Old Town Playgroup

Old Town Playgroup 9 Montague Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 1JY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 November 2017 26 February 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

 Children develop a very good understanding of the similarities and differences between themselves and others. For example, as they say 'hello' to everyone at morning group time, they use their home language.  Staff follow consistent levels of teaching. For example, they constantly promote good manners and provide frequent praise. Children behave well.  Children build very good communication skills. For example, staff teach them to use sign language, to help them express their needs well. This especially benefits children who are learning English as an additional language.  Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff form close partnerships with parents and work consistently with other professionals to support children's individual needs. This particularly benefits children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities very well.  Self-evaluation is effective. The manager reflects well on the playgroup's practice. She

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This provision is good

identifies and plans areas for improvement that continue to support good outcomes for children. For example, current improvements include making the outdoor area even more physically challenging for children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, some staff do not make good use of opportunities to build on children's mathematical awareness, especially shapes.  There are few opportunities for children to explore and investigate a range of natural materials and resources in their 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 organised activities to support children's mathematical awareness  provide more opportunities for children to explore and investigate a range of natural resources and materials.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children playing independently, with their friends and with staff in different learning environments.  The inspector spoke to staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss how she organises the setting and staff, and how she supports children's learning and development.  The inspector sampled a range of documents, including children's records, policies and suitability checks.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff know how to identify and report any concerns they have about children's safety and welfare. The manager monitors staff's individual practice well. She meets with them regularly to offer support, guidance and identify potential training needs to help extend their skills even further. For example, recent training regarding behaviour management has helped staff to support children's emotional development effectively. The manager follows effective procedures to safely recruit new staff. She also takes appropriate steps to help ensure all staff continue to be safe to care for children, such as completing ongoing suitability checks. The manager and staff have made good improvements since the last inspection. They have successfully addressed the previous recommendations, for example, by introducing a range of activities to enable children to practise their very early writing skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children make good progress in relation to their starting points. Staff understand children well and interact with them effectively to extend their abilities. For example, as children paint pictures, staff talk to them about their families, helping to develop their communication skills. Staff gather information about children before they start, which helps them to plan activities they enjoy and also helps motivate children to learn. Staff complete regular observations and assess children's progress to help ensure they offer continually challenging experiences. The manager effectively monitors children's progress to help her identify any potential gaps in their development and to seek specialist support, if necessary. Children are well prepared for their next stages in learning and their eventual move to school.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and enjoy their time at the playgroup. They learn to be sociable and form friendships, which help to develop their confidence and readiness for school. Staff keep children safe at all times. They are vigilant and teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, during the inspection, children and staff practised emergency evacuation. Staff support children's good self-esteem and encourage them to complete small tasks to build their independence, such as wiping tables before eating snacks and putting on their own coats to prepare for outdoor play.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy a wide range of experiences across all areas of learning. They develop secure literacy skills as they listen to stories and practise how to sound out letters. Children build good physical skills. They exercise their larger muscles as they play with ride-on toys and strengthen their smaller muscles by playing with dough. Children learn to develop their own ideas as they experiment with small tools, such as pencils to make marks in dough. They play imaginatively, such as 'cooking' pizza. Children learn to show consideration towards others, as they share their pizzas to 'eat'.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 116260 Local authority Hounslow Inspection number 1085707 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 20 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Old Town Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 February 2015 Telephone number 07861 471648 / 07906 927787

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reference number

Old Town Playgroup registered in 1992 and is located in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is open each weekday from 8.55am to 3.35pm during term time, except Tuesdays when it closes at 11.55am. There are nine members of staff. Of whom, five hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, including the manager, and two hold a level 2 qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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