OFSTED report for Little Rainbows
COMBINED INSPECTION REPORT
URN 136025
DfES Number: 510979
INSPECTION DETAILS
Inspection Date 13/09/2004
Inspector Name Yvonne Campbell
SETTING DETAILS
Day Care Type Sessional Day Care
Setting Name Little Rainbows at Wesley Pre-School
Setting Address 172 Rodway Road
Patchway
Bristol
Avon
BS34 5ED
REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS
Name; The Committee of Little Rainbows at Wesley Pre School
ORGANISATION DETAILS
Name; Little Rainbows at Wesley Pre School
Address; Little Rainbows at Wesley Pre School
172 Rodway Road
Patchway
Bristol
BS34 5ED
ABOUT THE INSPECTION
The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality and standard of day care in accordance with the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding; and that the nursery education for funded three and four year old children is of an acceptable quality. Inspection of nursery education also identifies strengths and weaknesses so that providers can improve the quality of educational provision and help children to achieve the early learning goals (elgs) by the end of the Foundation Stage. This inspection report must be made available to all parents.
If the setting has been inspected previously, an action plan will have been drawn up to tackle issues identified. This inspection, therefore, must also assess what progress has been made in the implementation of this plan.
Information about the setting
Little Rainbows at Wesley Pre-School has been established for over 30 years. It operates from the Wesley Room of St Chad's Church close to the main shopping area in Patchway. The pre-school serves the local area.
There are currently 16 children on roll. All are funded three-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There is provision for children with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language.
The group opens five days a week during school term times. Sessions are from 09:05 to 13:00 hours.
Three part time staff work with the children. They all have the National Vocational Qualification level 3 in Child Care and Education. The setting receives teacher support from the South Gloucestershire Early Years Partnership.
How good is the Day Care?
Little Rainbows at Wesley provides good quality care for children. The leader and staff have the relevant qualifications and experience for running a pre-school. The operational plan is comprehensive. It contains all the required policies and procedures. It also contains plans for activities that are clearly typed in a way that is easy for staff to use and for parents to understand.
The environment is welcoming to children and parents. On arrival staff greet them. Children quickly leave their parents and they start to play straight away at the prepared activities. A wide range of suitable toys and play equipment is available to children. These include equipment for general activities such as sand and water play as well as specific equipment for music and physical play. Records are very good. They are developed to meet the group's needs and they are easy to access for use.
The arrangements for health and safety are well thought through. Staff are aware of their responsibilities. They regularly check to make sure that all areas are safe for children to use. However, a tree with potentially hazardous berries is accessible in the outside play area. Good health and hygiene is actively promoted. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times. Toilets are cleaned frequently to prevent the possible spread of infection. Children's individual needs are met well. Each child is valued and staff make children feel special through simple recognition of events such as birthdays.
Activities are stimulating and interesting. A well-balanced programme of learning experiences is provided to promote children's development in all areas. Children behave well. They relate well to adults and to each other.
Partnership with parents is good. Staff share information with parents and encourage their involvement in their children's learning.
What has improved since the last inspection?
Since the last inspection staff have developed a policy for safety on outings. They are now fully aware of the additional safety requirements and they make sure that children are safe on group outings. A record of all accidents to children is maintained. Staff can give parents a clear account of any minor injuries that happen during play. They also use the accident book as a resource for assessing risk.
What is being done well?
Staff are well trained and are committed to developing the pre-school through ongoing self assessment and involvement in quality assurance schemes.
Activities are stimulating and they promote children's development in all areas
The environment is welcoming to children and parents. Children become quickly involved in the activities and parents stay and exchange relevant information with staff.
Equipment and play materials are available in sufficient numbers and they support children's learning during activities.
Behaviour is managed well by clearly understood procedures and by increasing children's self esteem.
Partnership with parents is very good. Staff have developed effective procedures for communication and parental involvement.
What needs to be improved?
the inaccessibility to children of berries in the outside play area.
Outcome of the inspection
Good
CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION
All registered persons must comply with all conditions of registration included on his/her certificate of registration.
As a result of this inspection conditions of registration have been imposed / varied / removed and a new certificate of registration will be issued.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT?
The Registered Person should have regard to the following recommendations by the time of the next inspection
Std Recommendation
6 Make sure that poisonous plants in the outside play area are inaccessible to the children.
INSPECTION OF THE NURSERY EDUCATION PROVISION FOR FUNDED THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS.
How effective is the nursery education?
Little Rainbows at Wesley offers good quality nursery education for children. The well qualified, stable and committed staff team ensures that children are making generally good progress along the stepping stones towards the early learning goals.
The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage. This is reflected in the planning of enjoyable activities with the areas of learning clearly identified. However, the book corner is inappropriately located which does not promote children's use of books. Staff provide some mark making resources, but the choice is limited and the materials are not suitable for all children to use. Some educational displays are not easy for children to see. Children behave very well. Staff use gentle but effective strategies for managing behaviour.
Leadership and management of the setting is generally good. The pre-school is managed by an active parent-led committee. The nominated person is clear about her responsibilities and she offers useful support to the child care staff. The pre-school leader is very committed to improving the provision and there is ongoing involvement in quality assurance schemes. The leader also makes assessment of the strengths and weakness. She takes swift action to address most of the identified weaknesses.
