Earlybirds Childcare CIC

Earlybirds Childcare CIC Tamar Folk Childrens Centre, Victoria Road Primary School, Trelawney Avenue, St Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 1RH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 August 2016 22 October 2012

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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:

 The management team does not ensure all staff are aware of the possible safeguarding signs and symptoms to ensure they protect children's welfare.  The management team does not effectively monitor how well staff assess younger children's learning needs, to ensure they consistently identify key next steps that target children's specific needs, to help them make good progress in all areas of their learning.  Staff do not always extend opportunities for older children to think things through and engage more in conversations.

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It has the following strengths

 Children enjoy the range of activities available. Staff support older children well to make decisions. For example, they take votes on which theme they would like in the role-play area.  Staff work well with parents and encourage them to support their children's learning at home. Staff meet children's personal needs well. They communicate effectively with each other and parents, for example, by using daily diaries that show the care practices and routines they follow, to support children's well-being.  Staff prepare children well for moving on to school. For example, they take the children to visit the adjoining primary school, so they become familiar with the environment and teachers.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure all staff are alert to the possible indicators that children may be at risk of harm, to ensure they can take prompt action to protect children's welfare 26/08/2016

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Due Date

 develop the assessment process to link what children need to learn next more closely to their specific needs, to ensure all children make good progress in their learning. 11/11/2016

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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

 extend opportunities for older children to develop their thoughts and engage in discussions further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to children and engaged in activities with them.  The inspector observed interactions between staff and children.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including children's assessments, staff supervision notes and safeguarding policies.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector viewed comments from parents about their views on the provision.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The management team and staff are clear about procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child. However, not all staff are familiar with possible signs that children may be at risk, to ensure they can take prompt action. The management team supports staff well overall, to monitor the quality of teaching and identify any training needs. This has led to staff providing more activities to develop children's early writing skills. Overall, the management team uses self-evaluation well to identify areas to develop. This has led to improvements to children's handling and enjoyment of books from a young age, and engaging parents more in reading to their children. The management team does not effectively monitor how well staff assess younger children's progress, to ensure their support matches children's learning needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff's assessments of the younger children does not always accurately focus on children's key next steps, meaning staff do not always target their support where it is needed, for example, in children's language skills, to help them make good progress. Staff provide good opportunities for children to build on previous learning. For example, following a recent baking activity, older children enjoy making 'cupcakes' in the mud kitchen and toddlers practise pouring sand, although staff miss opportunities to extend older children's thinking and conversations more. Staff help children learn about the wider world; for example, older children try food from different countries.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Not all staff have a secure understanding of safeguarding, to ensure they can fully protect children at all times. Children enjoy being physically active outdoors. For example, older children attend forest school sessions and play with balls. Babies become confident in moving about. They push prams and 'clean' bikes with water and brushes. Staff support older children well to learn about nature, such as returning insects to where they belong. Children develop good self-esteem and confidence. They are happy and have secure attachments with staff. Staff working with the younger children do not always target children's key next steps, to help them gain a stronger sense of achievement.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children learn about their local community and environment through visits to the local supermarket, beach and gardens with staff. Younger children enjoy exploring different natural resources, such as sand, water and pinecones. However, they do not always benefit from staff support that focuses on their key next steps, such as developing their language, so that they make good progress across all areas of learning. From a young age, children learn about their feelings and behave well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY447532 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 1059375 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 - 11 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 119 Name of registered person Earlybirds Childcare CIC

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 October 2012 Telephone number 01752 431609

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reference number

Earlybirds Childcare CIC registered in 2012. It operates from Tamar Folk Children's Centre in the St Budeaux area of Plymouth. The provision is open each weekday from 7.45am until 5.45pm, all year round. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 17 members of staff; one is an early years teacher and 16 members of staff hold qualifications between levels 2 and 6.

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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

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

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