St Matthews Playgroup

St Matthews Playgroup St Matthews Church, Clare Road, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS6 5TB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 December 2015 10 February 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

 The manager leads the team ambitiously. A carefully thought-out evaluation of the playgroup has had an excellent impact on the arrangements for the staff's professional development, leading to children making outstanding progress.  The well-qualified staff have a thorough knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which they use to plan a wide variety of activities for the children.  Staff make astute assessments of children's achievements and plan carefully for their next learning steps. Teaching is highly responsive to children's needs.  Teaching is highly effective because there is a strong focus on communication and language skills. The playgroup is fully inclusive, and children who are learning English as an additional language make impressive progress.  Staff are excellent role models, and children form strong bonds with their key workers. Children's personal development is central to everything staff do. Parents praise the

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This provision is outstanding

staff highly for the way they promote their children's personal and social development.  The environment and resources are excellent. Children learn and play in a spacious, welcoming setting with a very good variety of activities, both inside and outside, which promote an enthusiasm for learning.  Safeguarding is highly effective; children thrive in a safe and secure atmosphere.

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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

 implement plans to develop even more creative solutions to deepen children's learning and develop their communication skills when they are playing outside.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities inside and outside, including the quality of teaching.  The inspector talked to the children, and held discussions with members of staff at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of staff practice and discussed this with the manager.  The inspector looked at a selection of documentation, children's assessment information, policies and procedures, and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. All staff are very clear about their responsibilities and fully understand child protection issues and procedures. Robust systems for planning improvements, appraisals, coaching and support enable the manager systematically to identify staff training. This makes a powerful contribution to improving staff skills and outcomes for children. For example, training has positively influenced the way staff organise the exciting inside environment into small, cosy areas which develop children's speaking and listening skills. There is an excellent partnership with parents, who receive regular information on their children's progress. Families appreciate the help they receive in preparing their children for school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have a good understanding of each child's achievements, to which their teaching is highly responsive. They tailor planning to suit individual learning needs and quickly adapt teaching to engage children. As a result, children make impressive progress in all areas of learning. The strong focus on children's language and communication skills has a very positive impact on the progress of all children, particularly those who are learning English as an additional language. Children join in enthusiastically with all the activities and opportunities available. For example, they learn about different colours and shapes, and learn to say 'Good morning' in a variety of languages. They learn about the diversity of the world in which they live and celebrate each other's traditions and customs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely settled and secure in their surroundings, and develop excellent social skills. They understand about making healthy choices, help one another, and share toys and equipment. For example, two children played happily together in the home corner, laid the table and shared a pasta dinner together. Children enjoy a good variety of outside activities and get lots of fresh air. They develop skills for future learning, such as confidence and independence, and take risks by swinging on a tree rope. Staff are now keen to develop even more creative solutions to deepen learning and develop children's communication skills when they are playing outside.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children really enjoy coming to playgroup, and are enthusiastically involved in all activities. They develop very positive attitudes and are ready for the next stage of their education because they have excellent social skills, confidence and perseverance when they meet a challenge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 107060 Local authority Bristol City Inspection number 839464 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 29 Name of provider St Matthews Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 10 February 2011 Telephone number 0117 9441598 or 0117 9735664

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Setting details

St Matthews Playgroup opened in 1990 and operates from the church hall of St Matthews Church in Kingsdown, Bristol. The playgroup is open Monday andWednesday 9.00 am-3.00 pm and Thursday and Friday 9-1.30. Seven members of staff work with the children. Two hold Qualified Teacher Status, two hold Early Years Professional Status, one hold an Early Years qualification at level 6 and two hold level 3 Early Years qualifications.

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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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