Maidstone Nursery Pre-School and Holiday Club

Maidstone YMCA Pre- School Maidstone YMCA, Melrose Close, Cripple Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6BD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 September 2016 17 September 2012

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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

 Leaders' self-evaluation is accurate and includes the views of parents, staff and children. For example, the outdoor area and resources have been enhanced to give children more opportunities to develop across all areas of their learning.  The staff work well together as a team. They model positive relationships which help children learn how to behave towards others. Children learn and understand boundaries well. Their good behaviour shows that they feel safe.  Relationships with parents are strong. Staff engage and involve parents effectively in the pre-school and in their children's learning. Parents value the bonds that staff have with their children and appreciate staff's support and the good-quality care.  Staff undertake observations and assessments of children's development and use this information to help them identify next steps in learning, which they incorporate into the planning of activities. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently support all children learning English as an additional language effectively.  Staff do not make good use of opportunities to help children practise their early writing and mark-making skills.

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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

 extend opportunities to help and support children with English as an additional language  provide children with more opportunities to develop their early handwriting skills.

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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, 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.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders continually improve the quality of staff practice and they provide regular training and individual support. For example, following training on 'outcomes for boys', staff improved how they support boys to share their feelings into their favourite imaginative play and have tracked an increase in progress in this area for boys. Staff communicate well with other settings that children attend to share relevant information. This helps provide a consistent approach to children's care and learning. Leaders regularly monitor children's progress and make sure that activity planning takes into account any gaps in learning for individuals and specific groups. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge about child protection. They are aware of the procedures to follow and how to report any concerns for children's welfare. Staff understand their role in preventing children being drawn into situations which put them at significant risk of harm.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good, secure knowledge of how to support children's individual learning needs. For example, staff repeat letter sounds clearly to improve children's developing 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 a wide range of resources well to engage children. For instance, the children enthusiastically used real tools and resources at the 'car wash' in the outdoor area. The activity positively encouraged turn taking and children's thinking skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The setting has a welcoming environment. Staff have a caring approach and a well- established key-person system helps children form secure attachments and supports their well-being and skills for the future. For example, at snack times the children help prepare their own food and pour their own drinks. Staff encourage children to be physically active and develop their awareness of healthy lifestyles. For example, children help grow fruit and vegetables in the garden. Leaders and staff actively support diversity. For example, children explore different festivals through planned activities.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children use their imagination well, for example, they use blocks to create an 'animal land' in their imaginative play. They also enjoy bringing stories to life by sharing their real-life experiences. Children show good levels of independence and they are prepared well for their next stage in learning or school. They freely move between the indoor and outdoor areas, taking the lead and following their chosen play experiences. For instance, the older children set up 'home' in the quiet area, identifying their own roles as family members and using various resources to represent household objects.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY419802 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1058971 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Maidstone YMCA

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 September 2012 Telephone number 01622 749404

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reference number

Maidstone YMCA Pre-School registered in in January 2010. It operates from a purpose- built unit within a sports and community centre situated in Maidstone, Kent. The pre- school is open each weekday from 9am to 6pm for 38 weeks of the year. The setting receives funding for free education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 14 members of staff, including the manager, 10 of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification with one of them working towards a qualification.

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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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