St. Albans Playgroup

St. Albans Playgroup St. Albans Church Hall, Norwood Drive, North Harrow, Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7PF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 November 2015 8 March 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The highly successful partnership with other professionals enables staff to obtain support for children when needed. Staff fully understand their role in helping all children to make good progress in their learning.  Staff have excellent partnerships with parents. The consistent sharing of information means parents know about their children's daily activities and are included in supporting their learning. Parents are very pleased with the progress their children make and speak highly of the kind, considerate and hardworking staff.  Staff attend training to enhance practice and successfully share their learning with the staff group. This has a positive impact on continually improving the quality of teaching and on children's care and learning experiences.  Staff are well qualified. They give the children their full attention and provide a secure base from which children learn. They use effective teaching techniques. For example,

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This provision is good

they encourage children to express themselves using good levels of language.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children have the opportunity to play, have fun and learn through a varied range of activities. Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to provide resources that are reflective of real life and experiences that strengthen their imaginative play.

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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 opportunities for children to share their own family experiences.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and staff interaction, inside and outside.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector talked to parents, staff and children, and held regular discussions with the manager.  The inspector examined documentation, including a representative sample of children's records, development plans and staff records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff attend relevant training and have a good understanding of child protection and their responsibilities. The provider has a good understanding of the requirements, which are implemented well. Recruitment of new staff is robust. Suitable and qualified staff work with the children. Ongoing staff meetings and staff performance management means children are cared for by staff who remain motivated and suitable. The provider uses effective systems for monitoring children's progress. Systems for self- evaluation are effective and include the views of parents, which helps to continually foster changes and improvements in the playgroup.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The children learn as they play in a busy, happy and stimulating environment. Children show good levels of focus, concentrating of their chosen activity for an extended time. For example, children are delighted to paint lamps as part of their Diwali celebrations. They work hard covering the clay pot with paint and glitter, showing attention to detail. Staff successfully support the children through shared attention and staff are skilled at knowing when to intervene and when to allow children to make their own decisions. This helps children develop high levels of self-worth and confidence.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children form outstandingly positive relationships with the staff who know the children very well. The staff are sensitive and highly respect of the individual needs of each of the children. Staff successfully help children to share and take turn through practical activities such as cooking. Interesting conversations with children allow them to talk about how they feel. This helps all children to broaden their knowledge of themselves and others. Staff are exceptionally well deployed, and help children to manage their feelings in a positive, kind and very consistent manner. This helps children to understand how their behaviour can affect others. The children show very high levels of kindness to their friends, including them in games such as dressing up and giving them roles to play in the game.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and self-assured. They are highly motivated and excited to learn. Children are very good friends and respect each other's feelings and space. All children make good progress and they are very well prepared to move on in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 509009 Local authority Harrow Inspection number 846848 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 27 Name of provider St Albans Mother's Union Pre-School Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 8 March 2011 Telephone number 07886886794

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Setting details

St. Albans Playgroup opened in 1964. It is situated in the London Borough of Harrow. The playgroup is open each weekday, except Wednesday, from 9am to 12.45pm during term time only. The group employs six staff, of whom all hold childcare qualifications at level 2 and above. The provider is accredited to receive government funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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