Partnership with parents is very good. There are effective methods for communicating with parents. They are fully informed about the plans for activities. They are encouraged to be active and involved in their children's learning and they are sometimes asked to supply resources from home to help with a specific activity. Parents are very happy with the educational provision. They say that they have chosen the pre-school because of its good reputation in the community and because their children are happy and look forward to attending.
What is being done well?
Children are confident, outgoing and have a strong sense of belonging.
Children are developing a strong sense of self and of their place within the community.
Children are happy and eager to learn.
Staff provide a well resourced environment to promote learning through play.
Staff work closely with parents and seek their involvement in their children's learning.
The leader and the staff are committed to improving the provision and are voluntarily involved in quality assurances schemes organised by the Early Years Partnership to raise standards.
What needs to be improved?
children's access to a variety of mark making materials and development of their interest in reading books
the organisation of the book area and children's visual access to educational displays.
What has improved since the last inspection?
Since the last inspection staff have planned more practical activities to encourage children to use their mathematical knowledge. Children add and subtract simple numbers well during play. Staff have further increased the activities that allow children to associate sounds with pattern rhymes. This is in preparation for the next stage of associating letters with sounds. Staff have also developed their knowledge of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. The pre-school has suitable systems in place to identify, assess and support children who have a stated need. Parents are now provided with very good information through several methods. They are informed regularly about activities and the progress their children are making along the stepping stones.
SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENTS
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children separate from main carers with confidence. They have a strong sense of belonging. On arrival they know where to put their coats and they say good bye to adults without any distress. They relate to each other well and make attachments to others in their group working in pairs or in groups of four or five. They are eager to play and learn. Children show good awareness of the boundaries and expectations of the setting. They behave very well and respond positively to adult instructions.
COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
Judgement: Generally Good
Children enjoy adult led favourite rhymes and stories and they join in anticipating familiar phrases. They are attentive during stories and listen and follow the storyline. They talk confidently and connect ideas explaining what might happen next. However, they do not always handle books carefully and seldom use the book corner spontaneously. Children have limited mark making opportunities as there are insufficient resources set out for this activity.
MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children use mathematical language often during play. They use words such as large and small, more and less. Children show an interest in number problems. They are confident when adding or subtracting small numbers. Children show an interest in shape and space. They know the basic names of shapes and they make visual judgements about the size of objects and whether these will fit into a given space or not.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
Judgement: Very Good
Children enjoy investigating objects and materials and concentrate well as they try to master a chosen task. Children realise that tools can be used for a purpose. They are comfortable when playing with construction toys such as hammers and saws and they use them the correct way. Children are beginning to gain an awareness of the culture and beliefs of others. They ask questions about the differences they see.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children combine a range of movements and move with pleasure and confidence. They enjoy activities such as hopping and jumping, and are developing small muscle skills well as they explore malleable materials. They show respect for other children's personal space when playing together and they keep at a safe distance. Children show good awareness of their own needs in regard to eating and hygiene.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children are beginning to differentiate colours. They know the primary and secondary colours well. Children enjoy joining in with dancing and ring games and are very creative when moving their bodies to music. Children are imaginative, for example, in 'supermarket' role play. They use representation as a means of communicating their understanding of the world. Some children are displaying clear preferences for things that interest them such as transport.
Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately.
OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION
The provision is acceptable and is of good quality overall. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. The next inspection will take place in three to four years time.
WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES
Improve children's access to a suitable range of mark making materials and develop their interest in reading books.
Consider the organisation of the indoor area and ensure that children have visual access to educational displays.
The provider must draw up an action plan within 40 working days of receipt of this report showing how the key issues detailed above will be addressed. The action plan must be made available to all parents and to the Local Authority if required. An evaluation of the action taken will form part of the next inspection of funded nursery education.
SUMMARY OF NATIONAL STANDARDS
STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON
Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.
STANDARD 2 - ORGANISATION
The registered person meets required adult: child ratios, ensures that training and qualifications requirements are met and organises space and resources to meet the children's needs effectively.
STANDARD 3 - CARE, LEARNING AND PLAY
The registered person meets children's individual needs and promotes their welfare. They plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop children's emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.
STANDARD 4 - PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
The premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming to children and offer access to the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote their development.
STANDARD 5 - EQUIPMENT
Furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are of suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to safety standards.
STANDARD 6 - SAFETY
The registered person takes positive steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.
STANDARD 7 - HEALTH
The registered person promotes the good health of children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.
STANDARD 8 - FOOD AND DRINK
Children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.
STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.
STANDARD 10 - SPECIAL NEEDS (INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)
The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is proactive in ensuring that appropriate action can be taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of the child within the setting in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties.
STANDARD 11 - BEHAVIOUR
Adults caring for children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development.
STANDARD 12 - WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND CARERS
The registered person and staff work in partnership with parents and to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group. Information is shared.
STANDARD 13 - CHILD PROTECTION
The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.
STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION
Records, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, or to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. Records about individual children are shared with the child's parent. Back to top