Little Otters Children's Centre

Little Otters Children's Centre Marshgate, Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9YN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 May 2017 29 June 2016

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The manager and staff work closely with parents and outside agencies to support children's individual needs. Children's learning and development are monitored well by the manager to detect any areas of weakness. Prompt action is taken to increase support to close any gaps identified in children's learning; all children make good progress.  Staff know the children well and provide activities indoors and outdoors, which engage children's interest. Staff support younger children and babies well to enable them to feel safe and secure in their new environment.  Staff effectively observe children's achievements and identify their next steps of learning well. There are good procedures in place to share these with other staff members and parents, so they can work together to provide consistent support.  The manager and staff effectively evaluate and identify areas for development. For example, staff have taken part in training to further support children's communication,

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to support children to carry out some physical tasks for themselves, to further support their development.  At times, particularly in the otter's room, the noise levels causes some distraction to children's learning.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 support older children to take appropriate risks and attempt more things for themselves, to extend their development further  give consideration to reducing noise levels at times, to further promote children's concentration.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children during activities outdoor and indoor.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and parents, and sampled children's records of development and the self-evaluation form.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector viewed various documents and forms, including evidence of staff suitability, accident records, risk assessments and complaints.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of all aspects of safeguarding, including child protection procedures, and know what to do if children are at risk. Staff regularly access training and use skills learnt to support their teaching. For example, they have enhanced the use of questioning and give children time to respond and think through their ideas. The manager and staff have addressed actions and recommendations raised at their last inspection. For example, they have reviewed their planning and organisation in both rooms, so all staff can effectively support and provide suitable challenges for all children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are active learners. Overall, they persevere well during activities. For example, they listen carefully and share the sounds they hear outside. Staff effectively organise group activities and support children's preparation as they move through the nursery and on to school. For example, children learn to respect each other's views as they vote for their favourite story. Children take an active part in activities where they learn to understand numbers and develop their early writing skills well. Babies enjoy exploring different textures, such as sand and water. Staff effectively promote toddler's language, for instance, they describe activities and ask children questions to extend their speech as they dig for dinosaurs in the sand.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children eagerly enter the nursery, seeking out their friends and chatting with staff. Staff speak to parents on a daily basis, especially for the younger and new children, to effectively support and meet their physical and emotional needs. Staff are good role models, which supports children's good behaviour. Staff encourage children's self-care skills from a young age, for example, when putting on outdoor clothing and understanding why they need to wash their hands. Children talk animated about their plants they have grown from seed, such as comparing size and understand they need watering to help them survive. Children have good opportunities to play outside. In general, they enjoy being physically active, developing their coordination and balancing skills. They take part in activities to support their understanding of their environment around them.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good skills; they are confident, show an interest in learning and easily strike up conversation with adults. All children explore and investigate information technology, for example, they learn to push buttons to operate toys and older children confidently use interactive touch pads.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 103037 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 1055937 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 29 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Otters Children's Centre Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 June 2016 Telephone number 01840 261593

p.4

reference number

Little Otters Children's Centre registered in 1991. It is located on the outskirts of Otterham, near to the village of Marshgate, North Cornwall. It is open five days a week, for 50 weeks of the year, from 8am to 5.30pm. The setting receives early education funding to provide free places for children aged two, three and four years. The manager has achieved early years professional status. There are an additional nine members of staff; two of whom have early years qualifications at level 4, four who hold a qualification at level 3 and two staff who have qualifications at level 2.

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