Blackbirds Playgroup Grassmere

Blackbirds Playgroup Grassmere St. Marys Centre, Grassmere Close, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 7NU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 December 2016 16 May 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

 The manager actively seeks the opinions of staff and children to evaluate how she can make positive changes to practice. She has also improved the way she engages with parents, to seek their feedback about the provision.  Staff manage children's behaviour well. All children behave very well and consider the feelings of their friends during play. They are kind, helpful and enjoy assisting staff.  Staff encourage children to express their ideas well. Children enjoy using their imaginations. For example, children worked together to make colourful structures. They discussed shapes and talked about areas of their work they could improve.  Children are very eager to gain new knowledge and they make good progress. Staff teach them skills that prepare them well for the move to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not share the best possible information with staff at other early years settings children attend, to provide more consistency in children's learning.  Staff do not fully consider whether children's use of technology is suitably challenging for their stages of development, to help them learn as much as possible.

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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

 share information as appropriate with other early years providers, to provide more consistency in children's learning  create more opportunities for children to explore and use technology, to challenge their abilities and meet their learning needs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff's and children's interactions in all areas of the setting.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager and they discussed their findings.  The inspector talked to the manager about the methods she uses to evaluate the provision and discussed the improvements she has made.  The inspector viewed child protection policies and spoke to staff about the procedures they follow to keep children safe.  The inspector sampled learning documents and checked the progress that children make.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager carefully checks on children's progress to identify areas of learning that need to be improved. For instance, she evaluated that she needed to further develop children's understanding of the world. She worked with staff to offer children more opportunities to explore the natural environment. Management and staff improve their knowledge and skills effectively. For example, they use training well to help disadvantaged children progress well in their learning. They work well with outside agencies to help children who may need additional support. The manager has good relationships with staff. She supports them well and works with them to resolve any issues and to improve their skills and performance. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good awareness of local authority child protection guidance and the procedures to follow to protect children in the event of a concern.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Since the previous inspection, staff have increased opportunities for children to practise their early writing skills. Children enjoy showing others what they are capable of; for example, as they wrote their names and showed staff and friends. Staff observe children well and assess the skills they already have, to plan future goals. They clearly communicate children's future learning needs with parents, so that parents can work with children at home. Staff encourage all children to take part in dancing and singing activities. For example, young children jigged and practised new words to songs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy moving their bodies in different ways and they persevere to complete new physical tasks. For example, they moved across a balancing area and practised their skills with others until they could complete the task independently. Children form good relationships with all adults and turn to them when they need extra support. Staff encourage children to have confidence in their own abilities. For example, they celebrate their achievements with them. Children display good levels of self-esteem. They listen to staff carefully and work well together.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those for whom the provider receives additional funding, progress well. They socialise well with others and enjoy asking and answering questions. Children talk about their own experiences and things they enjoy doing with their families. They practise their early mathematical skills, for example, as they count and add small numbers together. Children write letters that are familiar to them, listen well to adults and follow instructions carefully.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY382976 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1062225 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Fay Kathleen Crouch

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 May 2013 Telephone number 07961824049 or 07572006386

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reference number

Blackbirds Playgroup Grassmere registered in 2008 and operates from St Mary's Community Centre in Felpham, West Sussex. The playgroup is open from 9am to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9am to midday on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during term time only. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff who work with children, six of whom have appropriate qualifications at level 3.

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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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