The Ark

Inspection of The Ark 3 Sandhurst Villas, Sandhurst Road, Charlton Kings, CHELTENHAM GL52 6LJ

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Babies and toddlers settle extremely quickly at this welcoming and friendly setting. Happy, smiling children eagerly play with each other and staff. They demonstrate how content and safe they feel through the warm, secure relationships they make. Children engage in stimulating and interesting activities that excite their curiosity. For example, they explore shaving foam in a large tray. They squish and squash the foam through their fingers. Staff extend the activity by adding laminated facial features to the foam. Children giggle as they add eyes, nose and a mouth to make funny faces. Staff encourage the children to look at their own and each other's facial features. They learn about the similarities and differences that exist between them.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's listening and attention skills, and children behave well. There is a strong emphasis on songs, rhymes and stories at this setting. For example, children sit, listen and excitedly clap their hands to the beat during a musical group-time activity. Staff use changes in rhythm, tone and dynamics to encourage children to listen and respond to what is happening. Children eagerly wait their turn as the song bag is passed around the group. They excitedly choose a small prop to determine their song choice. Children sing along with confidence and build on their vocabulary. This helps them to build on their rhyming and recall and develop their communication and language further.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff are clear about the aims, values and ethos that drives the setting. They offer a broad and balanced curriculum that effectively sequences children's learning. Staff know what they want children to learn and how they will do this. Staff know children very well. They can talk at length about children's interests, development and their next steps in learning. Children make good progress at this setting. n Children have plenty of opportunities to make choices at this setting. Staff support children at play and when developing their emerging self-help skills. However, on occasions, staff step in too quickly to help or answer their own questions before allowing children to answer. They do not always let children try for long enough and make their own mistakes. This means children do not always have enough time to process what is being asked of them or solve their own problems. n Leaders report that they feel their partnership with parents is a key strength.

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need to do better?

They are passionate about working with parents to ensure children make good progress. Parents explain that the setting communicates with them very well. They know what children are learning and what the staff want their child to learn next. Staff offer tips and activities for children to learn at home.

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need to do better?

22 February 2023 n The setting benefits from strong community links. Children learn about their local community through regular walks and visits, such as to the local allotments, library and shops. They learn about different cultures and festivals. For example, the children try culturally diverse foods. This helps children learn about the diversity that exists in their community and the wider world. n Leaders are passionate about the care and education they provide for children. They are highly reflective and ensure the environment meets the changing needs of children as they develop and grow. However, the outside area is overly cluttered. This impacts on the space children have when they engage in physical activity. This means those children who prefer to learn outside do not receive the same rich learning experience that is available inside. n Staff are kind, gentle and encourage babies to get involved in their self-care. For

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need to do better?

example, during a nappy change, staff encourage babies to hold items of clothing or wipes. They use these times to build on their learning as they name parts of the body or look at posters on the ceiling. Staff are highly respectful of children's wishes, asking permission before changing clothes or wiping noses. n Children behave well. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Staff gently remind children to take turns and share. They use good strategies to support children's development in this area. For example, staff use sand timers to support children's understanding of when to relinquish a toy. Staff offer extensive praise when children behave as expected.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and leaders have a good knowledge of how to keep children safe. They have effective procedures in place to record and report any concerns. They are clear about the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child may be at risk of harm. Leaders and staff have a secure knowledge of what to do should an allegation occur against them. All staff have completed a range of safeguarding training, such as how to manage and spot the signs of extremism and radicalisation. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities and work well as a team. This ensures that staff deployment is well organised, and children are always supervised and kept safe.

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should:

n support staff to identify when children need more time to discover ways of doing things for themselves and build on their independent learning n review the way in which staff plan and use the outside area to provide children with the same rich learning experience that they have inside.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2612622 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10263594 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 31 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Willmott, Gaynor Ann

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reference number

Telephone number 07443535036 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Ark re-registered in 2020. The setting operates from the area of Charlton Kings in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and is open 51 weeks of the year between the hours of 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. There are nine members of staff working with the children. The manager holds a level 4 early years qualification and five members of staff hold a relevant level 3 early years qualification.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The leadership team and inspector completed a learning walk together. Leaders shared with the inspector what they want children to learn and how they will do this. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity inside. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

22 February 2023 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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