Greatfield Playgroup

Greatfield Playgroup Hillview Community Centre, Up Hatherley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 3FZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2017 31 January 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 new manager and her team have worked well to raise the quality of care and teaching. They are committed to providing a high-quality setting and regularly review all areas of practice to drive further improvements.  Staff are enthusiastic and welcoming on arrival. Children are happy and confident at the playgroup. They have a strong sense of belonging and are emotionally secure.  Overall, children make good progress from their starting points. The manager checks how well all children in the playgroup are doing and identifies those who require extra help or any gaps in the curriculum. Staff use their knowledge of each individual child to plan activities that help children move forward in their learning.  Children's behaviour is very good. Staff are very positive role models for children and encourage them to care about others. Children share, take turns and listen well.  Staff encourage older children's early literacy and counting skills well. For example,

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This provision is good

they recognise numbers and letters and know what their written names look like.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff miss chances to build on younger children's interests and extend their learning.  Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to explain to children why healthy food and hygiene practices are important as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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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 full use of opportunities to challenge younger children's interests and extend their learning  make the most of all opportunities to further develop children's understanding of healthy lifestyles.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interactions with the children in play activities indoors and outdoors, and looked at the available resources.  The inspector had discussions with the chair of the committee and the manager about leadership and management, safeguarding and how they evaluate practice.  The inspector had discussions with parents and took account of their views, along with written testimonials.  The inspector looked at children's information, attendance records and development records, and talked to staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of the committee and staff, and checked staff qualifications.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Leaders and staff keep up to date with child protection legislation. They have a very good understanding of the procedure to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. The new committee and management have made many improvements to benefit children and families. For example, staff now use robust systems to identify and manage risk throughout the areas children play. Regular supervision and monitoring of staff practice are effective. Staff are well deployed to support and supervise children throughout the day. Parents are happy with the care their children receive. They recognise the positive changes made by the new team and state that their children are 'developing at a faster rate than before' and are 'ready for starting school'.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The committee ensures that staff continually develop their teaching skills. For example, recent training to recognise the characteristics of how children learn has ensured that there is now a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Teaching is strong overall. Staff focus on children's communication and language skills well. For example, they use hand signs, speak clearly in short sentences and ask simple questions throughout activities. Children play imaginatively with good levels of cooperation and are able to develop their own ideas, for instance, pretending to be superheroes who do good things for their friends. Staff encourage children's early writing skills particularly well. For example, they model writing as children role play and make their own passports in the travel agents.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The caring and friendly staff praise children regularly for their efforts and achievements, which helps them to learn and builds their self-esteem. For example, children learn to persevere as they put on and take off items of school uniform laid out in the playhouse. Children develop good physical skills and experience closely supervised risks. For instance, they eagerly negotiate around each other on ride-on toys, learning how to keep play spaces safe and prevent accidents.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn the physical, social and communication skills they need for their next stage of learning and their move to school. For example, older children learn the differences between letters and the sounds they make, and when to use capital letters. Children build good relationships with their friends. They share stories and frequently use books to increase their vocabulary and talk about what they have been doing with their families. Overall, all children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, are confident and well motivated to learn.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101515 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1073050 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Greatfield Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 31 January 2013 Telephone number 07951 214591

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reference number

Greatfield Playgroup registered in 1990. It is run by a voluntary committee of parents. It operates from the community centre in the Up Hatherley area of Cheltenham. The playgroup offers care from Monday to Thursday between 9am and midday, and all day Friday, during school term times only. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The playgroup employs four staff to work directly with the children; of these, one holds a relevant childcare qualification at level 4 and two hold childcare 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

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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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