Blossom Preschool

Blossom Preschool Kirby Cane Memorial Hall, Yarmouth Road, Kirby Cane, BUNGAY, Suffolk, NR35 2HQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 February 2017 3 July 2013

p.1

3

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

p.1

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

 Staff do not always know children's next steps in learning and do not challenge them enough during activities. Opportunities they plan for children are not accurately targeted to their developmental needs to help them to make good progress.  Staff's assessments of children's learning are inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate. They do not always complete the required progress check for children between the age of two and three years to identify if children are meeting expected developmental milestones.  The management team does not rigorously check on the quality of provision. The manager's evaluation of practice does not accurately reflect the current provision and weaker areas of practice have not been identified.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children are provided with a range of opportunities across all areas of learning. Staff consider children's requests when organising the environment and change what they offer to meet children's evolving interests.  Children build secure bonds with staff. They listen and respond well to staff's instructions and are happy to play alongside them. Children develop their confidence and self-esteem as staff praise their efforts and achievements often.  Children learn to become increasingly independent as staff encourage them to try small tasks for themselves. They are eager to help tidy away toys and are able to manage their self-care needs according to their age and level of development.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all children experience engaging and challenging experiences which are carefully planned and accurately targeted to promote children's next steps in learning and support them to make good progress 07/03/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure staff complete precise and accurate assessments for each child, including the required progress check for children between the age of two and three years, in order to sufficiently review and check on the progress children make. 07/03/2017

p.2

Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

Due Date

 implement a more rigorous approach to monitoring provision to identify and target weaker areas of practice at the earliest opportunity and ensure children have high- quality learning experiences.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with one of the pre-school managers.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school managers. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The manager's monitoring and evaluation of provision are not effective in identifying where improvements need to be made to maintain good quality provision. Staff do not robustly monitor children's progress to ensure they continue to achieve well. They do not always complete the required progress check for children aged between two and three years and where they do, this is inconsistent with other assessment and monitoring information kept about the children. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are aware of how to report their concerns about children's welfare and managers have secure procedures in place to contact appropriate agencies where they are concerned that a child is at risk of harm. The small staff team works closely together and communicates well with each other. Less experienced staff are supported to gain a childcare qualification to help them to improve their skills and knowledge.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not have high enough expectations of what children can achieve. Some activities lack challenge and are not planned well enough to promote children's engagement and concentration. Staff do not rigorously identify children's next steps in learning and are sometimes unsure of how to extend and enhance children's learning as they interact with them. Children enjoy the activities on offer at the pre-school. They take part in craft activities. They paint, glue and stick objects using a variety of tools on offer. Staff introduce simple counting and encourage children to identify colours. Children listen well as staff read stories to them. Staff interact with children as they play and talk to children about their home life to support their language skills. Parents comment positively about the pre-school and share information about children with the staff. Staff share children's records with parents to keep them informed about their child's day.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff do not keep parents fully informed of children's development. They do not provide parents with, or seek their input into assessments of children, such as the progress check for children between the age of two and three years. Healthy eating is promoted in the pre-school. Children eat a healthy snack and are encouraged to try new fruit. Staff show children whole fruit so that they can become familiar with them. Children experience physical play indoors and out. They take part in an exercise session and learn about the effect of exercise on their bodies. They learn that they need to rehydrate themselves after physical activity. Children demonstrate suitable behaviour as staff encourage them to share resources and to be kind to others.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Children do not make good enough progress. They sometimes lack enthusiasm to learn and do not always show high levels of engagement in activities. However, children do develop some skills to prepare them for the next stage in their learning, such as school. They listen well to staff and develop appropriate social skills as they play alongside others and invite them to join in their play. Some children are keen to identify, and learn how to write their name.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY457645 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1066585 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Blossom Preschools Partnership

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 July 2013 Telephone number 01508518809

p.4

reference number

Blossom Preschool was registered in 2013. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 8.30am until 4pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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