Play Aloud Pirton

Play Aloud Pirton Village Hall, High Street, Pirton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3PS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 November 2015 10 November 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff are highly skilled in their interactions with children. They provide exciting and innovative activities and experiences that motivate children as they learn through their play. The children's use of the interactive planning wall, enables staff to take account of children's emerging interests and needs very successfully.  The strong skills of the key persons help children form exceptionally warm and caring bonds with them. They create a happy and vibrant atmosphere for all.  Children are eager to attend this exceptionally friendly and happy club. They flourish in confidence, particularly as staff support them extremely well to extend their interests.  The dynamic manager and her dedicated team of staff demonstrate an exceptional passion for excellence. They effectively reflect on their practice taking into account the views of parents and children. They are highly organised and successfully embrace

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This provision is outstanding

each others' qualities and skills to drive improvements and continually raise the quality of the club.  All staff are inspirational role models. Children behave extremely well and treat each other with great respect. They demonstrate impeccable manners and play harmoniously together. There are clear boundaries and rules in place. These help children to swiftly learn what is expected of them.  Partnerships with parents and staff at the adjacent school are strong. Their contributions to meeting the needs of children are truly valued and welcomed. Therefore, they all work together to support children's care and learning needs. Parents describe the club staff as very professional people, who meet children's individual needs most effectively.

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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

 consider sharing with parents the excellent procedures in place to protect children when using electronic devices to enhance their understanding of how to protect children at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector joined the staff and manager as they collected children from the adjacent pre-school and school.  The inspector observed staff interactions with children in their play in all three indoor rooms used by the club.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the club's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club.  The inspector spoke to 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 outstanding

The highly qualified manager and extremely knowledgeable staff team work well together. This has a very positive effect on improving children's progress. Staff receive excellent support, through robust supervision meetings, whole-group staff meetings and training. This helps to ensure consistent high levels of positive interactions between children and staff. As a result of recent training, staff's knowledge of specific behaviour strategies is significantly enhanced. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff promote children's safety extremely well and understand the procedures to follow, in order to report any welfare concerns. They have an extremely organised system of collecting children from the adjacent pre-school and school. Staff share their comprehensive range of policies with parents when their child first attends. Staff also display a different policy each week on the very informative parent noticeboard. This helps parents to have an excellent

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

understanding of the responsibilities of the club. The manager and staff have a superb understanding of how to protect children when they use electronic devices to enhance their learning. They are considering innovative ways to share this practice with parents to enhance their understanding of how to protect children at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

All children have an amazing time exploring this highly stimulating environment. Key persons work in partnership with other settings that young children attend. They have chosen to consider the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Pertinent observations and meticulous assessments enable staff to plan for children's precise next steps to complement their learning. Children demonstrate high levels of focus and engagement as they enjoy exploring innovative activities, such as creating pictures using coloured ice blocks. They develop outstanding communication skills as they laugh together and chat happily with one another. Older children's excellent interaction with younger children inspires them to build complex models together using construction materials. Children welcome the sensitive interaction of staff in their play. Staff skilfully use their exemplary understanding of how children learn to extend children's

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

interest in lifecycles. Children develop an excellent understanding of differences in the wider community. They learn about traditional customs from different countries and make comparisons to their own. Children's faces light up with excitement as they recall planned theme days they enjoyed during the school holidays.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children have plenty of opportunities to be physically active and develop a healthy lifestyle. For example, they thoroughly enjoy playing tennis and join together large pipes to create a ball run. Children develop positive self-esteem as they cheer and encourage one another as they play. They appreciate the varied range of healthy nutritious and freshly cooked meals and snacks. Staff encourage children to share their views on their favourite fruits and vegetables and to try new ones. This helps them to develop an excellent understanding of the importance of making healthy choices in their lives. Children display high levels of independence and a sense of belonging. They thrive in taking on responsibility, volunteering to be one of the helpers for the day.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY424905 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874470 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 140 Name of provider Katie Thomasina Rowe Date of previous inspection 10 November 2011 Telephone number 07985517911

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Setting details

Play Aloud was registered in 2011. It operates from Pirton Village Hall and is privately owned. The club employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3 or above. The manager holds a childcare qualification at level 6. The club opens from 7.30am until 9am and from 3pm until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. During school holidays, sessions are available from 7.30am until 6.30pm Monday to Thursday.

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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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