St Marys Playgroup

St Marys Playgroup Church Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 2HQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 September 2015 22 September 2014

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The well-qualified management and staff team demonstrate a good commitment to improving outcomes for all children. They use their knowledge and understanding of how children learn to provide varied and imaginative play and learning experiences.  Staff recognise the uniqueness of each child in their care. The enthusiastic and very caring team ensure children's individual personalities and family backgrounds are understood by completing home visits.  Children successfully develop a strong sense of security and build trusting relationships with their key person. This helps children feel very safe and well cared for.  Staff recognise the benefits of working with parents and have established effective ways to provide parents with information. For example, parents are provided with regular newsletters and daily feedback. Parents are unanimous in their positive feedback about the care and learning their children receive and state that they feel

p.1

This provision is good

particularly well supported by the team.  Children are encouraged to develop self-help skills during snack time, for example, they serve themselves, pour their own drink and select the fruit they want to eat.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always promote children's problem-solving skills.  Staff are not always well informed about what children already know and can do when they first start at the setting.

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

 increase opportunities for children to develop their mathematical awareness and problem-solving skills  improve the strategies used to gain information about what children already know and can do when they join the setting.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup's deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider. The inspector sampled a range of documentation, such as, the self-evaluation, policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to staff, children and a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective because the leadership and management of the setting are strong. The management team have a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. They have established effective staff recruitment procedures and a robust system for the safe use of electronic devices to help keep children safe. All staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding procedures and know what to do if they have concerns about a child in their care. The manager effectively leads her staff team. Staff supervision and appraisals are effective and are used to recognise individual strengths and to identify any specific training needs. Staff are fully aware of the learning needs of all children through the weekly planning meetings. Staff use this time to identify groups of children who may need extra support.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is good. Staff understand how children learn and provide a wide range of planned and freely chosen play opportunities to enhance children's development. As a result, children are progressing well. Children confidently talk about number, shape and colour in their play as they explore malleable dough. However, staff do not always extend opportunities for children to develop their problem-solving skills to extend their mathematical thinking even further. Children develop their physical skills as they competently use rolling pins and cutters to make shapes. Children particularly enjoy playing with the mud kitchen as they fill containers, pretend they are making pies and explore the insects they find. They thoroughly enjoy rolling hoops down the slopes to see how far they go. Children develop early writing skills as they make marks with chalk or paint using objects, such as sticks and leaves collected from the garden. Before children

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

start at the playgroup, staff obtain information from parents about their play preferences during the home visits. However, this discussion does not include gaining information about children's starting points in learning.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are well behaved because they have clear boundaries and are aware of expected behaviour. Staff teach children the importance of showing care and consideration to one another. Hence, they form strong friendships and play in harmony. The playgroup has developed good links with local schools and they plan visits prior to children moving on. This helps to prepare children emotionally for starting school. Children have many opportunities to learn about the world around them through a wide range of engaging activities.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are happy and enjoy their time at this friendly and stimulating playgroup which offers a varied range of activities and resources. All children, including those who receive funded education, make good progress and are developing the skills they need to support their next stage in learning and their eventual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 253938 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 992610 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 39 Name of provider Elaine Pritchard Date of previous inspection 22 September 2014 Telephone number 07900 104490

p.4

Setting details

St Marys Playgroup was registered in 1989. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including the deputy who holds Qualified Teacher Status. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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