Little Bears

Little Bears St. Margarets C of E Primary School, School Road, WARRINGTON, WA2 9AD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 May 2017 8 May 2015

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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 and her staff team provide a warm, welcoming and stimulating environment. The friendly staff team creates a relaxed atmosphere where every child is valued and included.  The quality of teaching is good. Children are eager and motivated to learn. Staff provide a range of activities according to children's interests and make accurate observations of children's learning and development.  Staff establish good relationships with parents. Parents are well informed about their children's progress through daily discussions and are supported by staff to continue and extend children's learning at home. They speak very highly of the staff team and the care and learning that their children receive.  The manager and staff use evaluation strategies effectively to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The views of parents and children are used to improve outcomes further.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the best use of their assessments to plan and target teaching as precisely as possible, in order to support children to make rapid progress in all aspects of their learning.

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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

 make better use of assessment information to plan and target teaching even more precisely, in order to help children make rapid progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting and had discussions with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector engaged in discussions with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff have undergone child protection training and have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm. The manager supports her staff well through daily discussions and coaching to help improve their practice and teaching skills. Professional development opportunities help staff to progress in their roles. For example, staff have recently attended training to support their work in caring for babies. Furthermore, the manager frequently observes staff to help them develop their practice even further. Good communication with teachers and other early years professionals helps to provide continuity in children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well qualified staff team knows the different ways in which children learn. They provide a good balance of adult-initiated activities and opportunities for children to spontaneously explore. For example, younger babies enjoy sensory experiences as they make marks in flour. Older children are supported to develop their mathematical skills. For example, they roll balls down pipes and measure how far they have travelled using a tape measure. Staff support children's developing language skills. They introduce new words, ask questions and use repetition. Staff help children to build sentences, encouraging them to explain and describe what they are doing.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff praise children for their efforts and achievements and successfully support them to manage their own feelings and behaviour. Children are reminded of the playgroup rules and are encouraged to share toys, take turns and respect one another. Children are happy and confident in the playgroup. They quickly form good relationships with their key person and other members of staff, who are caring and nurture children's emotional well-being. Children play outside daily and develop their physical skills. For example, they operate wheeled toys, negotiating space and obstacles. Children manage their self-care needs well and demonstrate good hygiene procedures.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. Babies freely explore and play with toys that help develop their understanding of cause and effect. Older children develop an awareness of how things work. For example, they operate a laptop to play their favourite games. Children develop secure early literacy skills. For example, they enjoy listening to their favourite stories and begin to make marks and write letters from their names. Children develop a good range of abilities that supports their future learning and readiness for school. They develop their concentration levels and show good social skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY428545 Local authority Warrington Inspection number 1094879 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person St Margaret's Playgroup (Orford) Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 May 2015 Telephone number 07986 741 915

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reference number

Little Bears registered in 2001. It is situated in the Orford area of Warrington and is run by a voluntary management committee. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 39 weeks of the year. The playgroup also offers out-of-school care at a breakfast and after-school club. There are currently six members of staff working directly with children. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, and two hold level 2.

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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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