Acton Playgroup

Acton Playgroup Acton Primary School, Lambert Drive, Acton, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 0US

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 May 2016 10 February 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The playgroup's management team is highly effective in driving improvement. Monitoring of all aspects of practice to inform continuous improvement is rigorous, and leads to an exceptional provision and outcomes for children.  Partnerships with parents are exceptionally friendly and trusting. Parents are highly respected as their child's key educator. They are actively encouraged to remain involved in their children's learning, both in the playgroup and at home. Parents highly value the nurturing nature of the staff.  Exceptionally warm, caring relationships have been established between the children and staff, helping children to feel happy and secure. Staff know the children very well. They are highly effective in ensuring that all children can participate at their own level.  Staff skilfully talk with children and challenge their thinking. They engage children in conversation, actively listen to what children have to say, and expertly extend and

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This provision is outstanding

develop their vocabulary. Even very young children are confident communicators.  Equality and inclusion is at the heart of everything that staff do with the children. Staff have a clear understanding of how children learn. They know the children extremely well and have high expectations of what they can achieve. All children make rapid progress from their starting points.  Staff provide a lovely range of activities, both indoors and outside, that promotes all areas of learning. They give thorough attention to planning for outdoors. This helps ensure that those children who learn best from being outdoors are able to do so.

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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

 make the most of opportunities to help children develop excellent control and coordination in large and small movements.

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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 spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager, the business administrator and a representative from the committee.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation form and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector looked at activity planning, records of children's learning and a selection of policies and other records.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The playgroup management team monitors the quality of teaching and learning exceptionally well. Staff are extremely motivated, enthusiastic and demonstrate a strong commitment towards maintaining excellence in all areas. A thorough programme of supervision and peer-on-peer observations helps to ensure that all staff are able to learn from each other. Staff are eager to attend training. Their learning is shared and used to enhance the provision for children. Staff are particularly involved in initiatives to promote children's speech and language development, and this has a highly positive impact on the progress children make in this area. Safeguarding is effective. It is fully embedded into all aspects of the playgroup.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff provide a varied and imaginative range of activities that meets the unique needs of every child. The quality of teaching across the playgroup is constantly evaluated, to ensure that children receive consistently excellent teaching. This supports children exceptionally well, to be highly motivated and eager to engage in purposeful play. Staff are very effective in supporting children's early writing skills. They provide a wealth of opportunities for children to make marks, such as, supplying notepads, clipboards and pens in the role play areas. When playing in the outdoor 'garden centre', children are encouraged to think about what can be bought from a garden centre and they make a list of what they want to buy. Management recognises that more can be done to further promote children's developing control and coordination in large and small movements, especially during planned, 'music and movement' sessions.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's welfare and emotional well-being are central to everything staff do. Staff are highly skilled in forging an exceptionally warm and caring environment that benefits each child and their family. Parents speak positively about the high levels of support that they receive from staff. They hold staff in high regard, and report that they give utmost priority to supporting them in times of crisis. Staff are extremely good role models. Children behave well and develop strong friendships with others. Staff highly value, and give meaningful praise for, good behaviour and individual efforts. Children develop an exceedingly positive sense of themselves, and highly respectful attitudes towards others. They learn about people and communities beyond their immediate experience. The playgroup is an integral part of the local community.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Excellent procedures are in place to share information with other settings that children attend. This highly effective two-way flow of information helps to ensure that there is a consistent approach to meet children's individual needs. Transitions to school are managed very well. Parents value that their children develop the skills needed to be ready for school. Children are supported to manage their own hygiene needs. They understand that print carries meaning and readily count as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251395 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 854775 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 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Acton Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 February 2011 Telephone number 01787 377089

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reference number

Acton Playgroup was registered in 2000. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, during school term time. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.30pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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