Childhood Centre, Harmony House

Childhood Centre, Harmony House Baden Powell Close, Goresbrook Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6XN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 July 2016 30 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 manager lead staff well to develop their practice and improve the provision. Since the last inspection, staff have developed a consistent and positive approach to support children's good behaviour. They share their expectations with children and show them how to behave appropriately with their friends.  Staff form caring relationships with children. Effective emotional support helps children progress smoothly to the next stage of learning when they move to a new age group.  Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff use a wide range of strategies to support children to develop secure language and communication skills.  Children benefit from good partnerships between staff and parents. They update each other about what children know and can do, and staff offer ideas to parents to support children's learning at home.  The manager evaluates staff practice well. She recognises strengths, identifies areas to

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This provision is good

develop accurately and takes action to improve teaching and children's outcomes.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff who jointly care for children do not always share information as effectively as possible to ensure they support these children to achieve at the highest level.  On occasion, staff do not organise small-group activities to precisely match the stage of development of younger children to further their involvement and enjoyment.

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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

 build further on communication between staff, in particular where the care of a child is shared, to ensure they provide the highest level of support for children's learning at all times  improve the organisation of small-group activities for younger children to fully reflect their interests and stage of development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children as they engaged together in activities.  The inspector viewed documentation during the inspection, such as the setting's policies and procedures, and children's assessment folders.  The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff during the inspection about children's care and the activities provided for them.  The inspector took into account the views of the parents and carers spoken to on the day.  The inspector and the manager undertook a joint observation of a teaching activity.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager understands her responsibility to protect children and implements effective policies and procedures to encourage their welfare. Staff know how to recognise and report any signs that indicate a child may be at risk of harm. The manager seeks the views of others, such as parents, to help her make positive changes to the nursery. The manager and deputy manager monitor staff performance effectively and provide opportunities for staff to develop their skills. For example, after attending training linked to literacy, staff changed their practice to enhance children's interest in words and writing. They display text that interests children throughout the learning environment and added different resources, such as magazines, that children enjoy. Well-planned and targeted use of additional funding improves children's experiences and outcomes.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children play in a welcoming environment and concentrate well. Staff support and extend children's thinking skills effectively, for example, while encouraging them to talk about their drawings and share their ideas. Staff use hand gestures and 'sign' symbols while talking to children to contribute to their understanding of language. Children enjoy creative activities, including painting, and learn how to hold and use their paint brushes with control. Staff generally know their key children well. They make regular and effective observations of what children know and can do, and usually plan suitably challenging activities to support their learning. Staff teach children about the world and help them to understand growth and change in living things.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and secure. Staff act as good role models to help children understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, they show children how to play carefully at the water tray, and teach them how to move around the setting responsibly. Children eat nutritious foods and learn how to be healthy. Children play with resources that reflect and value their backgrounds and experiences, and learn to respect similarities and differences. For example, they are proud to use family photographs on display to greet each other's families and share in a range of cultural celebrations.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those learning English as an additional language and those with special educational needs, develop skills that support their next stage of learning. They are independent, motivated learners who communicate well with others. Younger children develop good physical skills. For example, toddlers develop their hand-muscle control as they roll toy cars along the floor. Older children recognise and write their name and learn skills needed in readiness for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 100224 Local authority Barking & Dagenham Inspection number 1023667 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 0 - 5 Total number of places 79 Number of children on roll 126 Name of registered person The Sacred Hearts Sisters 1983 Charitable Fund

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 July 2015 Telephone number 020 8526 8200

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reference number

Harmony House Childhood Centre registered in 1993. It is located in Dagenham, within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The centre is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider employs 17 members of staff; of whom, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications. The provision provides funded early years education for children aged two, three and four years old, and is in receipt of early years pupil premium funding.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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