Rowhedge Under 5's

Inspection of Rowhedge Under 5's Rowhedge Village Hall, Rectory Road, Colchester, Essex CO5 7HR

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

The provider has not notified Ofsted of changes to the individuals who form the committee and are responsible for the setting. This is a breach of requirements of the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'.

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happy in this welcoming setting. They confidently wave goodbye to their parents and are keen to join their friends. Children are polite and considerate to others, offering compliments to staff and visitors. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the care of familiar adults. They snuggle closely with staff to have a story.

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The provision requires improvement

Children enjoy being creative and expressing themselves freely as they dance, holding hands with their friends. Other children use their imagination as they make walkie-talkies and pretend to talk to each other. Children spend sustained amounts of time making and decorating a crown for themselves to wear. They share their achievements with staff, demonstrating pride in their work.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff help children to persevere and challenge themselves through guided experiences. For example, some children confidently hold giant land snails. Staff recognise when other children need encouragement to push their own boundaries. When children build up the courage to hold the snails in their hands, staff praise them for trying new things. This helps builds children's confidence and self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the committee. The committee has not notified Ofsted of all new members. This means that Ofsted has not been able to determine their suitability. However, the committee members do not work directly with children or have sole responsibility for making decisions that affect children's well-being. Therefore, children's safety and welfare are assured. The committee is aware of the procedures to follow to address this weakness. n Children are provided with a broad curriculum that follows children's interests and meets most children's needs. For example, staff recognise children's interest in climbing. Staff adapt the outdoor play area to provide additional opportunities to meet these needs. As a result, children enjoy practising their physical skills as they climb on the outdoor climbing frame and slide. Other children use a crate so that they can independently reach and use the tree swing.

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need to do better?

n Staff build secure relationships with parents and carers. They gather information from parents when children start at the setting to understand what they already know and can do. They complete observations and assessments to monitor children's progress. However, some children do not always get the highest level

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need to do better?

13 June 2023 of support that they need to help close emerging gaps in their learning. This means that some children do not make the best progress possible. n Children form positive relationships with the local school. Their outdoor space allows them to see the children in the school playground. Children wave when they see familiar children. Children can talk to support staff from the school and share their excitement about joining them in the school soon. Staff further support children's gradual move to school by providing children with different school uniforms to dress up in. This helps to support positive transitions when children move on to school. n Children generally behave well. Staff take time to help children to identify and understand their feelings when they become overwhelmed. Children know some of the routines of the setting. For example, they know that they need to wash their hands before their lunch. However, on occasions, staff are not effective at

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need to do better?

helping children learn rules and boundaries to enable them to respect others and the resources in the environment. n The manager targets training to support the development of staff's practice to promote children's language skills. For example, staff extend children's vocabulary by adding new words into sentences as they repeat back what children have said. As a result, children are confident communicators. n Partnerships with parents are extremely positive. Parents comment that the setting goes 'above and beyond' to support their families. They feel that the manager has created an environment where all children are included.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has improved the risk assessment for the setting to ensure that staff can identify and minimise hazards to children. Appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the premises are now safe and secure. The manager and staff understand their responsibility to safeguard the children in their care. They attend regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff know the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They know the action to take should they have concerns about a child or a colleague. Staff are knowledgeable about the wider safeguarding concerns, such as female genital mutilation and county lines.

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Due date

13 June 2023 improve knowledge of the requirement to supply Ofsted with the necessary information in relation to any changes to the nominated individual and any committee member to enable suitability checks to be carried out 19/07/2023

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Due date

ensure that those with oversight and governance for the provision have a secure knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities, particularly with regards to notifying Ofsted of changes to people. 19/07/2023

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should:

n strengthen support for children where there may be emerging gaps in children's development, in order to help all children make the best possible progress n give children clearer behaviour guidance to learn the setting rules to enable them to respect others and the resources in the environment.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489490 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10298580 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Rowhedge Under 5's CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07709621636 Date of previous inspection 15 September 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Rowhedge Under 5's registered in 2015. The setting employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9am to midday on Monday and Friday, and from 9am to 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment, following information received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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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

13 June 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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