Smalley Pre-School Playgroup

Smalley Pre-School Playgroup Church Hall, Main Road, Smalley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6EF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 January 2017 18 July 2013

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 Staff do not have an adequate knowledge or secure enough understanding of safeguarding issues. The designated officer for safeguarding and staff have not attended appropriate safeguarding training. These weaknesses compromise children's safety and well-being.  Performance management and professional development for staff do not focus enough on improving the quality of teaching. Leaders do not closely check the quality of staff's practice.  Staff do not have a thorough understanding of how to consistently support children's communication and language development effectively, in order to help them make the best possible progress.  Staff do not always give children enough opportunities to actively direct and develop their own creative learning experiences. They occasionally step in too quickly to show children how to do things.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff have a caring nature and know the children's characteristics well. Children build strong attachments to the staff, which helps them to settle.  Parents are involved in their children's learning. They are invited into the playgroup to share their knowledge and support activities. Parents are given ideas about how to enhance their children's learning at home.

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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 staff have a secure and up-to-date understanding of all safeguarding issues, including signs and symptoms that would cause concern, how to deal with allegations made against another member of staff and whistle-blowing procedures 10/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure performance management offers coaching and training that improves the quality of teaching, in order to help provide all children with quality learning and development experiences 31/03/2017

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Due Date

 increase staff's understanding of how to support and improve children's communication and language skills effectively. 31/03/2017

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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

 provide more opportunities for children to develop their own skills and be able to express their own creative ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. She held discussions with the manager, deputy manager and the chairperson.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the effect this had on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to parents on the day and took their views into account.  The inspector checked evidence of staff's suitability and qualifications. She discussed with the manager staff's supervision and training and the playgroup's action plan for future improvements.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The manager and staff do not have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, in order to effectively support children's welfare. Some staff are unsure of their responsibilities with regards to whistle-blowing procedures and what to do if there is an allegation made against a member of staff. Some staff do not confidently demonstrate they know the signs that children may be at risk of harm. Nevertheless, the manager has updated the playgroup's safeguarding policy to ensure it reflects local procedures. She also makes regular checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service to help ensure the ongoing suitability of staff. Recruitment procedures are appropriate and help ensure new staff are suitable for their roles. The manager carries out supervision and appraisals with staff as part of their performance management. However, arrangements are not rigourous enough to fully identify ways to improve the

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

quality of teaching. The manager uses self-evaluation to identify some areas to improve.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff are well qualified and understand that children learn through play. They set up the playroom with a range of activities to promote learning. However, the quality of teaching is not consistently good. Some staff do not respond to children's emerging needs or guide their language development. They do not make the most of opportunities to extend and develop children's language skills. Furthermore, during creative activities, staff often tell children what to and do not give them enough opportunities to explore and express their own ideas. Staff establish children's starting points on entry. They regularly observe and assess children's progress and identify their next steps in learning. They use this information to help them plan for children's future progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in staff's safeguarding awareness reduces their ability to ensure children's welfare and safety. Nevertheless, children are settled and approach staff when they need help. They learn about healthy lifestyles and are well behaved. Staff teach children the playgroup's rules so they learn about behavioural expectations and to value each other. Children have an understanding of similarities and differences. They enjoy learning about different cultural backgrounds. For example, they learn about how children celebrate New Year in China. Children play outdoors and develop their physical skills. The premises are safe and staff carry out appropriate risk assessments. They record any accidents children have and meet their dietary needs, as required. The move on to school is managed well so that children feel comfortable with change.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Some children are working comfortably within the range typical for their age. However, the inconsistent support for children in developing their communication and language skills means that they are not consistently making good progress. Children enjoy their freely chosen play and are gaining independence and a positive attitude to learning. Older children are motivated and enjoy whole-group teaching times, such as story time. They develop some useful skills in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 206856 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 1063676 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 45 Name of registered person Smalley Pre School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 July 2013 Telephone number 01332 781283

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reference number

Smalley Pre-School Playgroup was registered in 1992. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am, with an option to stay for lunch club from 11.45am until 12.45pm. There are six staff working with the children, of whom four have early years qualifications at level 3. The manager has an early years qualification at level 5.

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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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