St Christopher's Playgroup (Warden Hill School)

St Christopher's Playgroup (Warden Hill) Warden Hill Primary School, Durham Close, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 3DF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 November 2015 9 May 2012

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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

 Teaching is of a good standard and children's learning is well planned for. This helps children make good progress from their starting points.  Children use well-developed social skills and relate really well to the other children and adults around them.  The manager evaluates the setting well. She identifies most weaknesses and makes focused improvements. This has a positive impact on children's learning experiences and the progress they make.  The manager identifies staff training needs well to benefit children. She monitors staff performance through targeted and regular supervision meetings.  Partnerships with parents and other providers that children attend are well considered and effective. Children benefit from continuity in care and learning, which helps promote the progress they make.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to present children with challenge during everyday play situations to help them make the best progress possible in their learning.  At times, children's play is unnecessarily interrupted, which sometimes hinders their ability to explore and fully develop their ideas.

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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

 make full use of all children's play experiences to consistently challenge their thinking skills to help them make rapid improvement in their learning  strengthen opportunities for children to explore and develop their play and ideas more fully.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children inside and outside.  The inspector spoke with parents and took their views into account.  The inspector looked at documentation, including children's learning journals.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and her team understand child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they have concerns. They promote children's welfare and safety effectively. For example, before letting children go outside to play in the woods, staff show children photographs of berries and explain that they could be poisonous. Management and staff plan interesting activities that raise children's understanding of their local community. Children develop positive attitudes towards each other and their environment. For example, children have learnt about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and enjoyed playing Jewish games. The manager identifies training programmes that are in response to children's needs. For example, staff have become more proficient at developing children's mathematical skills through play after attending a course on problem solving. The manager uses her qualifications and experience well. For example, she builds

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

strong relationships with parents and other professionals to help meet children's individual care and learning needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are excited and confident to take part in the learning opportunities provided for them. For example, children went on a treasure hunt in a small woodland area and were really keen to solve problems and find treasure. The manager and staff make detailed and evaluative observations of children's achievements. They plan activities in response to children's strengths and interests. For example, staff helped children build a den under a table so that children could have a feast for a king. Children enjoyed making elaborate and well-considered patterns with buttons; they worked with concentration and planned their work well. Children's progress is effectively tracked and any gaps in their development are identified and targeted. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well and understand what is expected of them. They consistently treat each other in a kind and considerate way. Children communicate well with each other and work with growing levels of independence. For example, children pour drinks when they are thirsty and help their friends to do the same. Children make decisions about where they want to play. They benefit from lots of fresh air and well-planned outdoor experiences. Children and parents build positive relationships with their key person. This contributes to children feeling confident and achieving well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the skills they need for future learning and are well prepared for school. Children are happy and settled while they play. Outcomes for children are good.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY340735 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 834960 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 24 Name of provider St Christopher's Playgroup (Warden Hill) Committee Date of previous inspection 9 May 2012 Telephone number 07914 740022

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Setting details

St Christopher's Playgroup (Warden Hill) operates on one day a week from a classroom within Warden Hill School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. For the rest of the week, the playgroup operates from the church hall in Warden Hill. It is under a separate registration but is managed by the same committee and with the same staff team. The playgroup is open at this site from 9.15am to 12.15pm on Wednesdays during term time only. The playgroup employs four members of staff who all hold an early years qualification at level 3 or above.

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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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