of.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 206814 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 854416 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 18 Name of provider Marsh Lane Under 5's Committee Date of previous inspection 5 May 2010 Telephone number 01246 434234

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Setting details

Marsh Lane Under 5's opened in 1992. The setting is open five days a week during school term times and sessions are from 9.15m until 3.15pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9.15am until 12.15pm Tuesday and Wednesday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Staff have developed close links with the village school. The setting employs eight members of staff, including the manager. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

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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.

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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.

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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