PlayPlus Kindergarten

PlayPlus Kindergarten Kingsway, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 2RQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 July 2017 2 June 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 interact warmly with the children, who feel safe and secure in the setting. Key persons have a good knowledge of each child's level of development. They are responsive to children's needs and interests, and provide activities that challenge children well.  Staff manage children's transition from one room to another well. Staff support children to settle and become familiar with their new environment. This builds children's confidence in managing change and prepares them well for their eventual move to school.  The management team encourages staff well to evaluate and reflect on the quality of the provision. They use this information successfully to accurately identify areas for improvement that benefit the children further.  Staff accurately observe and assess children's good progress. They plan a range of interesting opportunities, building on children's interests, needs and individual stages of

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This provision is good

development.  Children thoroughly enjoy imaginary play experiences. For example, older children make soup in the mud kitchen, pretending that grass are vegetables, as they serve them to the staff. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to explain to children why healthy food is important as part of their healthy lifestyles.  Babies do not have many opportunities to access natural resources, to further enhance their sensory experiences in daily play.

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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 opportunities to help children understand why healthy food is good for them  increase opportunities for babies to accesses more-natural resources, to explore freely, and further extend their sensory experiences in play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the provider, the manager, children, parents and staff throughout the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documents available, including those relating to the premises, staff suitability and safeguarding.  The inspector observed activities and daily routines, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents to gather their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff know about the correct procedures to follow if they have any concerns about the welfare of a child. Management keeps staff up to date through regular training and discussions about safeguarding. The management team observe staff regularly and give them constructive feedback to improve teaching. Supportive coaching has enhanced the quality of observations and assessments that staff make. Staff routinely share good practice with colleagues to benefit children's learning successfully. Management monitors children's progress well, to ensure that all areas of learning receive equal focus and that gaps in children's development close rapidly. With active encouragement by staff, parents' involvement in their children's learning and development is good. Staff work closely and effectively with local schools to support children well when they move on to school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a stimulating environment and children show high levels of curiosity. Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. Babies thoroughly enjoy playing musical instruments, mimic words and babble sounds as they join in with favourite songs. Staff use clear words and repeat familiar phrases to encourage the speech development of babies effectively. Older children play games and build on their listening skills well. Staff promote children to develop their mathematical skills. For instance, they ask children to count the number of bugs and mini-beasts they have found. Children name different insects and compare the number of legs each mini-beast has. Staff ask questions to encourage children's thinking skills successfully, such as, 'Which insects have wings?' Children confidently explain that butterflies and bees have wings and spiders do not.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children and babies develop close relationships with their key persons, and form secure attachments. Staff are responsive to children's individual needs. This supports their self- esteem and their emotional well-being effectively. Staff use consistent strategies to promote positive behaviour and children behave well. Babies and children show confidence, know their routines well and practise self-care tasks. For instance, babies walk to high chairs, use simple words or sign language to communicate with staff, when they are ready to eat snack. Older children, tidy toys away without prompting.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and motivated learners who enjoy the learning experiences offered to them. For example, older children's reading is developing well and they make good attempts at sounding out letters in their names. Children identify colours, shapes and sizes, for example, during matching games. Children make good progress and develop the key skills needed ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129383 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1089401 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person PlayPlus Kindergarten Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 June 2015 Telephone number 01442 879762

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reference number

Playplus Kindergarten registered in 1989 and moved to the current premises in 1999. The kindergarten employs 23 members of staff. Of these, 21 work with children and hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The kindergarten opens Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The kindergarten 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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