The Play Base

The Play Base C/O Barkston Ash RC Primary School, London Road, Barkston Ash, TADCASTER, North Yorkshire, LS24 9PS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 May 2016 26 May 2011

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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

 Managers identify potential leaders within their staff team. They then provide them with continued professional development opportunities which nurture and enhance their leadership skills.  Partnership working is strong. Staff liaise very closely with teachers to find out what children are learning in school. They then plan activities to complement this learning and support children to make their next steps in development.  Staff are alert to potential risks in the environment, which they quickly identify and report to the host school. Managers arrange staffing to minimise risks and ensure that children's safety is promoted at all times.  Children enjoy taking responsibility in the setting during routines, such as snack time. This promotes their confidence, independence and awareness of taking turns.  Relationships in the setting are warm and caring and contribute to children feeling secure and safe. Older children are kind, caring and show a good level of patience

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This provision is good

towards younger children during their play and activities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to fully develop their exploration and investigative skills.  Procedures to support staff supervision are not always sufficiently focused on improving the quality of teaching to a higher level.

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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 children with more opportunities to fully develop their exploration and investigative skills  focus staff development activities more precisely on improving the quality of teaching to an even higher level.

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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 completed a joint observation with the trainee manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the managers. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the setting's policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The staff team works well together and they have a great deal of experience in providing good quality care for children. Managers involve staff, children and parents as they reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the setting. Children make suggestions for improvement that are developed in the setting, such as fundraising for a local charity. Parents are very happy with the high level of care that staff provide for their children. They speak highly of the relaxed environment that their children enjoy. Managers ensure that they stay alert to changes in legislation and early years developments. They carry out research using the internet and attend local meetings with other providers to keep themselves and their practice up to date. Recent training has focused on developing staff awareness of the many different ways that children may be at risk from harm. As a result, staff have good knowledge and understanding of how to raise concerns about children's

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

welfare. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are happy as they play together and have fun with their friends. Activities support children's interests and link very well to learning taking place in school and nursery. Staff organise themselves well so that they can play alongside and interact with children as they play. Some activities are planned and some are initiated by children. Staff provide board games to encourage children to cooperate and take turns. A new chess club at school has sparked children's enthusiasm for the game. Older children explain how to play as younger children watch. Children enjoy the creative activities that they can freely choose. They draw, cut and stick as they make cards and pictures to take home. Focused activities provide staff with opportunities to develop children's skills. Children hammer nails into blocks of wood. Staff supervise the activity and give children strategies to reduce risks and keep themselves safe. Staff use mathematical vocabulary as children look closely at the

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

nails, asking which is the longest, shortest or tallest. The quality of teaching is strong. Staff ask children questions and listen carefully to how they respond. Staff then extend children's thinking by making links to what they are learning in school.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children quickly settle into their play and activities as they arrive from school. Children choose what they want to do from the selection of available resources. Safety is prioritised at all times. When it is safe to do so, children freely access indoor or outdoor play. Children are independent, confident and behave very well without the need for adult intervention. This is because routines are very well established and children know what is expected and what happens when. Children follow good hygiene practices and are developing their understanding of healthy eating. Children know and understand why they sanitise their hands before they have snack. Children enjoy extended periods of time in the outdoor area. They use rollerblades and play football in groups, enjoying fresh air and exercise. Staff support children's play, timing their laps around the playground and helping them to put up tents on the grass.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY317308 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 849050 Type of provision Out of school 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 38 Number of children on roll 61 Name of provider The Playbase Partnership Date of previous inspection 26 May 2011 Telephone number 01937 557 602

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Setting details

The Play Base was registered in 2006. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or level 6. The setting opens Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 7.30am until 9am and 3.15pm until 6pm.

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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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