Allen Gardens Playgroup

Allen Gardens Playgroup 55 Buxton Street, London, E1 5EH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2016 10 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 provider has not met their responsibility to inform Ofsted of changes to the committee members that were made two years ago. They have also failed to supply the required documentation to Ofsted to determine the suitability of these adults. This places children's safety and welfare at risk.  Occasionally, staff do not make the best use of the outdoor area to provide children with a wide range of learning experiences, particularly those who prefer to learn outside.  At times, staff do not ask children questions effectively enough to support and extend their growing communication and language skills.

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It has the following strengths

 Children take part in regular exercise, which contributes to the development of their physical skills effectively.  The manager regularly checks how well children achieve and works with staff to plan purposeful activities. All children make good progress overall.  Partnership with parents is good. Staff work closely with parents and involve them in planning for their children's development and learning needs.  The setting has established good links with the local school to support children's move from the playgroup to school.

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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

 provide the required information to Ofsted in a timely manner to ensure the suitability of all committee members can be determined. 23/11/2016

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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

 broaden children's learning experiences throughout the environment, particularly outdoors, to support those who learn better outside more effectively  provide children with more time to think before responding to questions to enable them to express their thoughts and ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had discussions with the manager about the playgroup practices and procedures.  The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children.  The inspector had discussions with the staff at appropriate times and also spoke to parents to gain their views.  The inspector looked at a range of documents, which included staff records, training certificates, children's assessment records and the register of attendance.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Staff carry out risk assessments daily to minimise hazards to children indoors and outdoors. The manager and staff have a suitable knowledge of child protection matters. They know how to record incidents and make referrals if concerned about a child's welfare. The provider and manager implement appropriate recruitment procedures to check staff's suitability to work with children. However, the provider has failed to inform Ofsted of changes to committee members and has not sent relevant information to Ofsted to enable the required suitability checks to be carried out. This breach of requirements does not have a significant impact as committee members do not have unsupervised access to children. The provider has addressed recommendations set at the last inspection, which has led to regular supervision to improve staff practice. The provider and manager evaluate and set targets to improve the quality of the provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff understand how children learn and develop. They encourage parents to contribute to an initial assessment of their child when they start attending. Staff use this information, along with their assessments of children's development, to plan activities to support their learning. Children have a range of opportunities to learn number names, to count and to notice and compare weights. They are aware of the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that represent them, and young children learn to recognise their names. Children's language skills develop well overall, including for those who are learning English as an additional language. However, at times, staff do not give children enough time to respond to questions before offering answers. Children do not have consistent opportunities to extend their learning in different environments, such as outside.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The weakness identified in safeguarding means that the provider is unable to fully assure children's safety. Nevertheless, staff get to know children well and support new children to settle. Children form trusting relationships with their key persons and other staff, who are responsive to meet their individual needs. Staff's behaviour management strategies are appropriate and children behave well. They learn to share and take turns with their friends. Children learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. Staff work with parents to provide healthy lunches for their children.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make at least typical progress from when they started. They are well prepared for the next stage in their development and for school. Children make choices about their play and show good independence skills. They develop early writing skills and enjoy being creative and imaginative in their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 119542 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 1061274 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Allen Gardens Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 January 2013 Telephone number 020 7377 9425

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reference number

Allen Gardens Playgroup registered in 1992. It operates in Spitalfields, within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday from 9am until midday and from 12.15pm until 3.15pm, during term time. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two and three years. The provider employs four staff, all of whom have relevant qualifications from level 3 to level 6.

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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

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