Bumblebees Playgroup

Bumblebees Playgroup Beaudesert Lower School, Appenine Way, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 3DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 October 2015 25 January 2011

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Committee members do not have an awareness of how to safely recruit and check the suitability of new members. They do not routinely inform Ofsted when new members join the committee. As a result, some of those people who form the committee are operating in this position of responsibility without being vetted.  Committee members do not know how to keep children safe. They do not know what action to take to report concerns to the relevant authorities about child protection issues.  Monitoring of teaching, learning and assessment is weak. This means that staff do not focus upon relevant next steps in learning to help children become ready for starting school.  The committee and manager do not effectively oversee the work of staff. As a result, the quality of teaching and learning and the developments children make are not reviewed to ensure they make suitable progress.  Children do not always understand measures to help manage behaviour. They view

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This provision is inadequate

some ways of dealing with their behaviour as negative and label each other as naughty.

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It has the following strengths

 Children display confidence at the playgroup. They talk with enthusiasm about things that interest them. Children learn about being healthy and active.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that all committee members undergo required checks, including obtaining an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, to confirm their suitability to fulfil their role 30/11/2015

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Due Date

 ensure that all staff, including committee members, understand the safeguarding policies and procedures, including how to identify and respond to signs that children are at risk of harm 14/12/2015

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching and activities on offer for children to support them in gaining the essential skills they require in readiness for starting school 14/12/2015

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Due Date

 improve observation and assessments to ensure that staff plan challenging and relevant activities that promote children's next steps in learning 30/11/2015

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Due Date

 implement arrangements for the supervision of all staff, including the manager 30/11/2015

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Due Date

 manage children's behaviour in a positive manner which helps them to understand the methods staff use. 30/11/2015

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector invited the manager to undertake a joint observation.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager, nominated person and a local authority representative. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self- evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff and committee members working at the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to children and a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Arrangements for safeguarding children are ineffective. The committee, who have overall responsibility and lead the playgroup, do not know their roles and responsibilities. Ofsted sent a previous warning letter to the playgroup to instruct them to inform Ofsted of new committee members. Despite this, the committee continue to fail to do so. This leads to some individuals who have positions of responsibility at the playgroup being unchecked to confirm their suitability to work with children. Arrangements for recording and reporting concerns about children's welfare are not robust. Staff understand that they should follow policies and procedures to report any child protection concerns to the manager or the committee. However, the committee members do not know how to identify and pass on these concerns to the relevant professionals. This poses a risk to children's safety. The manager has a high level of qualification. However, she does not use her knowledge to

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

successfully monitor learning, development and assessment at the playgroup. The committee do not review the manager's practice. They do not provide supervision or appraise the manager's work to develop targets for improvement. Aspirations for children are not high enough among some staff, and the manager does not use supervisions to address this. Lack of strong leadership and management means the quality of the setting has deteriorated significantly since the previous inspection. Staff undertake training, but this does not help to raise standards. The playgroup works in partnership with other professionals to support children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Assessments of children's learning are weak. The manager and staff do not identify when there are gaps in children's learning. This hinders children's development as they do not gain the essential skills that they need in readiness for starting school. The focus upon what children need to learn next is not always fully relevant and meaningful. Staff report some children's lack of interest in some aspects of learning, such as practising their writing skills. However, they do not provide activities and opportunities for children to support these areas. Children play together and enjoy talking to adults about their interests. Staff work with parents and include them in learning by sharing the development profiles during parents' evening. Staff plan activities for children outdoors and provide role-play activities that engage children.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children do not understand the ways that staff manage their behaviour. Staff use a sand timer to provide children with a set time to reflect upon any unwanted behaviour. Children do not understand this. They believe the sand timer is for naughty children. Children role play their understanding with dolls, raising their voices and telling the dolls they have been naughty and to sit still. Children do not gain a good awareness of emotions and feelings, which has a negative impact upon their ability to value and respect others. Staff work with other professionals to help children to settle at the playgroup and to prepare them emotionally for moving on to school. Children form close attachments to their key people, who know them well. Staff calm children who are unsettled when they arrive and they quickly join in with activities. Group times help children to feel welcome and provide them with special time with adults.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is poor. There is no clear plan of support for children who are most vulnerable to underachievement. The playgroup does not provide children with suitable opportunities to make good progress or to develop skills that equip them for their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY309643 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 856657 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 63 Name of provider Bumblebees Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 25 January 2011 Telephone number 01525 853333

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Setting details

Bumblebees Playgroup was registered in 2005. The playgroup employs 12 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager is qualified at degree level. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday from 8.50am to 11.50am and from 12 noon to 3pm, during term times only. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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