Kaleidascope Childcare

Inspection of Kaleidascope Childcare Methodist Church Hall, Bartholomew Street, Dover, Kent CT16 2LH

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive eager to start their day. Families are warmly greeted by friendly and approachable staff, who know them well. Children are happy and secure. Staff use what they know about children to plan interesting and motivating activities. For example, they set up an attractive play dough table, where children delight in making their own birthday cakes and pretending to blow out candles. Staff have high expectations for all children. The teaching is of a good quality, and all children make good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff successfully prioritise children's language development and early literacy skills. Children enjoy snuggling on the large sofa with staff, listening to stories and making the letters of their names with the play dough.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models, praising children and celebrating their achievements. Children are kind to each other. They help their friends by showing them how to wash up their plates after snack time. Children tell adults what they have done, proudly showing them what that they have written with chalks on the easel. Children demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning. Staff use children's interests well to create an environment that supports their knowledge and skills. For example, staff encourage children to count higher when making candles for their birthday cakes.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are passionate about supporting children and families. They talk confidently about putting them at the heart of what they do. They are committed to continually developing their practice and provision. They have recently introduced new initiatives and ideas to support planning and have reorganised the environment to support children's individual needs. Staff plan a challenging curriculum. n Staff support children's language development very well. They liaise closely with the local authority to support children with SEND. Staff use sign language and visual cues to help them. Children who are not speaking when they first start become confident talkers. n Staff encourage a love of stories. They encourage families to borrow books from the setting. Children enjoy joining in with favourite rhymes and songs. They are excited to copy the actions when staff start singing the 'tidy up' song. Books are

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need to do better?

plentiful, and staff have created cosy book areas, which children explore frequently. n Staff are very responsive to children, such as when they are approached for a cuddle. They laugh together when children tickle them with feathers. Staff play alongside children and pose challenges. They offer genuine praise, saying, 'That is amazing!', when children approach them with models they have made. Staff

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need to do better?

23 February 2023 suggest ideas that inspire children to think about how they could adapt their models. n Children and families benefit from the strong links that the setting has in the local community. Staff proactively seek advice and support from external agencies and the nearby children's centre. They provide families with information about how they can support their children's learning and development at home. However, these arrangements are not as effective for parents who speak English as an additional language (EAL). n Overall, staff promote children's independence well. For example, children confidently wash their hands, get their own plates, and wash these up themselves. They teach children how to safely use knives to cut up their snacks. However, at other times, staff do not offer children enough opportunities to master skills that are within their capabilities. For example, staff are sometimes

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need to do better?

too quick to step in to complete tasks, such as opening children's lunch boxes and putting their coats on, for them. n Parents talk highly of the progress their children have made, particularly with language and mathematics. In addition, they say that their children enjoy the art and craft activities provided. Parents report that the staff are kind and caring and that their children 'love them'. They talk about how flexible and adaptable the members of the staff team are. n Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers. Leaders and managers ensure that staff have supervision and monitoring opportunities. Staff comment that working at the setting is 'like being part of a family' and that they 'love' coming to work. They are positive about the opportunities they have to develop their knowledge and skills further. They enjoy participating in training days with the provider's other setting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff confidently talk about the signs and symptoms of abuse. They explain what they would do in a range of safeguarding scenarios. Staff know who to go to for advice and support and what they would do if they had concerns about a colleague. The premises are secure. Leaders and managers have effective recruitment procedures and arrangements to check the ongoing suitability of staff. Staff help children to learn how to keep themselves safe. They involve them in regular fire evacuations. Visitors are not left unsupervised with children.

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should:

n support staff to recognise when to encourage children to complete manageable tasks more fully, to support their developing independence

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should:

23 February 2023 n strengthen the ways information is shared with parents who speak EAL, to help them understand more fully how they can contribute to their children's learning and development at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY312272 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10277126 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Kaleidascope Child Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01304 219509 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Kaleidascope Childcare registered in 2005 and is one of two settings run by Kaleidascope Childcare Limited. It operates from the Methodist Church Hall in Dover, Kent. The group opens each weekday, from 9am until 3pm, term time only. There are seven members of staff. Of these, five have relevant childcare qualifications. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education 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 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during snack

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Inspection activities

time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

23 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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