Dorothy Stringer Pre- School Playgroup

Dorothy Stringer Pre- School Playgroup Dorothy Stringer Play Group, Stringer Way, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6QG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 December 2016 3 October 2013

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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

 Leaders identify and support staff's professional development effectively. For example, recent training helped staff understand the importance of supporting children's understanding of their similarities and differences.  All children make good progress from their starting points, including children who have special educational needs. Their needs are supported very effectively and extra funding is used well, for example, to provide additional staff support and specific resources to support their development.  Staff have a good understanding about how children learn and develop. They all plan exciting and stimulating activities for children that closely follow their interests and keep them motivated to learn.  Children behave well and understand the rules of the playgroup. For example, they know to take turns on the large physical equipment in the garden and use timers to help them share resources.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, some staff do not challenge and build on children's thinking skills to help extend their understanding and learning more.  At times, the monitoring of the progress made by specific groups of children does not consistently and precisely identify any possible learning gaps to address.

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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

 increase opportunities to challenge and support children's thinking skills to extend their learning further  build on the current assessments for specific groups of children to enable a more precise monitoring of their progress and identification of any development gaps.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector toured the premises and observed the impact of teaching on children's enjoyment and development.  The inspector spoke with parents and read comments received by email to gain an understanding of their views.  The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation.  The inspector spoke with the manager and staff about their practice and the impact on children's learning and development.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and staff have a good understanding of how to identify and report child protection concerns. Staff work very closely with other professionals to support children's individual needs. Leaders routinely take into account the views of staff, children and parents when evaluating the playgroup and deciding on improvement plans. For example, they moved children's coat pegs lower to enable them to be more independent as they choose to access the outside area. Leaders and staff role model positive behaviour and language, and they have high expectations of children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide children with a wide variety of exciting experiences and they support their learning effectively with a good selection of resources. For example, children enjoyed playing with ice, 'polar bears' and glitter in a mixture of corn flour and water outside. They enjoy learning about the natural world, such as feeding goats at a nearby school and during walks in the local fields. Staff work closely with parents to understand children's level of development when they start. They share planning, ongoing assessments and information about what children enjoy doing. Parents contribute to children's learning at home and in the playgroup. For instance, they visit and teach them carols in Italian and how to make sushi.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children build close relationships with the kind and caring staff, enabling them to explore their surroundings and thrive in a safe and secure environment. They are supported to lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, children frequently play outside and understand, for instance, that riding on the bikes, dancing and singing are good exercise for their bodies. Staff serve nutritious snacks, including vegetable sticks, hummus and pitta bread. They successfully encourage parents to provide healthy foods in children's lunch boxes. Children gain independence, for example, as they help to prepare snacks and cut up vegetables and fruits when making soup and smoothies.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children play well alongside each other and make good friends. They are motivated to learn, take appropriate risks and 'have a go'. Older children gain skills in reading, mark making and mathematics. For example, they enjoy listening to and joining in with familiar storylines and point out logos and recognisable words to each other. Children make choices in their play and express preferences. They are ready to move on to their next stage of learning, including going to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130740 Local authority Brighton & Hove Inspection number 1061348 Type of provision Full-time 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 26 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Dorothy Stringer Pre School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 October 2013 Telephone number 01273 506 981

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reference number

Dorothy Stringer Pre-School Playgroup registered in 1995 and is based in Brighton, East Sussex. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 3pm, term time only. There are nine members of staff; of these, five hold a relevant level 3 childcare qualification. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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