The Playgroup @ Archibald First School

The Playgroup @ Archibald First School Archibald First School, Archibald Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1EB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 November 2017 16 September 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 provide a good range of feedback to the parents about their children's day and development to support continuity of care. Parents report that they are very happy with the service provided and that their children are happy and making good progress.  Partnerships with other settings are strong. The manager works closely with the staff at the host school, helping to develop plans for children's move on to nursery.  Self-evaluation methods are effective and identify areas for development. The manager takes into account the views of parents, staff and children.  The manager leads a well-qualified staff team. She works directly with children, demonstrating high-quality teaching skills to engage children's enthusiasm for learning. She monitors children progress and ensures staff use observation and assessment to accurately identify individual children's stage of development.  Staff work effectively as a team to meet the individual needs of the children. They help

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This provision is good

children to settle very quickly and sensitively support them to feel safe and emotionally secure. Children develop in self-confidence and are motivated to learn.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to offer further challenge to children to fully extend their learning and build on their mathematical understanding.  Children have few opportunities to use technology to further promote their ability to learn how things work.

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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 the most of opportunities to consistently challenge and extend children's learning and mathematical skills even further  provide opportunities for children to learn more about technology.

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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 playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup leader. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a thorough understanding of what to do if they are concerned about the welfare of a child. Recruitment and vetting procedures are robust. Staff benefit from strong leadership and support from the manager to help their ongoing development. They attend regular training to update their skills and knowledge and several are working towards higher qualifications. Staff describe, after attending training on sustained shared thinking, how they have introduced more open-ended resources. This has helped to increase the opportunities for children to use their imagination and creativity. The manager and staff accurately track and monitor children's progress. This helps them to highlight gaps in learning and ensure children receive the support required so they continue to make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn and develop, overall. They get down to the children's level and interact purposefully as they play alongside each other. Staff plan imaginative activities which build on children's interests and enthusiasms. For example, children have many opportunities to experiment with messy, malleable materials or investigate the natural world. Staff, generally, create innovative ways for children to develop new skills. For example, in the nature garden children are keen to use scissors to trim the shrubs. This helps them to develop their physical skills and hand-to-eye coordination well. Staff offer children opportunities to practise their writing skills, such as when they supply chalk and paint for children to make marks. They use an array of opportunities to help develop children's communication skills. For example, they use sign language and continually extend children's vocabulary as they join in their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are well supported when they start attending the playgroup. Settling-in visits are provided for as long as they are needed to ensure that children are settled and parents are reassured. Children's behaviour is good. Staff value and praise children's good behaviour, promoting their self-esteem. Good hygiene practices are promoted as children wash their hands before snack and after outdoor play. Staff encourage children to try nutritious snacks, helping them develop a positive attitude to food. Regular outdoor play supports children's physical development well.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who receive additional funding, make good progress from their starting points. They develop many skills in readiness for the next stage in their learning, such as the move on to school. For example, older children are developing good literacy skills. They learn to recognise their name in print when self-registering at the beginning of the session. Children eagerly look at books with staff and recall familiar stories. They quickly master skills, such as putting on their coats, helping them to become independent.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475457 Local authority Newcastle Inspection number 1105790 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person The Playgroup @ Archibald First School Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 September 2014 Telephone number 07460295063

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reference number

The Playgroup @ Archibald First School registered in 2014. The playgroup employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 4, two hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2. The playgroup opens Monday to Thursday, from 9am until 3pm, term time only. 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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