The Lindens

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

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 September 2017 16 May 2017

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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

 Staff do not consistently take into account the needs of the children when supervising play environments and activities, to make sure children are supported as well as possible in their play and exploration.  Although the manager has reviewed the safeguarding policy and shared this with staff, some staff still do not understand fully their roles and responsibilities for maintaining the safety and welfare of children.  Systems for the management and supervision of staff are not well established. The manager does not seek opportunities for professional development to support staff practice, other than the mandatory training required.  Staff do not provide sufficient support for children's personal hygiene routines, to help children understand their importance in preventing cross-infection or contamination. For example, children are not consistently encouraged to use individual cloths for washing and drying hands, or to wash their hands before preparing food.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff communication with children is good. All children are articulate and confident in their interactions with others.  Staff have good relationships with parents. They regularly exchange information with them. Children benefit from consistent experiences at home and in the setting.  Children enjoy making choices in their play and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure the safety of all children is maintained, including through appropriate supervision of children to take into account different circumstances and play environments 13/11/2017

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Due Date

 ensure systems for monitoring staff are implemented well to support staff in understanding their roles and responsibilities, including understanding fully their duties to safeguard children. 13/11/2017

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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 personal hygiene routines to support children in understanding the importance of preventing cross-infection or spreading germs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors, and talked with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss the improvements made since the last inspection.  The inspector discussed the policy changes with staff and their understanding of safeguarding children.  The inspector sampled paperwork, including the Secretary of State's agreed modifications to the early learning goals for the setting, the new safeguarding and complaints policies, staff meeting minutes, policies and procedures, and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Since the last inspection, the manager has improved safeguarding and complaint policies and practice. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and other staff have attended training to make sure they have up-to-date information on safeguarding children. However, although staff know how to act in the event of concerns about a child's welfare, some staff are still unsure about their full role and responsibilities. The manager does not monitor staff effectively to enhance the growth of their skills and understanding, to benefit children as well as possible.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff watch the children carefully and use activities well to support their interests. For example, they praise children's efforts and discuss in detail the steam train and rainbow pictures children create using paint. Staff celebrate children's achievements, including through praising and encouraging children as they proudly show how they have learned to write their names. Staff encourage children to think and solve problems. For instance, they support children as they work out where to put the wooden crates to build 'speedboats' or how to keep the materials on the crates to make dens.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Generally, staff are suitable role models for children. For example, they encourage children to be kind, such as saying 'please' and 'thank you' when giving or receiving toys. However, staff do not always supervise children well in the outdoor area or help children learn why it is important to use their own cloths to wash their hands if they are dirty, or before preparing food, to stop germs spreading. Children take part in special celebrations, including through singing songs. The enjoy listening to stories, blowing out candles on a cake and sharing the cake with everyone. Children show a good sense of belonging. For instance, they are eager to be chosen as 'servers' to hand out food to their friends at snack time, or as 'helpers' to support staff setting up activities or clearing away the toys.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are generally engaged well in activities. They eagerly explore the outdoor area, collecting hazelnuts, cracking open the shells to eat the nuts inside. Children competently climb up and down the steps to the play house, collect mud in the wheelbarrow and negotiate the way down the sloped path avoiding the other children. Children use their imagination and work together well. For instance, they create elaborate storylines, decide which characters they will be and have secret gateways that need passwords to pass through. All children develop good independence skills. For example, they use knives to put spread and jam onto rice cakes for snacks, help set the table, and wash the cups and plates up afterwards. Children are well supported for moving on in their learning and to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101718 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1099428 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 - 8 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person The Lindens

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 May 2017 Telephone number 01453 762526

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reference number

The Lindens registered in 1985. It is situated in Stroud, in Gloucestershire. It opens each weekday, from 9am to 12.30pm, during term times only. The kindergarten follows the Steiner education principles. The kindergarten employs three staff. Two staff have completed Steiner early years teacher training at level 3 and 4. At the time of this inspection, the provider had 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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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