St Mary's Playgroup

St Mary's Playgroup Burkitt Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4JJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 October 2017 18 June 2015

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not gather detailed information from parents and other settings about what children know and can do on entry to the playgroup. This limits staff's ability to assess children's capabilities, and plan for and monitor children's ongoing progress from the outset.  The management committee has not ensured that Ofsted has received all the necessary information so that they can make a decision about the suitability of new committee members.  Staff do not regularly receive effective feedback and guidance on how they can develop their practice and teaching skills and help all children make good progress from their starting points.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and play together well. They make confident choices about the toys and activities they wish to play with and share their ideas with each other.  Staff help children learn to share and take turns. They provide children with sensitive guidance and encouragement to promote their emotional well-being.  Staff ensure children are well supervised. They follow effective procedures to promote children's health and safety.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 use the information gained from assessment to identify children's stages of development and plan activities to help close any emerging gaps in their learning 23/11/2017

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Due Date

 ensure Ofsted is provided with the necessary information to make a decision about the suitability of committee members to fulfil their role. 26/10/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 gather detailed information from parents and other settings about what children know and can do on entry to the playgroup  provide all staff with more effective feedback and guidance on how they can develop their practice and teaching and help all children make good progress from their starting points.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the current manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the current manager and the new manager, who will be taking over the role at the end of the year.  The inspector spoke to staff, children and committee members during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Although all committee members hold appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks, they have not taken responsibility for ensuring Ofsted has received the necessary information about their suitability. The management committee is supportive of staff and committed to improving the playgroup. The new manager has identified many areas for improvement. However, she has not yet had the opportunity to introduce effective change, such as to provide staff with more effective support to help them improve their practice. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are confident about the action to take if they are concerned a child is at risk of harm. Appropriate procedures are followed to ensure staff are suitably qualified and safe to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Although children are happy and enjoy their play, staff do not make accurate assessments of children's skills when they first start at the playgroup. This means any emerging gaps in children's learning cannot be swiftly identified and targeted. Staff support children well in their chosen play activities, asking open questions to encourage children to think and share their ideas. Staff place a strong focus on promoting children's literacy skills. They provide many opportunities for children to make marks and practise their early writing skills. Staff follow children's interests to extend their play. For example, building on their enjoyment of playing with musical instruments to introduce the concept of soft and loud. The new manager is working with the school to develop further ways of ensuring children are ready for school when the time comes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Although staff work with parents to settle children into the playgroup, parents' knowledge of their children's prior learning is not gathered effectively. Nor is information sought from other settings that children attend. Parents are very happy with the playgroup. They love seeing the photographs that are shared with them via the online assessment system. They comment that the playgroup is a happy, safe place. Staff help children learn that their views matter, while encouraging children to listen to the views of others, such as during fun group activities. Children are learning to follow good hygiene routines and staff talk to them about healthy food options.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are developing some of the basic skills to support their move on to school. They are becoming independent and enjoy some opportunities to take responsibility for small tasks. Children are starting to form recognisable letters and some older children can write their names. Children enjoy using their imaginations, sharing ideas and acting out familiar roles. Children enjoy sharing books with staff, they listen well and point to and make suggestions about the pictures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251657 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 1090300 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 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person St Mary's Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 June 2015 Telephone number 07929 946 053

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reference number

St Mary's Playgroup registered in 1979. It is managed by a voluntary management committee and operates within the grounds of St Mary's Primary School. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff, who all hold appropriate early years qualifications, ranging from level 2 to level 6. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday, during term time only, from 9am until 3.20pm. 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

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

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