Greendown Playgroup

Greendown Playgroup Swindon Greendown School, Grange Park Way, Grange Park, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 6HN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 June 2015 22 June 2011

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

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

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

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

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

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

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

p.1

This provision is good

 The staff and manager know the children well. They have a clear picture of where they are developmentally and how to support them to achieve their next steps in learning and development.  All the children are making good progress from their starting points, including children learning English as an additional language and those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The key person and buddy system are very well established and highly effective at supporting children and parents to quickly settle into the playgroup.  The children are happy, behave exceptionally well, and are settled and very confident. There is a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the playgroup.  The manager monitors and supports staff's practice, identifying areas where they can improve their practice to ensure high standards are maintained.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always ensure that the opportunities and experiences they offer for the more able or older children provide sufficient challenge to stretch them in their learning.  Children's awareness of mathematical language and their problem-solving skills are not always encouraged by staff.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend the range of interesting and challenging experiences available for the older and more able children  extend the opportunities given to improve children's mathematical development and how they develop their problem-solving skills.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector completed observations of interactions between staff and children indoors and outdoors.  The inspector tracked two children's development.  The inspector took part in a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector had a discussion with the manager.  The inspector had discussions with staff and children.

p.2

who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is good overall. Staff have high expectations of the children and know what they can do. All children are making good progress from their starting points. Staff plan for each individual child on a weekly basis. There is a wide range of resources available to all children and staff ensure the contents are easily identified. Children enjoy using a well-resourced, stimulating, enclosed outdoor space throughout the day, which supports all areas of their learning and development. Staff provide plenty of different activities, such as making play dough, sticking activities and singing using props from a song sack, to extend children's creative development. However, some of these activities lack challenge, especially for those older and/or more able children. In addition, staff do not make the most of all opportunities to extend children's mathematical language, their problem-solving skills or to encourage them to estimate or predict. Nonetheless, children

p.3

who attend. This is good

are curious and keen to learn new things. They are involved in some decision making, such as deciding on the theme for the role play area. Partnerships with parents are very positive. Parents are happy with the setting, their children's key persons and the manager, and feel supported.

p.3

outstanding

Children receive exceptional support from their key person; especially children leearning English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and all children are treated as individuals. The children have formed exceptionally strong bonds and attachments with their key person. The children are very happy, caring towards each other, independent and very confident, as the staff are very strong role models. The children are able to take risks and are very aware of their own safety. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything the playgroup does. Staff use everyday activities to increase children's awareness of healthy lifestyles. Children help prepare snacks, cut their own fruit and pour their own drinks, while staff discuss what they are doing and why this helps them develop healthy bodies.

p.3

provision is good

The manager has a very good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She effectively tracks children's development, monitors the educational programme and staff's practice, and reviews children's learning journals. The manager is very supportive of staff and acts as a good role model to them. She encourages them to complete training and use this in their daily practice. The manager and staff reflect on their practice and use this to drive improvements.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 507994 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 826200 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 3 - 5 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 52 Name of provider Greendown Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 22 June 2011 Telephone number 01793 882234

p.4

Setting details

Greendown Playgroup was registered in 1996. It is situated in its own building, in the grounds of Greendown Secondary School in Grange Park, in West Swindon, Wiltshire. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years old. The playgroup is open every weekday during term time from 8.45am until 2.45pm, with separate sessions in the morning and afternoon. There are 10 members of staff, of whom nine hold relevant early years qualifications, including one member of staff who has a foundation degree. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are learning English as an additional language.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5