Ashburton Family Services (Woodlanders Kindergarten)

Inspection of Ashburton Family Services (Woodlanders Kindergarten) Woodland Road Centre, Woodland Road, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7DR

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

The management team is passionate about embracing the community spirit and providing an inclusive practice for all, helping to support the needs of children within the area. Stay and play sessions, where children can engage in craft-making with their parents, help to provide them with good creative skills prior to their move to the setting. Children then feel emotionally secure when they start pre- school, enabling them to settle quickly. Staff have high expectations for all children. They reflect well on their teaching practice and adapt the learning environment to support each child. For instance, a 'cosy corner' has been created for those who prefer quieter spaces, and physical areas such as trampolines encourage those children who enjoy being more active. Children are happy and behave well. They have a positive attitude to learning and show respect for each other. Children use good manners at all times and share resources effectively. For example, older

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The provision is good

children confidently use a sand-timer to promote turn-taking when using the computer. Younger children offer to help each other, and play cooperatively. Children are safe, and staff are vigilant at supervising children. A high staff ratio ensures children's safety and well-being is at the forefront of practice.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's language and communication skills well. Younger children begin to build sentences and older children learn new vocabulary, such as 'crowd' and 'camouflage'. n All children have a good range of experiences to help them understand similarities and differences between themselves and others. Stimulating activities to engage children in conversations about their family and other cultures embrace diversity. Children enjoy being actively involved within the community. They walk to the local care home and engage in action songs with the elderly. They stroll around the park, talking to residents about themselves and raise money for children who are less fortunate. n Staff provide children with opportunities to support their mathematical skills. Younger children count 'bears' and older children make a 'tally chart' to record how many girls and boys there are. On occasions, staff do not enable children to

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need to do better?

explore these independently or provide additional opportunities to consolidate and extend their learning even further. n Children have a range of books they can access throughout the day. Younger children turn the pages independently. Older children listen attentively to stories in small groups. However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to help children talk about stories further, including discussions about key characters and story structures, and to use books within activities in order to challenge their early reading skills even more. n Staff provide children with a wide range of extra-curricular activities to ensure

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need to do better?

15 November 2019 they all have the same opportunities and experiences. Children attend yoga classes to support their confidence and physical well-being. They learn French and attend 'Forest School', learning effectively about the world around them. n Children learn about recycling food waste. They use leftover food for their 'wormery', which is converted into compost. Children use this in their 'gardening club', where they plant fruit, vegetables and sunflowers. n Partnerships with parents and other professionals are effective. Parents and staff consistently share children's progress. Established links with local schools and outside agencies help to provide an inclusive approach to support children's overall development. n Staff teach children to manage their feelings well. They use effective strategies to support them in making positive choices and to develop strong self-esteem. Children persevere with new skills, such as when trying to use tweezers, and

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need to do better?

staff praise them consistently. A 'wow' tree for children to hang their achievements on encourages them to feel confident in their own abilities. n The management team provides staff with training and frequent supervisions to ensure they continue to develop their good teaching skills. For instance, staff are passionate about children learning through play. They plan stimulating activities that entice children to explore and investigate. Staff reflect well and identify how they can improve teaching and activities even more to benefit the children. n Care practices are effective. Staff respond warmly and attentively to children and help them to manage their personal needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff teach children how to manage risk well. Children confidently climb trees and use rope ladders. They know how to keep themselves safe on the slide and understand when it may be unsafe to use, such as when wet. The premises are secure. A keypad system and combination locks are in place to ensure that unauthorised persons cannot enter the setting; this is to protect children's welfare. The management team and staff have a secure understanding of child protection and can identify when a child may be at risk of harm, including wider safeguarding issues. They understand their roles and responsibilities in reporting any concerns to relevant agencies to help keep children safe.

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should:

n provide further opportunities for children to explore activities chosen by adults independently to help them consolidate and build on what they already know n provide older children with consistent challenge to enhance their early reading skills further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 106282 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10124468 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Ashburton Family Services (A.F.S) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01364 652181 Date of previous inspection 3 March 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Woodlanders Kindergarten registered in 1999 and is located in Ashburton, Devon. The kindergarten opens each week day during term time from 8.15am to 3.15pm. It also opens for nine weeks during the school holidays. There are 13 members of staff who work with the children, and 11 hold early years qualifications. The manager holds a level 6 qualification, three members of staff hold qualifications at level 4, seven hold a level 3 and two staff are unqualified. The kindergarten provides free early education funding for children aged two, three and four years old.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager to discuss the purpose of the educational activities provided. n Two joint observations were held with the manager to ascertain the quality of staff teaching. n A sample of documentation was looked at, such as staff qualifications and supervision records, and the self-evaluation process. n The inspector spoke to parents and children to gain their views of the setting. n The interactions between staff and children were observed.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

15 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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