Portland Kindergarten Limited

Portland Kindergarten Limited 33 - 35 Tentercroft Street, Lincoln, LN5 7DB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 March 2017 23 January 2014

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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

 The manager regularly gathers information from parents and staff to help her identify improvements. Recent changes to the outdoor area have broadened children's learning experiences.  Staff help children to develop an excellent understanding of their local community. For example, staff take children to the library, museums and art galleries.  Staff use observations and assessments closely to identify children's levels of learning and what they need to learn next. Children make good progress from their starting points.  Staff are consistent in their approach to managing children's behaviour. They provide children with lots of praise and talk to them about their own and others' feelings.  Staff speak a range of different languages and they talk to children and families in their home language when they first arrive. This helps children to feel emotionally secure and provides them with familiarity.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently share information about children's interests and achievements with other early years settings children attend.  The systems used to monitor the effectiveness of staff training are not yet fully embedded to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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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

 gather more detailed information about children's interests and achievements from all other early years settings that children attend, in order to complement children's learning experiences further  develop further the systems used for monitoring the effectiveness of staff training to promote high-quality teaching, to help children make the best possible progress.

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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 the kindergarten manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the kindergarten manager, deputy manager and administrator. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the kindergarten.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff place high priority on keeping children safe. They have completed child protection training and have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff help children to understand how to keep themselves safe when walking in the street and talk to them about crossing the roads safely. The manager and deputy manager support staff through supervision, appraisal meetings and regular discussions. The deputy manager monitors the progress made by individuals and groups of children well. She liaises with staff about ways to continue to support children's good progress. Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff share information about children's achievements and support parents to continue their child's learning at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff help children to explore their ideas through play. They provide babies with textured balls in paint and encourage them to make marks as they roll the ball across paper. Babies explore the texture of paint on their hands. Staff give babies praise as they encourage them to share toys. This helps to raise their self-esteem. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. Staff support children's communication and language skills well. They use songs and rhymes to reinforce changes in routine. Children enjoy joining in with group games where they sing songs and join in with actions. Staff work alongside other agencies to deliver activities to support children's physical exercise. Children throw and kick balls to develop their coordination.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy, confident and well-occupied. The range of resources and activities provided covers the different areas of learning and children can access these independently. Staff give children small tasks to complete which helps to give them a sense of responsibility. For example, older children help to wipe tables and prepare for snack time. Staff provide children with a range of healthy snacks and meals. Children's art work is displayed around the kindergarten which helps children to know that their work is valued and appreciated. This helps to boost their self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children play with others and constantly learn about themselves and their social and cultural world. They learn key skills to help them to be ready for their move on to school. All children, including those in receipt of funding, make good progress from their starting points. Older children develop their literacy skills and begin to recognise their name. They use paint and brushes to develop their early writing skills. Toddlers explore cause and effect, for example, as they put large stones down a ramp.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253508 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 1087722 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person Portland Kindergarten Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 January 2014 Telephone number 01522 528524

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reference number

The Portland Kindergarten Limited was registered in 1990. The kindergarten employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, seven at level 3 and two at level 2. The kindergarten opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8.15am until 5.30pm. The kindergarten provides funded early education 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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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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