Opportunity Playgroup

Opportunity Playgroup Yarburgh, Highfield Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex. RH19 2DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 September 2016 8 July 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 Good 2

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

 Some members of the management committee have not been suitably checked by Ofsted. There are some missing checks for one staff member.  The management committee is not yet fully involved in monitoring the quality of practice and recognising where further improvements can be made in the playgroup.  Staff are only just beginning to use information about the progress children make to show how quickly gaps in children's learning close.

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It has the following strengths

 The support for children's learning and personal development is good. Staff are highly skilled in recognising the individual needs of every child who attends.  Parents are full of praise for the playgroup staff. They value how much support they receive. They confirm how much their children enjoy attending and the positive difference it makes to their learning.  Staff assess children's different needs, interests and abilities well. They provide a personal programme of learning for every child. The quality of teaching is good and every child makes progress from their starting points.  The fully inclusive environment of the playgroup means that every child is valued and supported.  The attention paid towards supporting children's care is good. Staff are vigilant in supervising children well.

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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 all suitability checks are completed by Ofsted for every member of the management committee 30/09/2016

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Due Date

 apply the same level of rigour to recruitment procedures for all staff members, including those who are already known to staff. 30/09/2016

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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

 develop the management committee's role in monitoring the level of practice and driving improvement to an outstanding level  make even better use of assessment information to indicate how quickly gaps in children's learning are closing.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the support for children's learning.  The inspector talked to staff at convenient times during the morning to assess how well they plan for children's individual learning needs and keep children safe in the playgroup.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including staff files, confirmation of staff training, suitability checks, recruitment procedures, records of children's learning and safeguarding logs.  The inspector talked to a small number of parents and took their views into account.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

There have been some breaches of the early years foundation stage legal requirements. Not all of the required suitability checks have been completed for members of the management committee. However, the impact of this is reduced as the management committee do not have unsupervised access to the children. In addition, reference checks are missing for a staff member, but all other required checks have been completed. Despite these lapses, safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff are extremely aware of the vulnerability of the children who attend the group. Stringent measures are in place to keep children safe. Staff are well trained and continually reflect on their practice to make ongoing improvements through training, team meetings and supervision. This means every child receives good quality care and a positive learning experience.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their training and expertise well to meet every child's needs. Funding is spent carefully to make sure that every child receives the specialist support they require. Staff work very closely with other professionals involved in children's care. Good links with parents also make sure children's learning needs are supported at both playgroup and home. Precise assessments and careful planning mean activities are planned based on every child's different interests and abilities. The fully inclusive nature of the group means children who do not have additional needs make good progress and their different learning needs are supported well. Staff are exceptionally 'in-tune' with children, especially those who are still developing their verbal communication skills. Pictures and signs are used well to allow children to communicate their needs and personal choices.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Strong links with the other early years settings on the premises mean children have good opportunities to socialise with other children of different ages and abilities. This is managed very well to ensure their safety. Staff also establish professional links with feeder schools. Key persons work closely with Reception teachers to ensure children continue to receive the support they need when they start school. Throughout the playgroup routine, children develop good levels of independence. Staff know what activities appeal to different children and plan for this accordingly. As a result, children show real enjoyment and concentrate well. For example, when the manager asked children if they would like to do 'Bucket Time', children's positive reactions and responses confirmed how much they enjoy this special part of the morning.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children thoroughly enjoy their morning at playgroup. They benefit from high quality learning experiences which are tailored towards their individual needs. Every child's achievements are actively celebrated. A strong and familiar staff team means children benefit from stability within the daily routine. This enables children to settle quickly and have the confidence to try new things and develop different skills to support their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113622 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1072585 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 24 Number of children on roll 6 Name of registered person East Grinstead Opportunity Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 July 2013 Telephone number 07486 696160

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reference number

Opportunity Playgroup registered in 1980 and is run by a management committee. The playgroup operates from shared premises in East Grinstead, West Sussex. There are two other independent providers located at the same address. All groups share an outside play area. Sessions are from 9.15 am to 12.15 pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of four staff work with the children. Of these, three hold recognised early years qualifications.

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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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