Helpston Playhouse and Under Fives

Helpston Playhouse And Under Fives Pre-School & Out of School Club John Clare Primary School, West Street, Helpston, PETERBOROUGH, PE6 7DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 March 2016 20 March 2009

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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 leadership team is ambitious to achieve a high-quality learning environment for children. Effective self-evaluation procedures are in place. There is a keen drive to continue improving and to raise outcomes for children.  The quality of teaching is consistently good and, occasionally, outstanding. Children are encouraged to become independent and are supported effectively by staff to take responsibility for age-appropriate tasks. For instance, they enjoy being the weekly indoor helper and looking after the pre-school's toy bear, Freddy at home.  Children of all ages and abilities are motivated to learn. Staff use a range of purposeful equipment and successfully support disabled children and those with special educational needs.  All children, including disabled children and those with special educational needs for whom the setting receives additional funding, make good levels of progress in their

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although a good range of staff supervision practice takes place, evaluations of teaching are not yet fully embedded to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level.  Staff do not always make the best use of opportunities to further extend children's developing skills in mathematics. 2 of 5

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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

 embed systems already in place to enhance the mentoring and support offered to staff so that the quality of teaching is continuously raised to an even higher level  provide children with even more opportunities to develop their interest in numeracy and further extend their understanding of mathematical language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to staff members and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector held meetings with the committee chairperson and pre-school manager.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the provider's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The experienced manager demonstrates a secure knowledge of her role. She fully understands her responsibilities to support all children to achieve their best, and to keep them safe. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a secure understanding of the policy and procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare. The staff team works well together and regularly updates their knowledge and skills. This successfully enhances the learning experiences offered to children. The manager regularly monitors the level of progress made by different groups of children. When children make less than expected progress in their learning and development, additional support is put in place swiftly. Staff work collaboratively with a range of other professionals.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Very successful strategies encourage parents to become fully involved in their child's early education. Staff regularly provide parents with summaries of their children's achievements and offer suggestions about how they can support learning at home. Children are developing very good communications skills. Staff engage them in meaningful conversations. They talk to children about the different parts of a flower as they paint, including words, such as stem, petal and thorn. Children enjoy using their imaginations. They revisit previous interests, building 'igloos' from sand and talking excitedly with staff about who lives inside. Staff successfully engage with children during play and offer suggestions which enable them to think critically and make improvements to their designs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Effective settling-in procedures are in place. Staff offer home visits to parents. They work well with parents and carers to gather and share relevant information. The key-person system is in place and effective. Staff demonstrate very good knowledge of individual children and are able to identify ways to support their learning and development even further. Children understand the rules of the pre-school. They independently dress themselves appropriately when they choose to access the outdoor learning environment, and put on their slippers when inside. Children know where to store their personal belongings and remind their friends to keep the floor clear to prevent accidents. Staff supervise children well during play. They purposefully question children, enabling them to think and share their ideas. Children show that they consider risks as they climb trees, knowing to hold on and not to go too high.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. Where children's starting points are below those of other children of a similar age, assessments show that improvements are ongoing. Children acquire the skills needed for their future learning, such as school. They demonstrate a good understanding of the need to take turns and keep each other safe. They successfully negotiate with others when minor disagreements occur and are able to solve problems independently. 4 of 5

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Setting details

Unique reference number 256770 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 854908 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 3 - 11 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 49 Name of provider Helpston Playhouse And Under Fives Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 20 March 2009 Telephone number 01733 253243

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Setting details

Helpston Playhouse And Under Fives Pre-School & Out of School Club opened in 1972 and registered again in 1992. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or 5. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3.15pm, except on Friday when the pre-school ends at 2.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The out-of-school club opens from 8am until 9am and 3.15pm until 6pm, except on a Friday when the club opens at 2.15pm during term time only.

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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. 5 of 5

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Setting details

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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