Little Oaks Kindergarten

Little Oaks Kindergarten 85 Canterbury Road, Hawkinge, Folkestone, CT18 7BP

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 August 2016 Not applicable

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

 The staff have a secure knowledge of how children learn. This has a positive impact on children's development and they make good progress.  Staff value all children and meet their individual needs effectively. Children develop strong relationships with their key person, which helps them to feel safe and secure.  Staff are good role models for children, who learn to behave well. For example, they value and respect others.  Relationships with parents are strong. Staff use various ways to engage and involve parents effectively in the nursery and children's learning. Parents value the bonds that staff have with their children and appreciate staff's support and the good quality care.  The provider uses self-evaluation well to improve the quality of care and teaching. She and the managers promptly address any areas for improvement.  Staff support babies and toddlers effectively with a wide selection of age-appropriate

p.1

This provision is good

toys and activities, inside and outside, that are well matched to their areas for development.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make effective use of all opportunities to extend children's understanding of mathematics further.  Staff do not fully extend children's understanding and awareness of people's differences and similarities.

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

 provide children with more opportunities to develop their understanding and awareness of mathematics  build on children's understanding and awareness of people's differences and similarities in the wider world even further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and children's activities, and completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held conversations with the manager, the provider, staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector checked evidence of staff suitability checks and qualifications, and relevant policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents during the inspection.  The inspector sampled children's observations, planning and assessment records.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff are enthusiastic and work well together as a team to maintain a happy and effective learning environment. Staff communicate well with other settings that children attend to share relevant information. This provides a consistent approach to children's care and learning. The management team and staff regularly monitor children's progress. This helps to ensure that activity planning takes account of any gaps in the learning of each child and for specific groups, such as boys and girls. The processes used mean that parents can easily see their children's progress at any time. Management continually improves the quality of staff practice, for example, with regular training and ongoing individual support. Staff have a secure knowledge about child protection and know what to do if they have concerns about a child. Safeguarding is effective.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding and knowledge of how to support children's individual learning needs. For example, with young children they repeat letter sounds clearly to improve their language and communication skills. Staff gather detailed information from parents about children's interests and development at home to help them build on children's learning experiences. Staff use the wide range of resources well to engage children. For instance, children enthusiastically used exciting ingredients to make 'magic potions' in the outdoor 'mud kitchen'. The activity positively encouraged decision-making, listening skills and turn taking.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The kindergarten has a welcoming environment. Staff have a caring approach and help children grow into confident keen learners. Children arrive happily and explore their surroundings with confidence. Staff manage behaviour well. They gently reinforce the same boundaries and children know what is expected of them. Children are polite and well behaved. They share toys and involve each other in their play. All babies and children have access to good physical play opportunities. Staff encourage children's growing awareness of healthy lifestyles. For example, they provide nutritious snacks and meals, and children help to grow fruits and vegetables in the garden.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Babies and children develop well from their starting points, at a level typical for their age. This helps to prepare them effectively for the next stage in their learning or for school. Children use their imagination well, for example, as they use water sprayers with paint or collect natural items during walks to create pictures. Children have a great interest in books and stories, which helps to develop their early literacy skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY475631 Local authority Kent Inspection number 989332 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 40 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Little Oaks Early Years Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01303850203

p.4

reference number

Little Oaks Kindergarten was registered in 2014 and is located in Hawkinge, near Folkestone in Kent. It is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, throughout the year. There are 19 staff, of whom 16 hold relevant childcare qualifications. This includes four staff who have early years professional status and one member of staff who has an early years degree. The provider receives funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5