St Mary's Playgroup

St Mary's Playgroup St Mary of the Crays, Church Centre,114 Old Road, Crayford, Kent, DA1 4DZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 December 2017 30 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

 Good communication and relationships with parents help to ensure children's needs are continually met. Parents are provided with regular information about children's care and development, including ways to contribute to children's learning at home.  Staff's knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements are good. They plan and deliver an interesting and varied range of activities to support children's play, learning and continued progress.  The manager has an effective system to monitor staff's performance. She checks on the quality of their practice and gives them support and guidance to help them improve.  Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of their individual needs and personalities. They develop close and caring relationships that help the children to feel confident and secure at the playgroup.  Staff provide a stimulating environment where children enjoy the freedom of playing

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This provision is good

indoors or outdoors. They are well supported in learning how to protect themselves as they take small risks, such as climbing up the play equipment.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the very best use of opportunities to help children learn about the importance of nutrition and physical activity to help them feel good and stay healthy.  Staff do not consistently make use of assessments to focus even more precisely on what children need to learn next to help them to continually make the best possible progress.

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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

 enrich the opportunities that support children in understanding the relevance of making healthy dietary choices  enhance the way staff use assessments to focus more precisely on what children need to learn next to help them to make the best possible progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff's interactions with children during a range of activities, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with the manager, staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled a wide range of documentation, including staff's suitability checks, children's development records and attendance registers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good understanding of how to identify concerns relating to children's welfare or the conduct of an adult. They understand how to report such concerns to the correct local agencies to protect children from harm. The new manager works closely with staff, parents and the local authority to reflect on the service the playgroup offers, to help ensure that the care and teaching practice meets the needs of the children. Staff work well with external professionals and make good use of additional funding to promote children's individual needs. The manager works directly with children, modelling high-quality teaching skills to engage children's enthusiasm for learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is consistently good, and at times very good. For example, staff enable children to widen their understanding of mathematics and science during play. Children float small plastic bears in little boats and the staff enhance this activity to challenge the children to think about whether a larger bear will sink the boat or not. Staff follow children's curiosity with 'in the moment planning'. For example, when children ask for animals and straw, the staff immediately respond to this and set out the chosen activity, which sparks the children's involvement. Children love to play with the adults during role play, for example, children make 'ice creams' from malleable materials. Staff extend this learning and introduce sensory development. For example, children smell the ice cream, think about the flavours and they compare the biggest and smallest.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well. Staff make their expectations clear and children respond well to instructions and boundaries. Children feel secure attending the playgroup and know what to expect from the daily routine. They eagerly join in with tidy-up time and sit quietly for stories and singing. Staff support children's independence well. For example, they provide choices and help them manage their own needs, put on their own coats before going outdoors and pour their own milk or water. Children are confident communicators. For example, they engage visitors in conversation and excitedly express their ideas and opinions. Staff provide positive experiences to reflect individual children's backgrounds, encourage them to share experiences from home and learn about cultural differences.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress, including those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Children develop the key skills which prepare them effectively in readiness for school. For example, as children are encouraged to make pictures, they eagerly tell the staff what letters are in their name, sound out the letters and write them independently. They take great pride in their work as they share their achievements with their friends and the staff. All children show an interest in books and other reading materials.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 115372 Local authority Bexley Inspection number 1089147 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 20 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person St Mary's Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 June 2015 Telephone number 01322555894

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reference number

St Mary's Playgroup registered in 1974 and is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. The playgroup employs six members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The manager holds an early years foundation degree.

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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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