Lickey End Playgroup

Lickey End Playgroup Lickey End Methodist Church, Alcester Road, Lickey End, BROMSGROVE, Worcestershire, B60 1JX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 March 2016 30 November 2015

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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

 The committee and staff have worked hard together to raise standards within the playgroup. All staff and committee members demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to ensure the best possible environment for children.  The provision for identifying and supporting children who have special educational needs is strong. Staff responsible for coordinating and planning for these children have an excellent understanding of how to get them the help and support that they need.  Children enjoy regular opportunities to learn letter names and to practise making the sounds that these make. They enthusiastically join in with actions which prompt them to recall the sounds correctly. Children are gaining the communication and language skills that prepare them for the next stage in their learning.  Children enjoy close relationships with their key persons, who help them to feel settled

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This provision is good

and secure and, therefore, ready to learn. Information is regularly exchanged with parents and carers to promote continuity and consistency in care and learning.  Children have lots of opportunities to be physically active as they have daily access to a stimulating outdoor environment.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff performance management is not focused sharply enough on evaluating the quality of teaching to continually identify areas where teaching practice can be strengthened even further.  Effective planning helps to ensure that activities are planned across all areas of learning. However, children do not always make as much progress in some aspects of mathematics as in other areas.

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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

 provide even more opportunities to promote children's understanding of mathematics to enable them to be even more confident to use numbers and compare quantities during their play  strengthen the performance-management arrangements for staff and focus more precisely on further enhancing the quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager and members of the committee.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the qualifications and suitability of staff.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from questionnaires provided by the playgroup.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The committee has a good overview of all aspects of the playgroup. Staff and committee members attend training that helps them to target areas for improvement. There is a strong drive to ensure that children are provided with good quality care and learning experiences. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, and policies and procedures have recently been reviewed and updated. This means that staff have the information that they need to take any action required to safeguard children. Recruitment procedures are robust, which helps to ensure the suitability of staff. Most staff are suitably qualified and ongoing training helps them to build on their skills and knowledge. They receive one-to-one supervision meetings to help promote their ongoing professional development. However, this does not focus sharply enough on identifying strengths and weaknesses in teaching skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children's progress is monitored and their next steps for learning are identified. Planning helps staff to identify where children's individual targets can be incorporated into the daily timetable. The quality of teaching is good. Staff engage children in a range of activities that successfully promotes their learning. Overall, monitoring of the progress that groups of children make has begun to aid staff in targeting areas where children's progress is not as rapid. Children show developing skills in mathematics as they count up to 10 using magnetic beads. However, there is scope to provide even more opportunities to extend and build on these skills during everyday play. Established links with the local school that most children move on to mean that children get the opportunity to take part in school- based activities. Older children also benefit from regular and planned sessions which specifically focus on preparing them for school.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are developing an understanding of the wider world around them. Staff successfully use dolls to encourage children to ask questions and be curious about each other's similarities and differences. Children's good health and well-being are given high regard. Staff carry out risk assessments and safety checks to help minimise hazards. For example, they inform children, parents and visitors of their procedures to help to ensure the playgroup is a nut-free environment. Children appear happy and settled. Good relationships between staff and parents are established from the outset. Staff work closely with parents to find ways to make it easier for new children to settle in.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development. They are keen to take part in the range of activities that is provided. Children follow instructions well and they understand the daily routine, which promotes opportunities for them to be independent. They enjoy playing in the outdoor music room where they confidently explore and investigate the sounds that instruments make. Children play well together and show that they are developing the social and communication skills that they need to prepare them for the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 205192 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 1034128 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 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 22 Name of provider Lickey End Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 30 November 2015 Telephone number 07791 851382

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Setting details

Lickey End Playgroup was registered in 1992. The playgroup employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9.30am until 2.30pm except for Thursday when sessions are from 11.30am until 2.30pm.

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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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