Little Sprouts Playgroup

Little Sprouts Playgroup Bramford Lane, IPSWICH, IP1 5BS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 June 2017 15 December 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The committee are not aware of their roles and responsibilities even after receiving intensive support from the Local Authority. The committee fail to identify serious weaknesses within the playgroup that put children at risk of harm.  The committee have failed to understand and implement the correct procedure for notifying Ofsted of committee members so the required suitability checks can be carried out.  The committee and manager demonstrate a very poor understanding of how to safeguard children. They do not act promptly on concerns or follow the required Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures.  Supervision of the managers and staff is very weak and does not safeguard children. The managers and staff are not aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children.

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It has the following strengths

 Children develop a strong knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They enjoy learning about animal habitats and the similarities and differences between their own and other's cultures.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents comment they are happy with the progress their children have made since attending and are updated regularly by staff.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

We intend to take steps to cancel registration and will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 ensure that concerns about children's safety or welfare are reported to statutory agencies without delay 05/07/2017

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Due Date

 train all staff, including the managers, so that they are able to identify signs of all types of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely way to protect children from further harm 05/07/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that information for members of the registered body are submitted to Ofsted without delay so the required suitability checks can be carried out 05/07/2017

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Due Date

 put appropriate arrangements in place for the supervision of staff which enables them to discuss any issues around children’s welfare and development, and allows managers to monitor their knowledge of safeguarding and child protection effectively. 05/07/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager and the committee chairperson. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the playgroup’s self- evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The committee, manager and deputies have failed to ensure that children are protected from harm. They fail to identify obvious and serious causes for concern and delay reporting those concerns to the relevant outside agencies. As a result, children are placed at risk of harm. Following the inspection, Ofsted made the decision to suspend the provider’s registration with immediate effect due to the risk to children’s safety and welfare. The committee demonstrate a poor knowledge and understanding of the legal requirements and how to improve practice. They do not monitor the manager’s or staff’s practice effectively enough to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities, with particular regard to safeguarding children. Changes that have been made have not been successful and the committee’s failings place children at risk of harm. The committee continue to have a poor understanding of

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

how to complete suitability checks for their members. They do not monitor the progress of the checks and are not aware which checks have been processed and which are yet to be submitted. The manager has made improvements to children’s learning and development. She now monitors their development, identifying gaps so the appropriate support can be provided. Staff have attended further training on subjects, such as maths and implemented positive improvements to how they support this topic in the playgroup.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know children well through accurate assessments of what they know and can do. They use this information to plan engaging activities that are matched to children’s learning needs and based around their interests. As a result, children make good progress in all areas of learning. Children enjoy engaging with staff and learning about new subjects. Staff promote children’s communication and language skills well. They maintain eye contact with children, get down to their level and add news words into their vocabulary, such as ‘Buckingham Palace’. Children are encouraged to develop a love for books. Staff skilfully support children to recall stories they have heard and use their imagination to invent their own. Staff engage younger children with the use of puppets and small world animals to help develop their early speaking skills. Staff also communicate with sign language to support those children who cannot yet verbalise their needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children who speak English as an additional language are encouraged by staff to use their home language in their play. Staff work closely with other agencies to support disabled children and those with special educational needs to ensure their individual plans help them to make good progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children’s welfare is put at risk as the committee and managers fail to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and report them to the appropriate agencies without delay. In addition, staff are not confident to follow up the concerns they have about children and do not understand the process if they feel the management are not taking sufficient action to protect children from harm. Staff facilitate an environment that allows children to settle well and form friendships with one another. Children are well behaved and staff promote good manners. Staff encourage children to make healthy lifestyle choices. Children take part in daily physical exercise games. Staff support children to understand the affects that this has on their bodies.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children are placed at risk of harm as the manager, committee and deputies fail to respond appropriately to possible signs and symptoms of abuse and report them to statutory agencies without delay. Children are prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. They learn secure independence skills. Children serve their own food, set up activities and tend to some of their personal care needs. Children learn to match letter sounds with familiar words and develop some problem solving and mathematical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251662 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 1084838 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 32 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Little Sprouts Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 December 2016 Telephone number 01473 402 207

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reference number

Little Sprouts Playgroup was registered in 1994. The playgroup employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with Early Years Professional status. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday for 50 weeks a year. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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