Blacklands Playgroup

Blacklands Playgroup Elim Church, Elphinstone Avenue, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2DJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 May 2017 20 March 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

 Staff carefully observe and assess children's progress. They successfully identify children's next steps in learning and help them make good progress in relation to their starting points.  Children develop a good understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, staff teach them about healthy eating and the importance of brushing their teeth.  Children are benefiting from the ongoing professional development of staff. For example, following training, staff have introduced a wider variety of physical activities that significantly improves children's physical skills and coordination.  Since the previous inspection, staff have greatly increased the involvement of parents in children's learning and assessment. For example, parents borrow resources and continue learning at home, and share videos of children's achievements with staff.  The manager consistently monitors and evaluates children's progress, and staff's use of

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This provision is good

assessment. She ensures staff are accurately identifying and narrowing any emerging gaps in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, some staff miss opportunities to challenge children's thinking skills and encourage them to communicate their thoughts and ideas.  Staff do not consistently make the most of opportunities to help increase children's awareness of positive diversity.

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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 the most of opportunities to consistently challenge and extend children's learning to the highest levels  provide children with further opportunities to build on their positive understanding of similarities and differences between themselves and others.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and in the outdoor area.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and other relevant documentation, including the provider's self-evaluation.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and spoke to members of staff, and children, at appropriate times.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures all staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and know what to do if they have any concerns about a child. She focuses well on helping staff continue to improve practice, for example, by coaching and appraising staff. The manager competently evaluates and improves the quality of the provision to meet children's changing needs and interests. For example, she has worked successfully with staff to improve children's experiences in the outdoor area. Children now engage in a greater variety of activities when playing outdoors, such as balancing games and water painting.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work effectively with parents, agencies and other settings to meet children's needs. They get to know children's abilities and interests well. Overall, staff interact effectively with children and build on their knowledge and skills. For example, they skilfully reinforce letter sounds with children when playing with magnetic letters. Staff help children to find letters in their names. They encourage older children to write their names on their artwork and praise them when they do it well. Overall, staff build on younger children's language skills, for example, by talking to them as they play in the sand.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff create a friendly and caring environment where children feel welcome, safe and secure. Young children settle quickly and soon make themselves at home. Staff are on hand to give them additional support and reassurance if they need it. Children form strong emotional bonds with staff. They behave well and are keen to join in activities. Staff actively encourage children's independence. For example, at snack time children serve themselves food and drink, and spread butter on their toast. They wash up their cups after they have finished drinking.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children develop well in the key skills they need to be ready for starting school. They are confident talkers and join in with conversations, sharing their experiences. Children develop strong friendships with others. They share and take turns with resources. Children are well motivated and concentrate well at activities. For example, younger children spend a long time digging and making sandcastles. Older children become absorbed in painting and sticking activities. They learn how to use equipment safely, such as when cutting card with scissors. Children manage their own personal care needs well, for example by changing their clothes to join in gym activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY341110 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 1092851 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Sharon Reeve

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 March 2015 Telephone number 01424 437630

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reference number

Blacklands Playgroup registered in 2006. It operates from a church hall in Hastings, East Sussex. The setting opens from 8.30am to 5.30pm, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, school term times only. The setting is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The setting employs eight staff. There are four staff, including the manager, who hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The other staff have a relevant qualification at 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

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

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