The Lindens

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

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 June 2018 11 September 2017

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 Staff do not gain individual written parental permission for specific medication and they do not keep a detailed record of each time the medication is administered to children.  The owner/manager does not monitor children's progress well enough, to help identify and close any gaps in learning quickly between different groups of children.  Staff do not recognise children's emerging interests to provide sufficient challenge during activities to extend children's learning even further.  Staff do not support children's next steps in learning effectively. For example, quieter, less-confident children are not encouraged to become actively engaged in activities with other children, to further support their social skills.

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It has the following strengths

 Overall, most children are happy, and develop the confidence to make choices in their play and learning. Children have warm relationships with staff and demonstrate they feel safe and secure in their environment.  Children develop their independence skills well. They learn about how to keep themselves safe as they undertake tasks, such as when they use gardening tools.  Parents comment they are very happy with the care provided and the daily information they get about their child's day.

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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

 ensure written parental permission for each particular medicine has been obtained and keep a written record each time the medication is administered to a child 27/06/2018

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Due Date

 ensure assessment information is used effectively to identify and close any gaps in learning between different groups of children 27/06/2018

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Due Date

 provide more challenge for the most able children during activities to help them to make even better progress in their learning and development. 27/06/2018

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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

 consider ways to encourage the quieter and less-confident children to socialise, become involved and fully engaged in the available activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and staff interactions with children, inside and outside the setting.  The inspector had a meeting with the owner/manager and offered a joint observation opportunity.  The inspector spoke to children, staff and several parents at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children, and looked at the provider's improvement plan.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's records, safeguarding procedures and other written policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are suitably aware of whom to contact if they have any child protection concerns about children in their care. The owner/manager monitors children's attendance satisfactorily. For example, staff contact parents if their child does not arrive when expected. The owner/manager has improved staff supervision procedures, identifying staff training needs, and keeps their knowledge up to date with the Steiner approach. However, staff interactions with children and the quality of teaching are not consistently good. The owner/manager does not effectively monitor children's progress to help her close any gaps in learning as quickly as possible. Staff have built good partnerships with parents. They share verbal information with parents daily when they collect their children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend children's learning based on their interests. Although staff complete basic observations and assessments, and identify children's next steps, they do not effectively provide the support children need to achieve their next steps in learning. Nevertheless, children are able to move around confidently and most children access activities freely. They learn how to problem solve, such as when building with crates. They work out how to stack the crates safely so they can climb into them to sit. Children are creative, for example, using chalks to draw faces on the slabs outside. They use leaves for eyes and a mouth, and sprinkle sand around for the hair.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Most children develop their confidence and independence. They choose activities and interact with each other well. However, some quieter, less-confident children tend to stand back and watch others play, and have limited interactions with staff and other children. This does not support their social skills effectively. Children are well behaved. They listen to staff and respond positively. For example, when staff start to sing a song, children understand it is time to tidy up. Children take responsibility for completing tasks, such as cutting up the fruit for snacks, using knives competently and safely. Children enjoy playing in the outside area, developing their imagination. Staff have improved children's understanding about personal hygiene practices. Children now wash their hands before preparing food. However, staff do not obtain the required written parental permission to administer specific medication to children, to fully support their welfare.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children develop some skills they need to be ready for school, such as dressing themselves as they prepare to go outside and a familiarity with routines. Most children are articulate and can express themselves well. However, they do not all make good progress across all areas of learning, due to inconsistent teaching and support from staff. Children are well behaved. Older children show care and concern for the younger children in the group.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101718 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1114306 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 16 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person The Lindens

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 September 2017 Telephone number 01453 762526

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reference number

The Lindens registered in 1985. It is situated in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It opens each weekday from 9am to 12.30pm, during term times only. The kindergarten follows the Steiner education principles. There are three member of staff, including the owner/manager. Two staff have completed Steiner early years teacher training at level 3. 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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