YMCA Childcare - St Margaret's Road

Inspection of YMCA Childcare - St Margaret's Road St Margaret's Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 4HW

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in this friendly nursery. They are greeted by staff who smile warmly as they welcome children in. Children feel safe and secure. They learn to have regard for each other's needs and feelings. Some children struggle to regulate their emotions and staff talk to them in a calm, respectful manner. Children are gently reminded about the need to share, take turns, and think about their friends. Staff encourage children to use sand timers as a visual reminder of waiting for their turn. Children are helped to develop respect and tolerance for each other's opinions. They recently voted on outdoor play equipment and the item that scored the most votes was the piece of equipment that was purchased.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from the high priority staff give to supporting children's developing speech and language skills. Staff quickly identify where there are delays or concerns and manage these well, seeking support from other professionals where necessary. Staff have high expectations of all children and encourage children to explore their own ideas. For example, when a child carries a cup of water across the room, he tells a member of staff that he is taking it outside to try to get the animals out that have been frozen into ice.

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need to do better?

n The managers and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to bring about improvement to the quality of education. Staff completed training in working with two-year-old children. They subsequently reviewed and revised the curriculum for younger children to ensure that their needs are met. n Children are given notice of when activities need to change. This supports their enjoyment of activities and completing them to their satisfaction. However, staff do not always present information about adult-led activities clearly to children so that they understand what is being taught. They do not always know what is expected of them. n Staff talk knowledgeably about where children are in their learning and what they need to do to move children on. Children readily use mathematical language, such as bigger and smaller. However, staff do not always make the best use of opportunities to promote children's developing awareness of

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need to do better?

numbers and counting. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. The member of staff responsible for coordinating the care and education for these children is passionate about her role, helping to ensure that they make the best possible progress. n Staff support all children to develop the skills necessary to be ready for school. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they know how to carry scissors safely to prevent injuries and carry out risk assessments of the

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need to do better?

17 August 2021 garden, using pictorial prompts. n Children develop close emotional bonds with staff. Each child has a named person who takes responsibility for their daily well-being and plans for their learning and development. Staff are led by what children want to do. n Staff ensure that their own speaking enables children to hear and develop good language skills. Staff model how to place single words into sentences. For example, when children are looking at a story book together a member of staff asks, 'What do you think dinosaurs might eat?' A child replies, 'leaves'. The member of staff replies, 'He does, doesn't he? He's eating leaves and taking them from the trees'. n Children's move from home to the nursery is managed well. Before the COVID- 19 (coronavirus) pandemic, staff visited the children in their own homes, where children got to know them in a familiar environment. Staff are hoping to reinstate this in September. Parents describe the nursery as 'absolutely

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need to do better?

amazing'. They appreciate the efforts staff went to during the pandemic lockdown, including weekly phone calls, writing to the children and providing activity ideas to do at home. n There is an effective programme of supervision for all staff to manage their performance and foster a culture of mutual support. Staff's well-being is given high priority. They are supported in their commitment to continue their professional development. n Staff have developed effective links within the community. For instance, they take children on visits to the local allotment and care home. This helps to support children to discover and learn about their local community and the world around them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything staff do with the children. There are effective recruitment and selection procedures in place to help ensure that those working with children are suitable for their role. All staff complete training in child protection to ensure that they recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if they have a concern. There is a designated lead to take responsibility for coordinating concerns and ensuring that they are reported in an appropriate and timely way.

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should:

n present information clearly to children about adult-led activities so that they understand what is being taught and what is expected of them n support staff to consistently promote children's developing awareness of

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY560834 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10144109 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

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inspection

Total number of places 51 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person YMCA Trinity Group

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reference number

Telephone number 01502 585882 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

YMCA Childcare - St Margaret's re-registered in 2018. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm all year round, apart from bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The nursery offers out-of-school care for children attending local schools. A holiday club is provided during school holidays. There are 23 members of childcare staff, 19 of whom hold qualifications at level 3 and above, including five at level 6. The nursery provides funded education places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector and the manager completed a tour of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and also discussed self- evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took

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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

17 August 2021 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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