Caring Kindergartens

Inspection of Caring Kindergartens 4 Blue Star Grove, Brooklands Square, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK10 7HB

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Children clearly enjoy attending this warm and welcoming nursery. They enjoy exploring the range of challenging activities that staff provide for them. Staff talk constantly to children and listen carefully to what they have to say. They match the language they use and the questions they ask to the needs of each child. As a result, children are confident when speaking in a variety of situations.

p.2

The provision is good

Babies explore the texture of dried pasta with interest and enjoy making sounds on a variety of objects. They beam widely at staff, who sensitively follow their lead in play. Children develop good levels of independence in preparation for their future learning. They make choices about their play and follow their own interests and ideas. Children are settled, happy and engaged in their chosen activity.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff encourage children to share and take turns and this helps them to develop good personal and social skills. Children behave well and play happily with their friends. They learn to manage their own safety, for example when they take supervised risks on balance beams and ropes outside. Staff recognise and praise children's efforts and achievements. As a result, children grow in confidence and feel emotionally secure.

p.2

need to do better?

n The leadership team provide a curriculum that follows children's interests and make accurate assessments of their ongoing progress. Children become motivated learners as they enjoy their self-chosen activities. The manager and staff closely monitor the progress children make. This helps them to identify any gaps in children's learning and implement plans to help them to catch up. Children make good progress from their starting points. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively. Staff use appropriate strategies, which help improve outcomes for children. For example, staff use signing to support and improve speech and language development. The special educational needs and disabilities coordinator works effectively with parents and professionals involved in the children's care to fully support them. n Staff develop good partnerships with parents. Parents report that they are very

p.2

need to do better?

happy with the service and information they receive about what their children are learning at the nursery. They comment on the good communication from managers and staff. Staff encourage parents to share what their children can do to build on children's achievements at home. n Staff promote children's developing social skills well. For instance, children come together to eat their freshly prepared snacks at the table. They become increasingly independent, returning their plates and cups after snack and

p.2

need to do better?

21 October 2021 managing their own personal care. Children have opportunities to enjoy fresh air. They develop their large-muscle skills as they run and play physically outside. However, the outside area does not yet fully support opportunities to learn across different areas of the curriculum. n Staff plan focused activities that develop a variety of skills at one time. For example, as children make potions they use pipettes to suck up up different coloured liquids and are astonished when the liquid turns purple in in the container. Staff develop and extend children's language skills and understanding of the world, as they discuss how different colours are made. However, staff do not use these times as well as they could to develop children's mathematical knowledge and skills n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and children behave well. They display good levels of independence as they access activities. Children

p.2

need to do better?

concentrate for long periods as they play. n Many activities help children to develop early writing skills, strengthening the small muscles in their hands. For example, older children enjoy using spray bottles on blackboards. Toddlers learn to hold chunky pens and draw on whiteboards. n The leadership team have high regard for staff well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they recognised the impact it was having on their team. As a result, the leadership team sought provision from a professional organisation to ensure that staff have access to support, if needed. Staff have benefited from this by being more positive and supportive of each other.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of child protection issues. All staff are vigilant. They listen to what children have to say and what they do. Staff take action if they are concerned about a child. They identify signs that would give them cause for concern about children's welfare. Good recruitment procedures and background checks ensure that suitable adults care for the children. New staff are supported to understand how to keep children safe through a clear induction process. Leaders ensure that staff continue to be suitable to work with children through regular supervision and checks.

p.3

should:

n develop the outside area to promote the development of wider skills in all curriculum areas n extend children's good mathematical skills, supporting staff to recognise and build on the opportunities that occur in children's everyday play and activity.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2501828 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10194378 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 131 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person C K Childcare Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01908 229 662 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Caring Kindergartens was registered in 2018. It is situated in Brooklands, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm all year round. The nursery employs 25 members of staff, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 3, five members of staff hold recognised qualifications at levels 4, 5 and 6. One member of staff has qualified teacher status. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 provider. n The inspector and manager completed a learning walk throughout the nursery. They discussed how the early years provision is organised and how the curriculum offered supports children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of practice with the manager n The inspector spoke to parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector held discussions with staff at appropriate times during the inspection and talked to children during activities. n The inspector had meetings with the leadership team. She looked at a sample of policies and procedures, staff qualifications and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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 October 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