Farmborough Preschool

Farmborough Playgroup Farmborough VC Primary School, The Street, Farmborough, BATH, BA2 0FY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 May 2017 20 May 2015

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The manager and committee members do not fully understand their legal responsibilities. This has resulted in a failure to notify Ofsted of changes to the committee.  Staff do not consistently support children's attention and listening skills and engage them in learning.  The manager and the committee do not ensure self-evaluation is used effectively to identify all weaknesses and support continuous development of the provision.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are thoughtful and focused on the individual needs of children. Children settle well and develop secure relationships with staff. They grow in confidence and suitably develop their skills.  Staff work with parents when children first start at the setting to get to know children's needs and preferences. They use an online system to record observations and regularly assess children's development. This is shared with parents, so they can comment on, and be involved in, their children's learning.  Children are supported to develop healthy lifestyles. For example, staff ensure good use is made of the all-weather playground to extend children's exploration and learning. Children enjoy cooking activities and learn about healthy foods. They develop an appreciation of nature during sessions in the adjacent school grounds.

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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 committee members have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, including checking that all legal requirements are met 31/05/2017

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Due Date

 enable children's involvement and attention and listening skills in a range of situations. 31/05/2017

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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

 develop procedures for self-evaluation so that targets for improvement are based on rigorous monitoring of all aspects of practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main play room, the outside learning environment and conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and the committee chairperson. She spoke to staff and children throughout the inspection when appropriate.  The inspector looked at children's assessment and planning documentation, the playgroup's risk assessments and safety records.  The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working within the setting, the manager's evidence of self-evaluation and a range of other documentation.  The inspector took account the views of parents spoken to on the day and by reading a number of comments on questionnaires to the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are vigilant about children's safety and understand the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's welfare. However, the provider has failed to ensure all committee members have undergone the required suitability checks. The impact on children is minimised as children are not left unsupervised with adults whose suitability has not been checked. The manager supervises staff and monitors the children's progress. Staff are supported in undertaking mandatory and additional training to develop their knowledge. However, self-evaluation has failed to identify weak aspects of leadership and management practice.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Children actively explore and experiment, following their interests and developing their skills indoors and outdoors. Children create malleable dough cakes and mud cakes during their play. They link to recent experiences and say they are making 'chocolate soup'. Staff ask probing questions and use discussion to encourage children's thinking. For instance, children talk about their cakes needing to cook for '60 million' or '10 minutes'. Staff introduce interesting new experiences to children, such as cutting vegetables during cooking activities. However, group times and adult-led activities are not always planned well to ensure children's interest and attention are sustained.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are happy and enjoy the social opportunities at the playgroup. Staff provide a welcoming environment where children are able to freely choose resources from accessible storage. Children join their friends in acting out imaginative scenarios and staff encourage them to share and take turns as they play. Staff provide children with friendly and attentive support, reassurance and praise. They take every opportunity to sensitively develop children's independence. For example children learn to manage their self-care skills and take pride in doing things for themselves. However, children's welfare is not fully assured because of a weakness in leadership and management.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

All children make steady progress in their development and some make good progress. Children enjoy the company of other children. They learn practical skills, such as putting on their coats and preparing food. They eagerly tidy away toys and clean up after meals. This develops their confidence and sense of responsibility, and helps to prepare them for further independent challenges that they will encounter when they move on to school. However, children's listening and attention skills are not developing quickly enough. They are not consistently engaged in their learning, so as to make good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY346943 Local authority Bath & NE Somerset Inspection number 1092959 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Farmborough Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 May 2015 Telephone number 07837738361

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reference number

Farmborough Playgroup operates from a classroom in the school. It has been in operation for over 30 years and registered on these premises in 2007. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, during school term time only. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are five members of staff who work with the children, of whom four hold early years 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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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