St Gabriel's Early Years Group

Inspection of St Gabriel's Early Years Group Wilnecote Lane, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 2LF

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children are settled, happy and well cared for at this warm and welcoming provision. They form positive attachments with kind and caring staff. Overall, when children arrive, they quickly settle into activities with their key person. Staff read stories to children in small groups to help children develop a love of books. They encourage children to join in with action songs to develop their communication and language skills. Children behave well. They enjoy helping each other and are proud when staff praise them for their achievements. Staff listen to and respond to children's individual needs and wishes. This helps to develop children's self-esteem.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are active learners. They have frequent opportunities to play outdoors to help develop their physical skills. Children enjoy riding on bicycles and clambering up climbing equipment. Staff encourage children to develop independence and self- care skills. Children wipe their own noses and place the tissues in the bin. Children use the toilet independently and learn to use cutlery well. They develop good social skills as they enjoy a hot lunch at the on-site school. Children collect their own meals from the kitchen counter and carry them back to their table. Staff and teachers join children as they eat. They all talk together happily and create a friendly, conversational atmosphere.

p.2

need to do better?

n When children first join, staff speak to parents and gather some information about children's preferences and interests. However, staff do not gain detailed learning information from parents about what their child already knows and can do. This means staff do not plan as precisely as possible for children's learning from the outset. n Overall, staff nurture children to help them develop positive relations and settle in well. Staff are positive role models and take time to talk to children and to join them as they play. Children soon learn to follow the rules and routines of the setting. However, strategies to help children who speak English as an additional language become familiar with the setting, are not as embedded in practice. These children do not settle as quickly. n The manager works closely with teachers at the on-site local school to implement a curriculum which can be built on as children move on to school.

p.2

need to do better?

Staff develop positive working relationships with teachers at the school and the early years teacher from the school visits children daily. This helps children to develop positive relationships with their future teachers and helps to ease transition when the time comes for children to take the next step in their education. n Staff provide children with a wealth of activities to support all areas of learning. Children use an interactive whiteboard to draw pictures of their family. They talk

p.2

need to do better?

21 September 2021 about their feelings as they draw. This helps children to develop early writing skills and enhances their emotional development. Staff develop natural areas within the setting. They set out a variety of different materials for children to explore, including conkers, leaves and stones. This helps children to gain some understanding of the world around them. n The manager ensures that all staff complete mandatory training. Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings. The manager identifies any additional professional development needs and provides time and support for staff to undertake training. This supports staff well-being and improves outcomes for children. n Staff promote equality and diversity well. For example, children talk to staff about long and short hair. Staff spend some time in conversation with children about hairstyles. They explain how both boys and girls can have long or short

p.2

need to do better?

hair. This helps to develop children's knowledge and understanding about similarities and differences. Children learn to respect individual choice. n Staff encourage children to recall knowledge they have gained from their previous learning experiences to reinforce their learning. For example, staff ask children questions about a walk they went on during the previous day. Children remember the walk and staff build on children's vocabulary through their discussions.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding about how to keep children safe. They attend regular safeguarding training to keep their child protection knowledge up to date. Staff have a clear understanding of the procedure they must follow in the event of any concerns about a child. The manager has attended safer recruitment training and knows how to recruit safely and ensure essential background checks are completed to check staff suitability. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, they ensure children understand and follow safe procedures when walking to the on-site school.

p.3

should:

n enhance partnership working with parents to gain more information in relation to children's individual starting points, to plan more effectively for children's learning from the outset n develop strategies to further support children who speak English as an additional language when they first start attending, to help them to settle quickly and to further enhance their emotional well-being.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 218233 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10116411 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 70

p.4

Name of registered person

St Gabriel's Early Years Management Group Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01827250903 Date of previous inspection 6 January 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

St Gabriel's Early Years Group registered in 1998. The setting employs 11 members of childcare staff. The manager is qualified to level 6 and all other staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3.30pm. Before- and after-school sessions run from 7.45am until 8.50am, and from 3pm until 6pm. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector and the room leader carried out a joint observation to review the quality of teaching. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and the chair of the committee. The inspector looked at relevant documentation. n The inspector spoke to parents, children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

21 September 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6