The Old Station Playgroup

The Old Station Playgroup 33 Three Colt Street, London, E14 8HH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 February 2017 14 November 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 management team and staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to support children's safety and security.  Children play in a clean environment where they learn to follow good hygiene procedures.  Staff provide stimulating activities and resources to enable children to develop, learn and make good progress.  Staff effectively challenge children to investigate. For example, they enable children to notice the properties of change and growth within the natural environment.  Children take part in a wide range of physical activities and show increasing control over their movements.  The manager regularly assesses staff's knowledge and skills, such as through the process of one-to-one supervision and appraisals. She actively support staff's professional development and targets their training needs to enhance the experiences they provide for children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not fully make the most of activities and opportunities to enhance children's mathematical understanding and skills.  Staff miss opportunities to encourage children whose home language is not English to hear and use their language fully, to represent and value their identity even further.

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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 throughout the day for children to strengthen their mathematical skills  extend opportunities for children who speak English as an additional language to hear and use their home language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector held discussions with the manager about their practices and spoke to the staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector observed staff's interaction with the children.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation and records.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff carry out daily risk assessments to remove any hazards that may pose a risk to children's safety. The manager and staff have a secure knowledge of child protection issues. They know the signs and symptoms that may give cause for concerns and how to proceed if a child is at risk of harm. The management team implements efficient recruitment procedures to check the suitability of staff to work with children. The manager has addressed the recommendations set at the last inspection. This had led to children acquiring skills in using technology and, overall, children's communication and language skills are developing well. Staff have good relationships with parents to support children's care and learning between home and the setting. The manager and staff regularly evaluate their practice to raise the standards of care and learning. For example, they completed a quality assurance scheme last year.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather information from parents about children's starting points and plan activities to build on children's existing skills. Staff use their observations and assessments of children's abilities well to identify the next steps to move children on in their learning. The manager checks staff's assessment records and takes appropriate action to identify and close any gaps in children's learning and development. Children have free access to a broad range of resources that helps them to make choices about their play and develop their independence. Staff play alongside children helping them to learn to share and take turns, so that they develop friendships and understand what is acceptable behaviour.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff implement the key-person system well. They work closely with parents to arrange children's transition from home to the nursery. Children settle well and have a trusting relationship with their key persons. Staff help children to develop their awareness of healthy eating, for instance, when talking to children about food during routines and activities. Children gain a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they regularly practise the emergency procedures with staff and respond to requests to walk and not run indoors.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. For example, young children learn to join materials and take them apart, and use their senses to develop their curiosity about the natural world. Children's literacy skills are developing well. For example, young children show an interest in sharing books with adults and older children eagerly join in when staff read stories. Older children show an enjoyment in mark making and some begin to write the letters in their name. They gain the necessary skills in readiness for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458790 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 1063321 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Limehouse Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 November 2013 Telephone number 0207 538 3355

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reference number

The Old Station Playgroup registered in 2013. It operates from a converted railway arches building in Limehouse, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm, for 39 weeks of the year. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two and three years. The provider employs eight staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to 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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