Ludgershall Preschool

Ludgershall Pre-School Playgroup Castle Primary School, Short Street, Ludgershall, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 9RB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 February 2015 7 July 2009

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This inspection: Good 2

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

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching across the playgroup is good. Staff provide an extensive range of stimulating learning opportunities for children, both inside and out. Children are well motivated, eager to explore and develop well in their learning.  Strong partnerships between parents and the conscientious staff ensure that staff keep parents well informed about their children's developmental progress and that they feel welcome and comfortable at the playgroup. This liaison helps staff meet children's care needs well.  Staff, and especially those in the green room, are aware of what children need to learn next and plan activities around children's interests to advance their learning and development, so they make good progress.  Staff are well trained in safeguarding and child protection and have a good understanding of how to recognise signs which may give rise to concerns. Staff help children to be aware of safety issues and explain things to them carefully.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The leadership team is not pro-active in encouraging the professional development of staff in a variety of ways, including sharing best practice across the staff team.  The leadership team does not encourage all staff to use the most effective methods for assessing children's abilities and planning what they need to learn next.

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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

 use monitoring of staff practice across the playgroup rooms so that an ethos of sharing best practice is developed, and a very high standard of assessment and planning implemented; and be pro-active in seeking a variety of ways to promote the professional development of staff externally.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and readiness for school, both inside and outside.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed the outcome.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, safety records and planning documentation.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection, and held meetings with the chair of the playgroup committee and manager of the provision, which included discussion on areas for future development.

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who attend. This is good

Staff plan the environment with a good range of activities across all areas of learning. Experienced, knowledgeable staff skilfully support children. They emphasise development of personal social and emotional skills for the younger children, whilst older children gain useful independent skills for their eventual move to school. Staff promote children's speech and language development well, including for those who learn English as an additional language. Children enjoy an excellent variety of outdoor opportunities even in poor weather conditions, so gain positive attitudes to outdoor activity. Staff are fully aware of what each child needs to tackle next to make progress, so children develop in line with expectations for their ages. Staff undertake thorough progress checks for two-year-olds and for older children, so they know of any gaps in learning and address these. The staff provide necessary support for children's individual learning needs ensuring all progress

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who attend. This is good

well. However, there are differences between rooms in the quality of staff assessment and planning that mean children do not make the quickest possible progress.

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good

Good arrangements mean staff help children to settle quickly and play in harmony. Easy access to resources helps children to develop independence. They learn to share toys and interact well with each other. Staff have a thorough understanding of safeguarding. They teach children how to behave safely. Children are encouraged to keep themselves healthy by exercising outdoors when they choose. Staff collect a range of information from parents before children start, so they know and meet children's individual preferences and personal physical requirements well. Each child has a special designated person to help them settle in. This arrangement functions well and provides parents with an easy, accessible point of contact.

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provision is good

The experienced manager and committee implement requirements effectively. The manager leads a dedicated staff team by sound example and through effective support. She determines the strengths and weaknesses of activities and how to bring about improvements to teaching to promote better outcomes for children. However, the manager does not encourage staff to share best practice sufficiently, for example in regard to ways of determining what children need to learn next, so children progress rapidly. Additionally, when courses for professional development are geographically distant, the leadership team does not actively seek other ways of achieving desired development, such as visiting other settings or using internet courses. Management has addressed recommendations from the previous inspection; staff prepare children well for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 145922 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 841722 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 95 Name of provider Ludgershall Pre-school Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 7 July 2009 Telephone number 01264 790999

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Setting details

Ludgershall Pre-School Playgroup operates from premises in the grounds of Castle Primary School since registering there in 2010. The playgroup is funded to provide free early education to children aged two, three, and four years. The playgroup is open weekdays in term time, and sessions run from 9am until 2.45pm. There are 13 members of staff; of these, 11 are appropriately qualified.

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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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