The Kindergarten

The Kindergarten The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Church Lane, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 3NL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 September 2016 15 September 2015

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 Assessments of children’s development do not show children’s starting points or the progress they make over time.  Staff do not receive regular supervision and the monitoring of the quality of teaching is not robust enough to ensure any weakness in staff practice is identified and addressed quickly.  Confidential information relating to staff recruitment and suitability is stored away from the setting, therefore, this is not available for inspection.

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It has the following strengths

 Interaction and encouragement from staff are good and there are positive relationships between adults and children throughout the setting. Staff make sure children are ready for the next steps in their learning.  Staff support children who speak English as an additional language and children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities well. The setting has positive working relationships with other agencies and works with them to support the needs of the individual children they care for.  Partnership with parents is good. Parents are happy with the care their children receive. Staff offer support and advice on how to further promote learning opportunities within the home environment.

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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

 ensure assessments of children’s development show children’s starting points and the progress they make over time 16/09/2016

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Due Date

 take steps to develop supervision arrangements to ensure they support staffs continuous improvement and personal effectiveness 16/09/2016

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Due Date

 ensure records relating to staff recruitment and suitability are stored securely and that they are available for inspection 16/09/2016

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspectors looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures, planning and assessment records and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspectors took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspectors carried out joint observations with the nursery manager.  The inspectors spoke with the registered provider/manager, staff and children at appropriate times throughout the day.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff have a good understanding of how to safeguard children in their care. A good range of policies and procedures support staff practice. Staff are deployed effectively across the setting to ensure that the needs of groups and individual children are met. The procedure for recruiting new staff is robust. However, there are gaps in recording information about references and this documentation is not easily accessible. The staff team work together very closely and are confident to raise anything of concern with the manager. However, supervision arrangements for staff are not fully embedded and do not ensure that staff have suitable opportunities to discuss their own development or talk about the children they have key responsibilities for.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff are interested in what children say and respond positively to their conversations. Staff ask questions and give children time to respond, supporting them to develop their thinking and communication skills. For example, when looking at a book with a child they used questions to encourage a child to think about what they were seeing and what they thought the fireman was doing. The child was encouraged to make links to things in their own environment as they spoke about reflective strips on the fireman's outfit and the reflective jackets they wear on outings. Children who speak English as an additional language or who are not yet communicating confidently are supported in their communications. Staff use pictures of common objects to reinforce the words being used, encouraging children to try to say the words and helping them make links between words and objects. Observations of children show what they can do and planning takes into

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

account group and individual next steps for children. However, assessment of children’s progress is not robust enough and it is difficult for staff to see what progress children are making.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff have very good relationships with the children. Children behave well and staff praise their efforts. Settling in periods are adapted to take account of children’s individual needs and staff are very caring towards children, providing comfort and support as needed. Staff offer appropriate levels of support during activities and give them time to practice and try out different ways of doing things. Children’s independence skills are well promoted. Older children are encouraged to make choices about what they want to eat and drink, and wash their hands. Younger and older children are asked to help clear activities away and praised for their efforts.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are well supported in their transition to school. The setting provides opportunities for children to explore what this might mean for them through role play, books and support to be independent. Local schools are invited into the setting to see children who will be moving up to school, further supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY248015 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1047833 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 53 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Jodi Donnell

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 September 2015 Telephone number 01604 631033

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reference number

The Kindergarten was registered in 2002. There are 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 9 members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 3. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The setting is in receipt of nursery education funding for two-, three- and-four-year-old children.

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

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