Knodishall & District Playgroup

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Knodishall & District Playgroup Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 251545 Inspection date 12/03/2009 Inspector Glenda Kathleen Field

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Setting address The Mission Rooms, School Road, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1UD Telephone number 01728 831328 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10). This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Knodishall and District Playgroup is managed by a voluntary management committee, made up of parents of children at the pre-school and members of the local community. It opened approximately 25 years ago and operates from a single storey building in the village of Knodishall, Suffolk. The building is accessed via a level path and one low entrance step. There is a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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Description of the setting

A maximum of 20 children aged from two years to under five years may attend the playgroup at any one time. It is open each weekday from 09.30 until 12.00 during term-times only. The setting supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. They are registered on the Early Years Register and there are currently 24 children attending within the early years age range. Three staff are employed of which two hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are provided with a wide range of positive experiences, which enable them to make excellent progress in a warm, stimulating and inclusive environment. Effective systems are in place for planning and observation, and assessments are ongoing to monitor children's progress. Strong working relationships have been established with parents and others involved in the children’s care. Effective systems are in place in relation to self-evaluation to help monitor the service and areas for development have been identified, for example, the installation of French doors to enable free-flow play to the outdoor area and to develop the outdoor area to provide a vegetable garden. The setting’s capacity to improve is good and strong emphasis is placed on links with the local school and transitional arrangements.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 designate a practitioner to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children within the setting  update the parental permission statement for emergency medical advice or treatment to be in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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provision

A very enthusiastic staff team are employed. They work together extremely well and their effective deployment ensures that adult-child ratios are consistently being maintained. Children's welfare is supported through the established key person system. The organisation of the premises and the accessibility of resources This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 effectively support children's learning and development. There is a clear awareness of safety amongst the staff, who effectively and instinctively manage or eliminate risks. Systems to identify, address and record safety checklists of the premises are in place and completed daily. All staff have completed safeguarding training. They are aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedure to be followed if concerned. However, the setting have not yet designated a practitioner to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children within the setting. The group has set

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provision

up formal systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the provision and have identified further development for their outdoor play area.

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provision

Very good links with parents are forged which enable staff to meet children's individual needs and provide consistency of care. Information is sought from parents, prior to children starting at the setting, regarding children's starting points. The setting operates a parents' rota which enables parents to be involved in their children's learning. Information gained from parental questionnaires is monitored regularly and acted upon where appropriate. Parents receive detailed information on their children's progress and are asked to add to this information, for example, a display board invites parents to record details of their children's achievements plus regular meetings are organised between parents and their children's key person when they can again add to their children's achievement records. Furthermore, newsletters and informative notice boards ensure information is regularly updated. At the inspection parents were keen to approach

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provision

the inspector to give their views of the setting. All comments made were positive and included information regarding staff being very considerate and caring to children's individual needs and the effectiveness of the settling in procedure.

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provision

There is a strong emphasis and good working partnership with the local schools. The school reception teacher visits regularly and a smooth transition for children from playgroup to school is ensured through detailed reports that indicate children's development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are welcomed by caring staff who greet them with kind words and encourage them to leave their carers. They are confident and happy in the setting. A well-organised environment enables them to follow their interests, develop independence, initiate and extend their own play. An abundance of displays of children's work encourages their self-esteem. Staff have a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how to plan around the interests of the children. For example, a child expressed an interest in fire engines so staff arranged a visit to the local museum which houses old fire engines. Staff ensure that children are provided with an appropriate range of interesting and enjoyable activities around the six areas of learning and interact and effectively question children to support their learning. A successful system is in place to make observations of children which are used to assess their progress. Identified

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

learning priorities for each child are then incorporated into the session plans.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are engaged at whole group time; they count the number of children present, talk about the weather and complete the daily calendar. Staff encourage This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 them to speak about how they feel and to make friends with each other. They are encouraged to help during tidying up and put on their own coats. Their independence is further encouraged by staff enabling them to pour their own drinks at snack time. Children recognise their name as they confidently post their name card on the register board. They handle books well showing an understanding that print carries meaning. Many opportunities are provided for children to mark-make and to trace and write letters of their name. The well- balanced range of resources in the maths area provide good opportunities for the children to use numbers, to count, sequence and match. Opportunities are made

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

to promote children's problem solving skills during everyday activities such as snack time when they count out the number of beakers and plates required. Children have good opportunities to promote their creative development. They thoroughly enjoy joining in messy activities such as sand and water play, free painting and junk modelling which are readily available throughout the session. They learn to mix and identify colours, for example, mixing blue and yellow to make green. They have use of the role play areas, dressing up clothes and small world resources, which promotes their imagination. They are involved in lots of singing of rhymes and use musical instruments.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The interesting activities and resources in place provide a good basis for children to understand the wider world. A wide selection of books, puzzles, play food and small world characters reflect our multi-cultural society. Children learn about cultures and beliefs through activities based around Diwali, Chinese New Year and Harvest Festival. Visitors are invited to talk to the children such as, the health visitor, school crossing lady and fire officer and visits are made to the local museum, common and park. Children have access to natural materials, programmable toys, telephones and weighing scales. The computer is popular with the children and they show good mouse control whilst playing the educational games. Children also operate the cassette player, put on the headphones and listen to stories and songs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from the use of the outdoor play area where they use large equipment to promote their physical skills. They gain good, special awareness as they move on bikes and scooters and show confidence when using the climbing frame and slide. Children handle tools with control when manipulating playdough and confidently use scissors as they cut out pictures. Children behave well and staff manage behaviour sensitively and positively. All staff support children with specific needs well and a designated staff member devises individual educational programmes with support from the local authority and other outside agencies.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children learn how to manage their own health and hygiene. They are beginning to independently manage their personal care in the cloakroom, and activities and discussion support their understanding of good habits. A healthy lifestyle is encouraged through exercise and nourishing snacks. Vigilant supervision is highly effective in enabling staff to keep children safe. Children are learning about keeping themselves safe, for example, not running indoors and taking part in evacuation drills. All the required written parental consents are obtained, however, the permission for emergency medical advice or treatment requires updating to be in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 2 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 2

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 2 How well are children helped to be healthy? 2 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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Detail of the complaint/s

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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