Noah's Ark Playgroup

Noah's Ark Playgroup St Lukes Primary School, St Crispins Drive, NORTHAMPTON, NN5 4BL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 January 2015 20 November 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff provide all children with an exceptional range of activities that inspire their interests and curiosity. As a result, children are highly motivated and benefit significantly from the staff's outstanding teaching during their play.  The partnerships between children's parents and the playgroup staff are excellent. This means that all children's needs are very well met and parents involvement in their child's learning is fully valued.  The committee, management and staff team work extremely well together and have a commitment to continue to drive improvement. All staff demonstrate their desire to achieve excellence in all areas of their activity with the children.  Children form very strong relationships with the staff who care for them each day. These attachments enable children to feel confident and a real sense of belonging and well-being in the playgroup.  Staff deployment is highly efficient and every opportunity is used to enrich the

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This provision is outstanding

environment and promote children's learning.  The qualified and very experienced staff team support each child's learning because they know them well and provide a relaxed environment, with an abundance of fun activities, where all children are respected and valued.  Children are self-sufficient in making choices about their activities. They help themselves to the excellent range of books and toys. They are very independent at snack time, efficiently washing their cups and plates when they have finished eating.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 enhance the already effective ways of supporting children's awareness of communication systems, for example, by extending the use of signing during activities, stories and songs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning, both inside and outside in the garden.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held meetings with the manager, with two members of staff and looked at documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working with the children and the planning and assessment.  The inspector spoke with a number of parents and grandparents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The staff are highly effective in their teaching of the children and they use their knowledge of how they learn to plan an exceptional range of activities. Children's communication and language is very well supported. They have lots of opportunities to be confident to speak and share their ideas, both as a large group and individually. There is scope to strengthen children's awareness of different ways of communication through more signing during their activities and songs. Children's learning is consolidated and they make rapid progress because staff use precise assessments. Children become enthralled with familiar stories. Staff use props to enrich the children's experience and develop an awareness of numbers and different sizes. Children are developing effective skills for their future learning. They are able to play and explore, solve problems and ask questions of each other and the staff as they need to. This helps children to be very well prepared for

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who attend. This is outstanding

starting school. Highly effective partnerships with parents and other professionals mean that children's individual needs are very well met.

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outstanding

Children's individual care needs are managed very well. Thorough, ongoing discussion with children's parents about any specific needs means that staff fully understand and can respond to any changes. New children settle quickly because they are supported to explore at their own pace. The key person and buddy system is highly effective in ensuring that children feel secure because they get to know the staff well. Children clearly demonstrate that they feel confident. They enjoy selecting their own toys. They approach the staff to ask questions, ask for items they want or for a story. Children behave exceptionally well. They quickly become familiar with the consistent expectations for behaviour, learning to share and take turns. This helps children to build friendships. Staff have a very strong understanding of their responsibilities to safeguard children. They ensure they provide excellent supervision of the children during their play.

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provision is outstanding

The staff team are highly experienced, qualified and very well established. They are supported most effectively by the committee. This means that the playgroup is extremely efficient in its organisation. This results in a shared vision of how to continue to drive improvement and respond to the needs of the children and their families. Robust arrangements for recruiting new staff, regular supervision and checking of staff's activity leads to a high level of consistency of practice. Staff are supported to attend training to keep their knowledge up to date. Effective delegation of roles means that all staff members' individual skills and interests are valued. Regular evaluation of all aspects of the provision ensures that children continually have access to exciting activities that offer suitable challenges.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY371691 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 858085

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Type of provision

Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 58 Name of provider Noah's Ark Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 20 November 2009 Telephone number 07749202184

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Type of provision

Noah's Ark Playgroup opened in 1990, is managed by a committee and is situated on the site of St. Luke's Primary School. The playgroup employs nine members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Morning sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am, a lunch club operates from 11.45am until 12.30pm and afternoon sessions are from 12.45pm until 3.45pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Type of provision

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Type of provision

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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Type of provision

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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