Barbican Playgroup

Barbican Playgroup Level 01 and 02, Andrewes House, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 September 2015 10 November 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff build positive relationships with parents and get to know children well. This helps children to feel secure and confident in their environment so they are ready to learn.  The manager uses effective systems to evaluate the quality of the nursery and identifies strengths and weaknesses. She gains the views of parents, children and staff to put plans in place to make improvements that successfully promote better outcomes for children.  Children behave extremely well. They learn to communicate effectively with each other to share ideas about their play. This helps them get on together well.  Staff are secure in their knowledge of how to promote the learning and development of each child. They provide challenging activities that help children to progress well in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 All children enjoy exploring the environment and have good opportunities to become independent learners. However, sometimes children do not have enough time to find out how to do things for themselves to enhance their problem-solving skills.  There is a range of equipment to help children learn about technology, such as computers, remote control cars and cameras. However, these are not generally available for children to explore independently to enhance their learning.

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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

 strengthen the support for children to learn through discovery and problem solving  extend the opportunities for children to use equipment to help them learn about technology.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children's interactions during play activities, inside and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke with parents to seek their views.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and children.  The inspector sampled several policies and children's development records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have good knowledge of safeguarding procedures, which they implement well to keep children safe. They know how to refer any concerns about a child's welfare. The manager regularly offers staff guidance and support through their initial induction and ongoing supervision. Staff continually enhance their skills through training, for example, improvements to planning and assessment systems enable staff to identify children's next steps for learning more effectively. This improves teaching practices to ensure good outcomes for children. The manager oversees children's progress and welfare needs effectively. Using tracking systems she identifies children's levels of ability to enable staff to plan precisely for their individual needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide stimulating and interesting activities to motivate children to learn. For example, children are excited to look at dinosaur books and learn about the differences between herbivores and carnivores. This enables them to use books to gain different types of information. Staff use their observations and information gained from parents well to plan for children's individual interests. They set up the environment effectively to enable children to make choices about their play, although opportunities to independently explore technology are limited. Overall, this approach helps children to be independent and choose activities and resources that interest them, so they enjoy their play. For example, children pretend to be chefs in the home corner using play dough as food to serve to their friends. Staff work extremely closely with the parents, which provides continuity of learning between home and playgroup. For example, parents are invited to stay and play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The children have very positive relationships with staff and each other. They behave well and get along. For example, children work together to build train tracks passing the pieces to each other and deciding which direction to go. Children respect their environment and each other as they help to tidy up and offer tissues to their friends when they have spilled their water. Children settle quickly and are confident within their new environment as they make independent choices about their play. They also take care of their personal hygiene routines, such as using the toilet and hand washing. Children are confident communicators, which further helps them prepare for their move to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. They show that they are confident and independent learners. For example, children learn early mathematical language, including 'top', 'bottom' 'left' and 'right'. Older children start to write and make links to sounds that letters make. Staff support children well to gain the skills they need to start school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 122756 Local authority City of London Inspection number 840435 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 11 Name of provider Barbican Playgroup & Mothers & Toddlers Group Committee Date of previous inspection 10 November 2011 Telephone number 020 76382718

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Setting details

Barbican Playgroup registered in 1975. It is situated within the Barbican Estate, in the City of London. The playgroup operates Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 1pm, term time only. The playgroup is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The playgroup employs two members of staff, including the manager, both of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3.

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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

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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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