Footsteps St. Andrew's Church Playgroup

Footsteps St. Andrew's Church Playgroup Graves Street, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 4GE

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 January 2016 23 January 2015

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff have a clear understanding of individual children's learning needs. This supports effective planning and ensures that children have opportunities to build on previous learning. All children are making progress from their starting points.  A caring and nurturing environment encourages children to develop secure attachments with their key person. This helps to support children's emotional well-being.  Partnerships with parents are successful. Staff use various strategies to engage parents and share information to support children's learning at home. Parents highly praise the care and learning their children receive.  The leadership team has a clear drive for improvement. Targeted action plans identify and address priorities for improvement. Monitoring of staff's performance ensures the quality of teaching is consistently improving.  Regular supervisions ensure that staff are sharing and increasing their knowledge and

p.1

This provision is good

skills through training and performance management. These are used to enhance the quality of teaching.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make the most of learning opportunities to extend children's critical-thinking skills.  Partnerships with some local settings are not fully established to consistently share information and further support children.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 enhance learning opportunities for children that help them to develop their critical- thinking skills  strengthen partnerships with local settings which children also attend and promote continuity of care and learning.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed this.  The inspector spoke with some parents, children and staff and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at children's records and a range of other documentation, including policies, action plans and evidence of suitability.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Policies and procedures are reviewed regularly. Staff carry out daily safety checks and maintain close supervision to help ensure children can play in a safe environment. Staff are aware of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The leadership team takes into account the views of staff, parents and children to support self-evaluation of the provision. Staff reflect on daily practice; one way they have done this is through the introduction of peer observations. New systems for tracking and assessing children's development are helping to monitor their progress and identify any gaps in learning. The needs of individual and groups of children are well supported. Partnerships with other agency professionals are good and provide continuity of learning for children with speech and language needs at home and in the setting.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are experienced and have a good understanding of children's needs. Learning experiences complement children's interests and next steps. For instance, staff plan activities around a recent interest in a story. Children enjoy creative play as they build small houses using materials, such as water and sand, and link them to the story. Children continue their ideas as they use the playhouses to re-enact the story. Staff skilfully support and extend children's play. They are given opportunities to make independent choices in their play and have easy access to high-quality resources. Stimulating activities help children make links to their learning. One example of this is when they experiment with melting ice and connect this to learning about winter weather. Children use their imagination during creative activities. On one occasion, they use various materials to symbolise winter in their pictures. Activities provide children with fun and exciting learning

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

experiences. Their language development is well promoted through various teaching strategies. For example, staff engage children in meaningful conversations to help extend their vocabulary.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have a clear understanding of expectations for behaviour and are supported by staff who are good role models. Children are encouraged to share, take turns and help tidy their environment after play sessions. Staff praise children when they exhibit positive behaviour. Children are developing a good understanding of keeping themselves safe during play. Staff are vigilant in their supervision of children and gently remind them about safety. One example is reminding children to use their walking feet indoors. Children are given nutritious snacks and drinks. Staff talk to them about how healthy foods can help them grow big and strong.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are learning to be independent and developing their confidence. They make good progress from their starting points and develop the key skills they need for the future. These help prepare them for their next steps in learning and their gradual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 316846 Local authority Manchester Inspection number 1004950 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of provider Footsteps - St. Andrews Church Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 23 January 2015 Telephone number 07967 714 534

p.4

Setting details

Footsteps St. Andrew's Church Playgroup was registered in 1994. It operates from a pre- fabricated building located in the grounds of St. Andrew's Primary School in the Radcliffe area of Bury. The pre-school opens from 9am until 3.45pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am until 12.30pm on Fridays. The pre-school employs 10 members of staff, nine of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 2.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5