Ducklings @ Monkston Park

Ducklings @ Monkston Park Monkston Park Community Centre, 10 Pimlico Court, Monkston Park, Milton Keynes, MK10 9PN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 June 2017 23 March 2015

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 leads the staff well. She regularly reviews the provision and sets clear goals for further improvements. She monitors the quality of teaching and provides encouraging guidance to all staff to help them build further on their existing good teaching skills.  The manager places a high emphasis on children's safety. She ensures that staff follow robust safety procedures and that children are always well supervised.  Staff work very well with parents. They successfully engage them in their child's learning, which has a positive impact on children's progress. They share resources and regularly invite them to spend time at the pre-school to play with their children.  Staff accurately assess each child's progress. They find out about the skills children already have and plan a range of experiences that children will enjoy and which will help them develop further. Children make good progress.

p.1

This provision is good

 Children show consistently high levels of well-being. They are enthusiastic and lively learners who thoroughly enjoy being at pre-school.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff are less effective at extending learning during times when children are engaged in play-based activities that they choose for themselves.  Sometimes, staff do not make the best use of chances to build on children's developing interest in numbers and other mathematical ideas.

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

 develop a broader range of teaching strategies to help extend children's progress when they are engaged in less structured play experiences  make further use of opportunities to support children's developing understanding of size, counting and numbers to extend their mathematical skills.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children and staff indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to staff about their understanding of child protection, safeguarding and first aid.  The inspector spoke to parents and children, and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at documentation, including policies and children's records.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider follows thorough recruitment procedures to ensure the suitability of those employed to work with children. The manager ensures all staff attend relevant training and have a strong understanding of their responsibilities in safeguarding children. The manager leads her team well to improve children's experiences further. For example, children now have more opportunities to learn about the natural world. She monitors the progress of all children, including those for whom the provider receives additional funding, to ensure that staff provide the necessary help when children are not making the best progress. She also works well with other professionals to provide this support for children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use regular training to keep their teaching skills up to date. They provide children with an interesting learning environment, indoors and outdoors. They ensure all children can take part in well-planned learning experiences. For example, they sit with younger children during story and singing times and help them focus and listen. Children learn to take turns as they work as a team to make dough for their friends to use. Staff encourage them to explore the different materials and textures as part of the process. All children develop a wide range of physical skills. They thoroughly enjoy playing chasing games, balancing and climbing, and using the large parachute.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff meet children's physical needs well. They organise the day so that children get plenty of exercise, whatever the weather. For example, on days when it is very wet and windy they provide extra opportunities for children to enjoy their energetic play indoors. Staff sit with children as they eat and talk encouragingly about the healthy foods they are enjoying. They build children's confidence well too. They encourage children to take appropriate risks, such as jumping safely off of blocks, and offer plenty of praise when children achieve new things. They teach children to be helpful and to take responsibility for daily tasks, such as helping with tidying away toys and serving their own snacks.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop a broad range of skills in preparation for their future learning. All children develop a positive view of their own and other cultures. For example, they celebrate different festivals with food, dance and messy play experiences. All children learn to behave well. Younger children who are new to the setting, build warm bonds with the adults who look after them and develop the confidence to try new experiences. Older children develop skills in preparation for the move to school. For example, they learn to recognise their names and enjoy talking about books and stories.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY437560 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1095175 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Ducklings Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 March 2015 Telephone number 07796503761

p.4

reference number

Ducklings @ Monkston Park registered in 2011 and is situated in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It is open from 9.15am to 2.30pm on Monday to Friday, during term time only. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide free early years education to children aged two, three and four years. There are five members of staff. The manager holds a relevant qualification at level 4 and all other staff hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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