St Thomas Childrens Centre

St Thomas Childrens Centre Wyberton Low Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7RZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 February 2016 20 July 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager and deputy are committed to the ongoing development of the setting. They value the views of committee members, staff and parents in their effort to effectively evaluate practice. A clear action plan is in place to drive improvement.  The deputy manager has developed links with other early years settings that children attend to help staff support continuity in learning. Information is shared about children's next steps in development and the progress they are making. Staff in the out-of-school club provide children with activities that compliment the learning taking place in school.  Staff play alongside children and talk with them about their experiences and interests. They help children to develop good social skills and confidence in mixing with children and adults.  Children build strong bonds and secure emotional attachments with the staff who are all caring and attentive to what children say and do.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not involve parents sufficiently in establishing whether children are developing their home language skills in line with expectations.  The programme for professional development is not effective enough to raise the quality of teaching to the highest standard possible and help staff to achieve excellent outcomes for all children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 involve parents more in sharing information that contributes to an accurate assessment of their children's progress in learning their home language  strengthen professional development opportunities for staff and increase the potential to achieve excellent standard of teaching throughout the centre.

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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 a joint observation with the centre manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the centre manager and deputy manager.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the centre's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the centre.  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 is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The provider has ensured that suitability checks are now being carried out for all committee members. Staff know and understand the procedures to follow if they are concerned about children's welfare. The manager and deputy manager ensure that they keep abreast of changes to legislation and cascade this information to the staff team. Children are well prepared for when they move on to school. Teachers from the school visit the children at the centre and relevant information is shared effectively with them. Staff work very well in partnership with other professionals to support disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is good overall. Staff skilfully extend children's learning experiences, joining in their play and introducing new words and ideas. Children build a house from bricks and stones. They use soil to cement the bricks together. Staff talk to the children about how the wolf will blow their house down. Children join in with staff saying, 'Huff and puff until I blow your house down'. Older children's early literacy skills are progressing very well. They enjoy letter and sound games and songs with actions that build further on what they already know. Children are beginning to have an awareness of their local community. Visits from the fire department and dental nurse help to extend children's knowledge of the different roles adults play in society. Key persons speak regularly with parents and keep them well informed about their children's progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's independence is promoted very well. They enjoy having the responsibility of serving themselves food at mealtimes, pouring their own drinks and clearing away their things when they have finished. The atmosphere throughout the centre is particularly calm and children thrive in the relaxed and happy environment. Staff make the most of the different outdoor spaces available to them to support children's physical development. Children play together excitedly as they run up and down the hill. Children develop coordination and balance as they walk along planks of wood pushing a wheelbarrow. Children behave very well and respond positively when staff ask them do something. For example, they willingly tidy up or finish an activity when asked.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points. Additional funding is used effectively to support children's learning and development. Children are very sociable and take responsibility for managing the daily routine. They take turns in shaking a tambourine and say, 'Five minutes' before it is time to tidy up. Children gain the key skills to support their future learning, and eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253443 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 1022876 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 11 Total number of places 68 Number of children on roll 179 Name of provider St Thomas' Children's Centre Committee Date of previous inspection 20 July 2015 Telephone number 01205 311 227

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Setting details

St Thomas Childrens Centre was registered in 2001. The centre employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The centre opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.50am until 3pm. The centre provides out-of-school care for older children. Sessions are from 7.45am until 8.40am and 3.10pm until 6pm. The centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who speak English as an additional language and disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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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

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

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