Charlton & District Playgroup

Charlton and District Playgroup St. Thomas Church & Community Hall,, Charlton, ANDOVER, Hampshire, SP10 4AN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 February 2015 3 December 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

 The quality of teaching across the playgroup is outstanding. Staff provide an excellent range of high-quality learning experiences inside and out. As a result, children are keen to learn and eager to explore their environment.  The strategies staff use to check children's progress in their learning and development ensure that children make exceptional progress from their starting abilities on entry.  The playgroup staff follow robust procedures which give the highest priority to the safety, welfare and well-being of children, who are kept safe and secure.  Partnerships with parents and carers are a key strength of the playgroup's provision and are significant in ensuring staff meet children's needs extremely well.  The committee and management drive improvements very successfully. Targeted professional development for staff is highly focused on identified areas for continued improvement.  The playgroup staff work exceptionally well together. They deploy themselves

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This provision is outstanding

effectively, ensuring that they use every opportunity to enrich and extend the learning opportunities available to children.

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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 opportunities for children to see and use their literacy skills by extending the use of labelling, such as of children's work.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and development, both inside and outside, and looked at the range of toys, resources and equipment available for children's use.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held talks with the manager and chairperson and discussed the methods of appointing staff; planning for their professional development; how children's progress is assessed and how the provision is evaluated, as well as looking at relevant documentation.  The inspector spoke to the children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to parents and carers during the inspection and took into account their views.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Staff use their strong knowledge and understanding of how children learn and expertise in teaching to provide children with rich and varied experiences. Staff skilfully extend children's learning during their play. For example, when children create a puppet theatre, staff provide them with extra resources that spark children's imaginations so play develops. Children's language development is exceptionally well promoted because staff have introduced daily language groups. These help children to not only develop their confidence in speaking, but teaches them cooperation and how to take turns, so they are well prepared for school. However, staff miss chances to model writing to children, such as by labelling their work, to show its practical use. All staff work in close partnership with parents and outside professionals to support and promote each child's learning needs through a shared approach. Assessment arrangements are precise and sharply focused on

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who attend. This is outstanding

the individual child so staff meet children's personal learning needs.

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outstanding

Exceptional arrangements to care for children support their well-being. Children who are new to the playgroup settle quickly because staff have devised excellent arrangements to support them. For example, children attend stay-and-play settling-in sessions and the playgroup requests a wealth of information from parents, which they provide. This means staff get to know the children and their families extremely well. The staff team provide a happy, secure environment. Children thrive on uninterrupted play so they complete activities and gain a sense of achievement. Children are independent and prepare their own snacks. Staff use clear and consistent behaviour management techniques, so children's behaviour is excellent.

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provision is outstanding

The playgroup's leadership is inspirational. Highly effective arrangements for the recruitment and induction of new staff and checks on the performance of existing staff result in very high quality teaching. Staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities to safeguard children, which they regularly review during staff meetings. Consistent communication between the staff allows them to develop robust strategies to support children who may need additional help. Thorough analysis of assessment information means that any potential learning needs are quickly recognised and met. Robust procedures for regular evaluation mean that the management team has a clear vision of desired improvements, such as the establishment of a wild garden in order to enhance children's understanding of the natural world.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511329 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 836957 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 38 Number of children on roll 60 Name of provider Charlton & District Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 3 December 2009 Telephone number 07979 841318

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Setting details

Charlton and District Playgroup opened in 1978 and registered with Ofsted on the Early Years Register. It operates from two rooms in the church of St Thomas in the village of Charlton and is a registered charity. The playgroup is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The playgroup opens for five weekdays during school terms. Sessions run from 9am until 12 noon daily, with an optional lunch club until 12.30pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, sessions run until 3pm. The playgroup's committee employs 10 staff, who all hold recognised early years qualifications.

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Setting details

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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Setting details

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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Setting details

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Setting details

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

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