Abacus Kindergarten

Abacus Kindergarten St. Johns C Of E Controlled Primary School, Clay Lane Grove, Colchester, CO4 0HH

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 January 2018 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The provider and manager have exceptional knowledge relating to child development. They provide a rich programme of learning opportunities for all children in their care. Children make outstanding progress from their starting points.  Teaching is inspirational. There is an excellent focus on learning through play and first- hand experiences. Staff ensure that activities are exciting and engaging. They provide optimum challenge and a sharp focus on what individual children need to learn next.  The key-person system is exceptional. All staff are highly skilled and sensitive in helping children form secure emotional attachments and provide an exceptionally strong base for children's developing independence and desire to explore.  Behaviour is excellent throughout the kindergarten. Staff guide and nurture children, building their confidence and self-esteem. Children's kindness towards each other is

p.1

This provision is outstanding

wonderfully inspiring.  Excellent partnership working helps to promote a complementary approach to children's learning and development between the kindergarten and home. There is an exemplary focus on fully involving parents and families in children's learning. Staff and parents eagerly talk about the children's current and emerging interests and abilities. They exchange ideas to further enhance children's progress.

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

 continue to enrich children's literary learning experiences, in order to maintain the excellent standards of learning already achieved.

p.2

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. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the kindergarten.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff are vigilant. All staff have an exceptional knowledge of what to do should they have concerns about a child's welfare. The management team are meticulous with regards to ongoing training and make it their priority to ensure that staff's safeguarding knowledge is current and up to date. There is a robust recruitment policy in place which helps to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. The provider and manager work exceptionally well together to lead a strong and experienced team. All staff have an uncompromising commitment towards improvement and enthusiastically reflect on and evaluate all aspects of the provision. They have exciting ideas to enhance their literary provision even further, in order to ensure that the excellent standard of educational programmes is maintained.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff know precisely what to do to enrich children's learning. Children's language and communication skills are superbly supported. Staff ask questions to help challenge children's knowledge, extend their thinking and compound their learning. Children are excited and eager to listen to their favourite stories. Staff support their learning superbly using resources, such as visual props and photographs, to bring the story to life. The outdoor environment is meticulously planned to engage and interest all children. For example, children enjoy investigating the well-resourced mud kitchen and exploring what happens when they add water to different flavoured tea bags.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's social and emotional development are given the highest priority. Staff are highly skilled and sensitive to both the children's and parents' needs. Children settle into kindergarten exceptionally well and form very secure emotional attachments with their key person. Children are motivated and have an exceedingly positive attitude to learning. Staff teach children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle through the promotion of a nutritious and balanced diet. They provide interesting snacks, such as exotic fruits and breads from around the world. Staff effectively use mealtimes as a wonderful opportunity to support children's understanding of the wider world by talking to them about the different foods people eat.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make consistently high rates of progress. They are very independent learners and show high levels of curiosity, imagination and concentration. Children are exceptionally confident and self-assured for their age. They are extremely well prepared for their future learning and eventual move on to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY492253 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1025867 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Abacus Learning LLP

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07432 072756

p.4

reference number

Abacus Kindergarten registered in 2015. It is one of three provisions owned by the same provider. The kindergarten employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold early years professional status, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6 and five at level 3. The kindergarten opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 9am until 2pm and 9am until 1pm on a Wednesday.

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