Kidderminster, St Oswald's CofE First School

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Crescent Under 5's Playgroup c/o Alfred Sutton Primary School Wokingham Road Reading Berkshire RG6 1JR Our Reference 116827

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Dear Crescent Under 5's Playgroup Committee

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Sheena Bankier, monitored your provision on 29/04/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 07/11/2013, we sent you a notice to improve. The actions you were set are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit the inspector discussed with you the steps you have taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. She viewed and discussed the action plan and viewed the records from the support visits from your local authority development worker. Procedures to ensure staff and volunteers are suitable to work, or be in contact with, children were discussed and viewed. This included arrangements for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff, volunteers and the committee members. The inspector viewed a sample of planning documents and children's progress records, along with the new computer system for monitoring children's progress towards the early learning goals. The inspector spoke to the manager, administrator and members of staff. She also observed and discussed the activities available to children.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have developed a clear action plan to address the issues raised at your last inspection and that you have quickly implemented these plans. You have received regular support from your local authority development worker, and have implemented the advice and guidance provided by them. You report that they are happy with the progress you have made.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have reviewed and updated recruitment procedures. You now require that all new staff and volunteers provide two robust references, which have to be judged as satisfactory before they can start working with the children. All volunteers, committee members and staff complete the required Our Reference 116827

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Outcome of monitoring

suitability checks and you are maintaining appropriate records of these checks. New staff have a clear induction process to enable them to develop the skills and knowledge for their roles. They are fully supervised during their probationary period. A mentor is allocated to new members of staff to support and guide them in their work. There is a suitable induction process for volunteers, and established staff always supervise volunteers in their work. There are restrictions on the duties new staff and volunteers can complete, for example, they are unable to take children to the toilet. Staff are confident in the arrangements for new staff and volunteers. They demonstrate a secure awareness of their roles and responsibilities to promote children's safety.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have implemented new systems to monitor children's progress towards the early learning goals. Staff demonstrate a secure knowledge of these systems. They complete regular observations of children's achievements, which they link to the different areas of learning. Children's progress is securely tracked using developmental guidance. You are using a new computer programme to identify children's progress every few weeks, along with any gaps in children's achievements. This is helping staff to identify children's next steps in learning. Planning securely takes into account children's own ideas and interests and their individual next steps in learning. Staff receive information about all children's next steps in learning and this information is shared with children's parents. As a result, all staff can support children's individual learning needs and parents receive ideas of how they can support their children's learning at home. Liaison with the school early years teacher

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Outcome of monitoring

enables you to seek further support and advice to ensure you are providing challenging learning experiences for children. These measures are helping you to monitor children's progress closely and identify their next steps in learning, in order to help children to progress in their learning and development.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have reviewed the activities that encourage children's physical and literacy skills, such as activities that involve large and small movements. On the day of the monitoring visit, the activities and play experiences available to support children's physical and literacy skills were observed. Children were using the paint with their fingers and hands, and the dough and clay activities had small tools for children to manipulate. Discussions held reflect that staff consider the environment and provide suitable resources for children to use indoors and outside to promote these skills, such as clipboards, paper and pens. In addition, staff extend children's self-initiated play by offering ideas, for instance, to make a shopping list when children pretend to drive their car to the shops and offer suitable materials for them to do this. This enables children to use their developing writing skills for a purpose.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement. Our Reference 116827

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection.

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Next steps

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your setting. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education Our Reference 116827

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that there are effective systems in place to make sure that the registered person, the manager and any person caring for, or in regular contact with children is suitable to work with children, which must include obtaining an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, and has skills and experience suitable for the work. 07/11/2013 29/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the use of systems to monitor the educational programmes and the quality of teaching to ensure that all children make progress from their starting capabilities and are effectively challenged in their learning and development. 31/01/2014 29/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

implement robust arrangements regarding the recruitment and vetting of staff, including volunteers to make certain that only adults whose suitability is confirmed are able to work with children 30/11/2013 29/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure supervision arrangements meet the needs of all children and keep them safe from adults whose suitability has not been fully completed. 07/11/2013 29/04/2014

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