St Paul's Pre-School

St Paul's Playgroup St. Paul's Church, 75 Chain Lane, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA11 9QF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 October 2015 12 November 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Children progress well in their learning because staff make extensive use of opportunities to talk with children, introduce them to appropriate new language, and help them to think.  Staff teach children to become active and to move skilfully and confidently. As a result, children’s physical skills grow rapidly at playgroup.  This is a calm, happy pre-school. Staff support for children is gentle, positive and encouraging. Staff know individual children in detail because they assess children’s abilities regularly and carefully. This information is used well to plan teaching.  Leaders review the work of staff with much care and consideration. They know the strengths of the setting well and understand how to lead more improvement.  Staff and leaders are ambitious to give children a good start to their education. They do not allow their work to be limited by the need to pack away their provision each day.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, some teaching is less well suited to the needs of younger children. Also, support for children when sat together as one large group is not as good as during the rest of the playgroup session.  Leaders and staff do not make excellent use of opportunities to help children to understand the similarities and differences between themselves and other people, families and communities living in modern Britain.

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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

 ensure that activities are always planned well around the needs of children  ensure that staff make the most of every opportunity to help children learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and other people, families and communities living in modern Britain.

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Inspection activities

 Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) spoke to children and observed learning and teaching indoors and outdoors. Some teaching was observed jointly with the deputy manager.  Meetings were held with the manager/nominated person, other leaders, a range of staff, and a representative of the playgroup committee.  HMI spoke to some parents and carers.  HMI checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of playgroup staff, including certificates in paediatric first aid.  HMI considered a range of documents including: reviews of how well the nursery is developing; evidence from support visits by the local authority; documents about the care and protection of children; plans for learning; and records of children’s learning and progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The quality of the playgroup is now good because of skilled, careful work by leaders and the combined effort of the staff team. Together they have acted upon the findings of previous inspections, as well as advice from the local authority. Leaders check the quality of teaching and learning regularly and review what difference this makes to children's progress. They make good use of this information when identifying their priorities for improvement, as well as when supporting individual staff. Staff understanding is also benefitting from regular access to training. These strengths show that the pre-school is well-placed to improve further. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders check that staff understand how to recognise the signs of possible abuse to children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are taught to be confident and independent, able to listen, communicate and cooperate. They are also learning many key skills in mathematics, and in literacy. For example, children are becoming enthusiastic, confident writers. They know that adults will respect their skills and efforts. This is because staff understand how to promote children’s mark-making and early writing. Most activities are planned with care and shaped around children’s skills, needs and interests. For example, frequent opportunities to be physically active indoors and outdoors are planned carefully to help children become healthy and skilful. Staff know individual children well because they make detailed and regular assessments of children’s needs and abilities. They use such information carefully when deciding what children need to learn next. In addition, they meet with parents regularly; and ensure that home and playgroup work together to assist children's learning. This

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children at St Paul’s Playgroup feel good about themselves and their learning. This is because of sensitive, skilled support and guidance from staff. Children are becoming confident, caring and settled in their time away from home. They act safely, treat one another kindly and listen well to staff. Their behaviour is good and they are well- mannered. Children are becoming independent as well as very able relate to their named worker. Throughout the session, children are encouraged to look after toys and resources. As a result, they respect their pre-school. Staff emphasise the importance of healthy eating and children enjoy sharing fruit at snack time.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children at St Paul's Playgroup are gaining a solid foundation for their ongoing education at pre-school and primary school. All children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are making good progress in their learning. This is because of good teaching and successful support for children’s individual needs. Times when children are in a small group with a named member of the staff team are proving particularly useful in helping children to become confident and at ease. Additional funding is used well to employ staff who give children the extra support they need.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 323098 Local authority St. Helens Inspection number 1023056 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 41 Number of children on roll 18 Name of provider St Paul's Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 12 November 2014 Telephone number 01744 453181

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Setting details

St. Paul's Playgroup was first opened in 1981. It is registered with Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. It operates from community rooms in St Paul's Church, in the Blackbrook area of St Helens. It is managed by a voluntary management committee. The setting is open five mornings a week from 9am to 12noon, during term time. When children are present, the pre-school has sole use of two large rooms, and an outdoor play space. The setting employs seven members of staff. Three staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, and four staff are qualified at level 3. The pre-school provides funded places for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are currently 18 children on roll.

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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

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