Lathom St. James Playgroup

Lathom St. James Playgroup Village Hall, Westhead, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 6HE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 April 2016 7 January 2013

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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

 The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the playgroup committee. This means that checks have not been carried out to ensure that all members are suitable to be involved in the running of the playgroup.  The manager has not ensured that all volunteers who work at the playgroup are suitable and safe to have regular contact with children. This includes carrying out the required Disclosure and Barring Service checks.  The manager does not always ensure that the playgroup is adequately staffed, in order to meet the required adult-to-child ratios.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff plan a range of challenging and enjoyable experiences that is closely linked to children's individual interests. Children demonstrate good levels of curiosity and confidence and are motivated and keen learners. Information for parents is readily available and effectively shared.  The manager and deputy manager are well qualified and experienced and have both been suitably recruited and vetted. The key-person system is well established and fosters good partnerships with parents. Children are happy and settled.  Staff help children to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children have many opportunities to be physically active and have access to plenty of fresh air and exercise. Staff encourage children to eat healthily and follow good hygiene practices. Children learn to keep themselves safe and learn about different cultures and beliefs.

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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

 ensure that Ofsted are provided with the necessary information to enable them to carry out suitability checks on committee members 12/05/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that all people who have regular unsupervised contact with children have undergone the required Disclosure and Barring Service checks and are deemed suitable and safe to work with children 06/05/2016

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Due Date

 maintain the correct staff-to-child ratios at all times the setting is in operation. 06/05/2016

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Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about this provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. The inspector checked the outdoor area was safe.  The inspector did not complete a joint observation due to tight timescales. However, she spoke to the manager and staff about their key children and the arrangements for observation, assessment and planning and the key-person system.  The inspector spoke to staff and the children throughout the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the playgroup's self-evaluation, policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The inspection was prioritised following concerns being raised about the provider's ability to ensure the suitability of persons who work at the playgroup and the appropriate adult to child ratios. The inspection found that the manager has failed to ensure that some new committee members associated with the playgroup have undergone the required checks with Ofsted. That said, such individuals have been checked and deemed suitable through Disclosure and Barring Service checks carried out by the manager. However, the manager has failed to carry out these checks for a regular volunteer who works at the playgroup. The manager has now taken appropriate steps to address this and the volunteer no longer works at the playgroup. The manager, on occasions, has failed to maintain the correct adult-to-child ratios for the playgroup. This compromises children's safety and well-being. The manager has now taken steps to address this by ensuring she is in attendance every

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

day while the playgroup is operating. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have attended training and have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. There are developing systems in place to evaluate the setting and identify relevant strengths and weaknesses. Staff are effectively supported by the manager in their role. Information and records, for example, attendance registers, are effectively gathered and suitably stored.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use observations of children's play to plan some meaningful activities and experiences. Parents are welcomed into the playgroup and are encouraged to contribute initial information about their children's care and learning. Staff interact well with children and effectively extend their communication, social and creative skills. For example, children and staff dress up as pirates and hunt for treasure. They sing songs and tell pirate stories. Additionally, they use a variety of media during a large-scale craft activity to draw the treasure map and create a story board.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The weaknesses in leadership and management mean that children's well-being and safety are not always maximised. Nevertheless, the warm and welcoming learning environment is organised to help all children make independent choices in their play. Children enjoy lots of physical activities, inside and outdoors. This supports their physical development. All children are developing good independence and social skills. They serve themselves at snack time and pour their own drinks. Settling-in sessions are used well to ensure the move from home to playgroup is effectively managed. The staff have developed secure relationships with the local school. They take children to settling-in sessions and share relevant information.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and are happy and content in the playgroup. Children are developing the key skills needed to be ready for future learning and school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 309362 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 1049347 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 14 Name of provider Lathom St. James Playgroup Committee Date of previous inspection 7 January 2013 Telephone number 07754 073 529

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Setting details

Lathom St. James Playgroup was registered in 1992. The playgroup employs two members of childcare staff. Of these, both hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 1pm and 1pm until 3.30pm. The nursery 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

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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