Spring - Northumberland Heath

Spring - Northumberland Heath Northumberland Heath Childrens Centre, 141 Brook Street, ERITH, Kent DA8 1JD

p.1

Inspection date 21 August 2018 Previous inspection date Not applicable

p.1

3

Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

p.1

3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement

p.1

3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement

p.1

3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

p.1

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

n The systems in place to provide supervision, coaching or training are not fully effective. The arrangements lack precision in identifying and dealing with underperformance to improve teaching skills and raise the standard of staff practice. n Not all children progress as well as they should. Some staff do not plan challenging enough activities for older children to support them fully, to ensure they receive consistently good-quality interaction to help extend their learning. n The self-evaluation process is not effective enough to ensure that all areas for improvement are identified and some weaker areas of practice are addressed promptly to benefit children.

p.1

It has the following strengths

n Parents are very happy with the care their children receive, and they comment positively on the regular updates they receive about their children's development. n Healthy lifestyles are promoted well at the setting. Children enjoy healthy snacks and meals, brush their teeth after lunch and have access to the outdoors daily. n The setting's special educational needs coordinator works effectively with parents and outside agencies to help address any gaps identified in children's learning and development.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date provide effective supervision, coaching and training to improve staff's skills and knowledge, and their ability to meet children's individual needs 20/11/2018

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

improve the quality of staff's interactions with older children to consistently support their play experiences and help them to make better progress. 20/11/2018

p.2

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

n build on evaluation systems to help identify areas of development more effectively and make sure actions are taken in a timely manner.

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed children's learning. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team. n The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager and discussed children's progress with the manager. n The inspector sampled a range of documentation, such as policies, procedures and children's learning records. n The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff and took their views into account.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They discuss the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's safety and welfare. Even though the managers monitor staff's ongoing suitability to care for children, they do not fully monitor staff's effectiveness to identify some weaknesses in their teaching. Staff complete the progress check for children aged two years and track children's achievements to identify gaps in their learning. Staff and managers have a good understanding about what children should know and learn. However, managers have not put effective systems in place to tackle weaknesses in teaching.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Teaching is inconsistent. Older children are not always effectively engaged in play, and staff miss opportunities to extend children's learning. Staff's interactions with the older children are limited and do not consistently demonstrate how much fun learning can be during play. For example, when children played in the mud kitchen and started talking about needing 'loads of soil', staff did not recognise the opportunity to intervene to extend children's learning and enjoyment. However, babies thoroughly enjoy staff's attention and engagement in activities. When playing with the sensory lights in a tent, staff talk about light and dark and the different colours they can see. The younger children readily try to repeat the words, developing their communication and language skills. Staff in the baby room know the children very well and effectively support their curiosity and interest. Even though all staff take observations and make regular

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

assessments of children, they do not consistently support children effectively to achieve their next steps in learning.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Overall, children behave well. They play together, share resources and learn about turn taking, for example, when using the climbing frame in the garden. However, due to the weakness in teaching, staff miss opportunities to teach children about the behaviour expected. Staff ensure children are able to learn in a safe and enabling environment. They complete regular risk assessments and supervise children effectively, indoors and outdoors. Children from a young age are encouraged to wash their hands before snacks and meals, helping them to learn about self-care skills.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Due to the weakness in teaching, some children do not make the best progress possible. However, they gain skills needed for their future learning, including their move to school. They become independent learners, using resources in safe and appropriate ways to enrich their self-initiated play. Children are active and develop good physical skills, including fine motor skills needed for writing. For example, children are able to use chalk outdoors to draw a rocket on the floor where they can all fit in.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY539470 Local authority Bexley Inspection number 10067483 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01322 431008

p.4

reference number

Spring - Northumberland Heath re-registered in 2016. The setting operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm throughout the year. The nursery employs 13 staff, with the majority holding appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery manager holds a level 6 qualification and has early years professional status.The nursery provides funded nursery education places for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

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 monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5