Sharon Kindergarten

Inspection of Sharon Kindergarten Finchley Synagogue, Kinloss Gardens, Finchley, London N3 3DU

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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

Staff are warm, friendly and very welcoming. This helps children to smile as they happily separate from their parents and join in with the activities offered. Staff know children well and build strong relationships with them. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff use information gathered through their observations of children to provide meaningful learning experiences to help extend children's development further. For example, staff help children to learn about their facial features and expressions. They extend children's learning by providing them with mirrors and a range of materials so they can create different faces. They help children to recognise and name different feelings and emotions by making happy or sad faces. All children make good progress in their learning.

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The provision is good

Children are at the heart of everything this kindergarten does. Leaders design a curriculum that is based on children's interests and what they need to learn next. Staff and leaders want children to achieve all that they can. Staff encourage children to be independent and to learn to do things for themselves, such as independently putting their coats on ready to play outside.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They are kind, respectful and helpful to others. For example, they hold doors for others to safely enter the classroom. Children speak confidently as the attentive staff listen to them carefully.

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need to do better?

n Staff ensure that they support children to be skilful and confident communicators. For example, children have various opportunities to share their experiences. Staff provide a running commentary as children play. Children listen to stories and staff read books to them. Staff introduce songs to support daily routines. For example, they sing a song about going up and down the stairs safely. This helps to ensure that children hear a rich variety of vocabulary to strengthen their communication and language skills. n Children have a variety of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They practise using their large-muscle skills as they balance, jump and use hoops. Children enjoy throwing and aiming activities, as well as vigorous outdoor games. Staff plan outdoor activities well to extend children's learning. For example, as children learn about Chinese New Year, staff help them to build a representation of the Great Wall of China with blocks.

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need to do better?

n Staff teach children skills which help them to develop their small-muscle control. Children refine these as they use pencils or chalks to draw and scissors to snip paper. Children enjoy kneading and rolling play dough. This helps to develop their precision, control and hand-to-eye coordination needed for early writing. n Children's health and well-being are given high priority. Staff ensure that hygiene

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need to do better?

6 February 2024 procedures are adhered to and children gain an understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. Leaders ensure that children eat nutritious and balanced meals. Children bring fruits and vegetables to share with their peers and they discuss healthy eating habits as they prepare their snack. n Leaders and staff are clear about what they want children to learn. They plan opportunities to give children a breadth of enriching experiences and the knowledge and skills that they need for life. They provide extra-curricular activities, such as dance and song sessions, during which children hear and sing songs in Hebrew. However, whole-group activities are not always well planned to sustain children's attention. On occasion, some children are not fully engaged and do not benefit from the planned learning. n Staff support children's mathematical knowledge well. They encourage them to recognise numerals and count. Children are keen and enthusiastic learners. They

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need to do better?

match colours and shapes confidently. They use their mathematical skills as they measure ingredients to make play dough. n Staff set clear expectations and boundaries for children. They model using good manners and consistently praise children's positive behaviour. Staff treat children with respect. This helps children to learn right from wrong. n Parents speak highly of the staff and leaders. They appreciate the care and quality of education that staff provide. Parents say that staff are good at communicating information regarding their child's progress and development. They comment that it is a 'home-from-home experience', where children are happy.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n further support all children's individual learning needs, especially during group activities, so they remain immersed in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 147614 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10305427 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 50 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Sharon Kindergarten

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8346 2039 Date of previous inspection 21 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sharon Kindergarten registered in 1971. It operates from Finchley United Synagogue in the London Borough of Barnet. The kindergarten is open from 8.50am until 3pm Monday to Thursday, and from 8.50am until midday Friday. It employs seven members of staff, including the manager. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 6, three hold qualifications at level 3 and one is qualified at level 2. The kindergarten is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the kindergarten 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 kindergarten. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector held discussions with the manager to assess the effectiveness of leadership and management. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation and evaluated the quality of education. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of documentation, including

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Inspection activities

documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

6 February 2024 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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