Mount Carmel Kindergarten

Mount Carmel Kindergarten 100a Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL4 0BX

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Inspection date 12 November 2018 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n Children are highly independent at the kindergarten. For example, they tidy up the toys by themselves before lunch. Staff encourage them and help them to develop the skills they need to complete tasks for themselves. n The experienced management team supports the staff effectively. It provides the already well-qualified staff with additional opportunities to develop their professional knowledge and training even further. n Teaching throughout the kindergarten is strong. Staff ask children a range of questions and encourage them to think further about what they are doing as they learn. They encourage children to follow their interests and curiosity, and staff support their learning well. n Children are extremely well settled. They self-register as they arrive at the start of their session and settle quickly into an activity that interests them. Children confidently build strong relationships with the staff and know who to turn to if they need any help.

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The provision is good

n All children make good progress from their initial starting points. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff assess children's individual needs and starting points well and provide them with appropriate challenges and levels of support in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n On rare occasions, whole-group times are not relevant and engaging enough for all children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n review the planning and organisation of group times so that learning opportunities are more relevant and engaging for all children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector had a tour of the premises indoors and outside. n The inspector held discussions with parents whose children attend the kindergarten and took their views into consideration. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at suitable points throughout the inspection. n The inspector and the manager observed a planned activity. They discussed the quality of the teaching and the impact of the teaching on children's learning. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team and looked at a range of documentation, including policies, staff suitability documents and children's progress records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a strong understanding of the importance of children's welfare and know the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child in their care. The management team provides staff with regular opportunities to discuss their practice. It reviews policies regularly and implements new ideas and improvements effectively. Parents are highly valued partners and staff keep them well informed about the progress their children make. They work together to continue children's learning at home and value children's experiences outside of the kindergarten. For instance, they invite children to bring in and talk about items from home. Staff work well with other professionals to ensure that children's needs are met and they make as much progress as they can.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children well and interact positively with them. They encourage children to choose from the wide range of books on offer and read stories to them, which they listen to with interest. Staff support children in their individual learning well. They identify gaps in learning and quickly address these so that any gaps close rapidly. Staff support children to develop good language skills. Children's learning is linked to their own experiences. For example, staff support children to draw chalk pictures of their family and encourage them to think about what else they could add to their pictures. Staff praise children for their achievements.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children work well together to complete tasks. For example, they sweep the leaves outside and use the leaf grabber and wheelbarrows together to collect them up. Behaviour in the kindergarten is good. Children are kind towards each other and help their friends. For instance, they pass them a towel to tidy up the spilled water at the table. Staff support children kindly to develop their friendships with others. They are calm and act as positive role models for the children. Children learn about other cultures. Staff encourage them to think about other people's feelings and identify things that they are thankful for. For instance, during the whole-group assembly time, children talk about being thankful for their friends sharing the toys in the garden.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain the skills that they need for when they move on to school. They develop their imaginations as they play. For example, children pretend to serve ice cream to their friends. They develop their large physical skills as they play, such as when they kick balls and play on the swings outdoors. Children practise their early writing skills. They develop their knowledge of shapes well. For instance, they go on shape hunts to find objects in the garden that are circles and squares. Children use play dough to create models, which helps them to develop their dexterity.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500558 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10079218 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Mount Carmel Kindergarten Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01727 838480

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reference number

Mount Carmel Kindergarten registered in 2016 and is located in St Albans. It employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The owner and one of the managers hold early years professional status and the other manager holds early years teacher status. The kindergarten opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, during term time only. An optional holiday club is also offered during the school holidays, from 9am to 5pm. The kindergarten receives funding to provide free early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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.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.

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