The Lindens

The Lindens The Lindens, Lower Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2HT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 May 2017 8 May 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Safeguarding policies and procedures do not follow Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.  All staff are not trained in implementing the safeguarding policy, including dealing with allegations against a member of staff. This means that staff do not have the required knowledge to act appropriately to help protect children from harm or abuse.  The complaints procedure does not include all required information to ensure that complaints are handled correctly and parents are fully aware of the process.  The manager does not reflect effectively on the provision to ensure requirements are met, weaknesses identified and action taken to improve outcomes for children.  Staff do not consistently make the most of children's current fascinations to motivate and extend their learning fully.

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It has the following strengths

 The clear daily routines and the calm and settled atmosphere which staff create help children feel happy and secure. Children are friendly, cooperative and behave very well.  Staff create rich environments inside and in the garden, which children explore with relish. Children are confident and independent learners and make good progress.  Staff regularly share information with parents through daily discussions and regular meetings. This enables staff to meet children's individual needs well and parents to support their children's learning at home more effectively.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 devise policies and procedures to safeguard children, in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) guidance, to include allegations being made against a member of staff 18/06/2017

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Due Date

 train all staff to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and ensure they have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues 18/06/2017

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Due Date

 put in place a written procedure for dealing with concerns and complaints from parents and/or carers, which complies with early years foundation stage requirements 18/06/2017

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Due Date

 have a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email. 18/06/2017

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve self-evaluation to identify weaknesses, and act to remedy these and improve outcomes for children  enhance children's learning and development by taking greater account of their current interests and fascinations.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed and spoke with staff and children during activities inside and in the garden, and assessed the impact of teaching on children's learning.  The inspector discussed safeguarding issues and procedures with the manager and a member of staff and looked at the safeguarding and complaints policies.  The inspector discussed with the manager how they assess children's development and monitor their progress, and how they evaluate the quality of the provision.  The inspector spoke with several parents and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled relevant documentation, including the Secretary of State's agreed modifications to the early learning goals, and policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider fails to meet a number of the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register. The manager has attended safeguarding training within the last two years and is generally aware of her responsibility to protect children. However, her outdated policies and lack of staff training do not provide clear guidance for staff on what to do if they have concerns. Staff complete daily safety checks and supervise children closely to reduce the risk of accidents. The manager and staff work closely with outside professionals, such as speech and language therapists, and they visit other settings to share good practice to help them improve children's outcomes. Although self-evaluation has not identified major weaknesses in safeguarding, recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Children are encouraged to try new skills and parents' comments are used to identify improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff generally engage well with children to develop and extend their play. Children listen carefully to stories and later recall and act out the familiar tales. Staff speak very clearly and listen attentively so children are confident to express their views. Rhymes and songs help them hear the rhythm of language. Staff support children's speech development well. Staff encourage children to participate in meaningful tasks so they learn to persevere. For example, they use a hand mill to grind oats into flour for the weekly bread baking in the outdoor oven. Children have wonderful opportunities to explore nature in the garden. They relish the sensation of stomping in muddy puddles and wonder what sort of beetle they have found. Staff observe children carefully and accurately assess their development. They make sure children at risk of falling behind receive the support they need to catch up.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's welfare is at risk due to inadequate safeguarding arrangements. However, children learn to manage small risks themselves without being overly fearful. For example, they climb blocks and trees with great agility. They demonstrate a strong sense of belonging to the group as they cooperatively help with daily tasks, such as washing up, digging the garden or preparing activities for the following day. Children form good relationships with one another and become responsible and caring.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop strong social skills. They use mathematical language in their play, for example, as they count candles on a cake or lay the right number of places for a snack. They learn to solve problems, such how to dig a sand tunnel that does not collapse. Children make marks with various tools and begin to give these meanings. Many practical activities develop their coordination, which prepares them well for starting to write. Children develop the skills they need for their next stage of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101718 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1088866 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 3 - 6 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person The Lindens

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 May 2015 Telephone number 01453 762526

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reference number

The Lindens originally registered in 1985. The kindergarten is recognised by the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship and follows the Steiner education principles. It is situated in Stroud, in Gloucestershire. It opens each weekday, from 9am to 12.30pm, during term times only. The kindergarten staff consist of three practitioners, one of whom is the manager. All staff have completed Steiner early years teacher training at level 3. At the time of this inspection, the provider has been granted exemption by the Secretary of State from parts of the learning and development requirements of the early years foundation stage. These parts were excluded from this inspection.

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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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