Our Thurnscoe Family Centre has achieved an “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted, following their childcare inspection last month.
It saw the centre’s childcare improve from a ‘good’ rating at their last inspection in 2018.
Highlights of the report are as follows:
The provision is outstanding
Inspectors found that staff provide children with a very safe, caring and nurturing learning environment. Children are extremely happy and content and increasingly show high levels of confidence in social situations.
Practitioners' interactions with children are of a high quality and contribute well to delivering the curriculum intent. Staff are skilled in engaging in children's play and developing their learning.
Staff have high expectations for children's learning and development. Children make excellent progress, including those children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff use visual prompts, sign language and sounds to communicate.
Safeguarding is a key strength of the setting. Managers and staff keep children safe and promote their welfare exceptionally well. Staff ensure that children have opportunities to share their worries and feelings. There are clear processes in place to keep all children safe.
Behaviour and attitudes: outstanding
Staff are highly successful at giving children experiences that promote an understanding of, and respect for, people and communities. Children take part in litter picking. They learn what happens to rubbish and what it does to the environment. Managers, staff, parents, and children work together to restore local wasteland and create an open space for learning in the community.
Personal development: outstanding
Children develop a love for reading. They access books frequently and share them with staff. Staff encourage parents to come into the setting and read to children in different languages. They use props, exaggerated voices and expressive facial expressions. Children recall and tell parts of the story. They turn to their friends and act out the characters. This helps children to build on their language skills.
Children of all ages gain a deep understanding of mathematics. Children place different shapes on a peg board creating patterns, counting as they do so. Staff talk about the differences and similarities between shapes. Staff adapt activities and encourage children with SEND to make coloured patterns with pegs.
Leadership and management: outstanding
Managers and staff are passionate and committed to providing high-quality care and education. They complete regular reviews of practice, which consider the views of staff, parents and children. Managers ensure that staff receive focused effective professional development. They carry out regular peer observations to improve the quality of teaching. Staff have regular supervision sessions and appraisals.
Cllr Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: said: “I’m delighted that the centre’s childcare setting has improved from an Ofsted rating of Good in the last inspection to now get an Outstanding rating. This result is testament to the hard work and dedication of staff, which shines through in this inspection report.
The fantastic start they are given in terms of learning and development will allow them the best chances for lifelong learning and enable them to flourish in Barnsley, the place of possibilities
“I want to sincerely thank all of the staff for the exemplary levels of service they provide to enable children to thrive and flourish in a welcoming environment.”
The full Ofsted report can be found at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY340904