Dickie Birds Playschool

Dickie Birds Playschool Bishops Park Community Centre, Lancaster Way, Bishops Stortford, CM23 4DA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 September 2017 19 May 2014

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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 deployment is organised well. This helps to ensure that children are well supervised indoors and outside. Staff are always on hand to support young children's emotional development as they settle in.  The manager and her staff's partnerships with other professionals are effective. They work well with the local children's centre, undertaking projects that help to promote children's good health.  Children show that they are developing good concentration and focus. They spend extended periods of time working out how to push together coloured construction bricks to make a small tower.  Parents report that they are happy with the service provided. They talk about how the playschool's gradual settling-in process was tailored to meet their children's needs.  The manager consistently evaluates feedback about the playschool. Parents are routinely asked for their views about the service provided during regular meetings with

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This provision is good

their child's key person.  Children have lots of fun and show pride as they achieve what they set out to do. For example, they competently work out how to throw a small rubber ring across the garden.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's 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

 use information from staff supervision to target training and professional development even more sharply to enable staff to extend their knowledge and teaching skills even further  strengthen opportunities for sharing ideas and activities with parents to further support and extend their children's learning at home.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playschool.  The inspector spoke with parents during the inspection and took account of their views through the feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

All staff complete regular safeguarding training and understand their responsibility to protect the welfare of children. The manager keeps her staff up to date with any changes to national and local safeguarding policies. All relevant checks are undertaken to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff's induction procedures fully support them to understand their roles. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Risk assessments are carried out regularly in all areas of the playschool used by children. The entry system into the playschool means that staff are alerted to any visitors before they can enter and children are unable to leave unnoticed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe and assess children's initial and ongoing progress. They use this information effectively to plan a wide range of exciting activities that interest children. Parents are involved in the mandatory progress check for children aged between two and three years. Children have fun playing with dough and show that they are able to follow instructions. For example, they roll dough between their palms as they attempt to shape it into a ball. This action also supports children to develop good muscle control. Children use their imagination as they tell staff that they have made a birthday cake out of dough. Children have lots of fun as they play alongside and with each other. They enjoy discovering how battery operated toys work. Showing curiosity they eagerly press the different coloured buttons and watch with interest to see what happens next.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Procedures for gathering information from parents mean that staff are able to gain a good understanding of each child's needs. This helps them to build secure bonds from the very start. Routines are flexible, which helps to ensure that children are well cared for, happy and secure. Children behave well. Staff provide them with sensitive reminders, which helps them to learn how to manage their behaviour. At snack time children enjoy pouring their own drinks and helping themselves to fresh and dried fruits. Children learn about how to stay safe. As they play with a toy workbench and tools, the manager talks to them about how safety goggles help to protect our eyes. Staff promote children's independence. For example, they are able to help themselves to toys and activities.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are keen to explore toys and activities that stimulate their interest. They are effectively challenged and show good levels of perseverance. Children develop physical skills, such as balance as they move around indoors and use large equipment outdoors. All children make good progress in readiness for their future move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY470743 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1102861 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Dickie Birds Creche LLP

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 May 2014 Telephone number 0844 332 8952

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reference number

Dickie Birds Playschool registered in 2013. The playschool employs five members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playschool opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 2.15pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9.15am until 12.15pm on Wednesdays and 9.05am until 12.05pm on Friday. The playschool is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for two- and three-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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