Rattlesden Playgroup

Rattlesden Playgroup The Village Hall, Lower Road, Rattlesden, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 0RJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 March 2016 23 November 2015

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Arrangements for monitoring and developing staff's professional practice are not yet fully embedded or fully effective.  Some required records were not available during the inspection as they are not kept on the premises. This includes information about staff qualifications. This arrangement has not been agreed with Ofsted.  Staff do not always take account of children's individual needs, interests and stage of development when planning activities and resources, to provide a sufficient level of challenge.

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It has the following strengths

 The committee, manager and staff are committed to continued improvement and have made positive changes since the last inspection. They have worked closely with their local authority adviser and the previous actions have been addressed.  There are good procedures in place to support transitions to school. Children enjoy visiting the local school, which enables them to become familiar with the teachers and the new environment.  Staff establish close partnerships with parents, who are well informed about their children's care and learning. Parents speak positively about the playgroup and say their children are happy and enjoy their time there. The playgroup is well established within the community, with many parents returning with younger siblings.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the arrangements for monitoring staff and the effectiveness of their practice. Promote continuous improvement through support, coaching and training to enhance staff's existing knowledge and skills 25/03/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that records are readily available and accessible and that any arrangements to keep records off site are agreed by Ofsted. 25/03/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 strengthen the level of challenge for children by taking account of their needs, interests and stages of development when planning learning experiences.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during inside activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and children.  The inspector viewed a sample of children's development records.  The inspector reviewed evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff, self- evaluation, risk assessment and policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

There have been considerable improvements made to the provision since the last inspection. For example, the safeguarding policy and the procedure for administering and recording medication have been reviewed and improved. The key-person system has been implemented, so that parents are more involved in their children's learning. This includes the effective sharing of progress checks for children between the ages of two and three years. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are aware of their role in safeguarding children. However, there are some aspects of the management of the playgroup that are less effective. For example, not all required records and documentation were available at inspection. Performance management is now in place. However, it does not focus sufficiently on improving the quality of teaching, to coach and support staff in their continual personal effectiveness.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Children enjoy their time at the playgroup. Staff plan a suitable range of activities that covers all areas of learning. However, they do not always take account of children's emerging interests or next steps in learning when planning and resourcing activities to offer children appropriate levels of challenge. Staff actively promote children's communication and language. They talk to children during their play, asking questions which help them to think about what they are doing and extend their vocabulary. Children are encouraged to develop their early literacy skills, such as recognition of letters and writing their names. They learn about numbers and counting, for example, when they count the children attending.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children develop strong bonds with the warm and welcoming staff team. This means that they are settled and emotionally secure in the friendly environment. Staff are good role models and have high expectations of children's behaviour. They build children's confidence and self-esteem through giving lots of praise. Children develop an understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyles. They follow good hygiene routines and enjoy healthy snacks. Snack time is a sociable occasion, where staff encourage children to learn independence skills as they choose from a selection of fruit and pour their own drinks. Gentle reminders from staff help children to understand about keeping themselves safe as they play and use a variety of equipment.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most children at the playgroup are working comfortably within the range of development typical for their age. The manager has recently started to implement a tracking system to help staff gain an overview of children's progress. Overall, children are supported to make steady progress in their learning in relation to their starting points. Staff place great importance on children learning good manners, acceptable behaviours and knowing how to care for themselves. As a result, children are developing their social skills, confidence and independence, ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251606 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 1033738 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 21 Number of children on roll 17 Name of provider Rattlesden Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 23 November 2015 Telephone number 01449 736460

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Setting details

Rattlesden Playgroup was established in 1969 and was registered in 1991. The playgroup employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6. The manager has Qualified Teacher Status. The playgroup opens three days a week during school term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. There is an afternoon session on Monday and Tuesday from 1.15pm until 3.15pm. There is a lunch club at each session from 12.15pm until 1.15pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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