Parkwood 'Poppets' Playgroup

Parkwood 'Poppets' Playgroup Parkwood Green, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 9PN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 January 2018 24 June 2015

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The provider has not ensured that Ofsted has up-to-date details regarding the nominated individual, to enable the necessary suitability checks to be completed.  Staff assessments of children's progress are variable and can lack rigour and precision. Some gaps in children's learning are not addressed at the earliest opportunity, meaning not all children are given every opportunity to make good progress.  Staff have yet to fully implement their plans to enhance partnerships with parents. They have not established a consistent exchange of information regarding children's development, especially when children first start at the playgroup.  Staff do not provide children with a broad range of opportunities to develop their understanding of the wider world.

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It has the following strengths

 The new manager works with other professionals and staff to establish plans for future development. She recognises some of the weaknesses in practice and demonstrates a capacity to implement improvements.  Children benefit from the strong bonds they develop with staff. They feel safe and welcome the interactions they get from the attentive staff team.  Children's independence is fostered well. They learn to manage their own personal care needs from a young age. Children show pride in their achievements and enjoy using their developing skills to support their friends.

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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

 provide Ofsted with required information, including changes to the nominated individual, so it can complete all suitability checks 18/02/2018

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Due Date

 ensure all staff precisely assess children's progress to help them swiftly identify and support any gaps in children's learning. 18/02/2018

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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

 strengthen partnerships with parents and extend methods for obtaining and using information from parents about their child's learning and development at home  provide more opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the wider world.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interactions between the staff and children in the inside space and the outside environment.  The inspector spoke to key people and looked at developmental records for individual children.  The inspector spoke to the manager at different times throughout the inspection to discuss practice.  The inspector gathered the views of parents and children and considered these.  The inspector discussed with the setting's special educational needs (SEN) coordinator how they support individual children's development.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. However, Ofsted has not been correctly informed of changes to the nominated individual. This has a minimal impact on children as this individual does not work with or have contact with the children. Suitability checks have been completed on all members of staff. The manager ensures all staff have an understanding of their role and the processes and procedures to follow in regards to safeguarding. The manager has recently implemented a new process of monitoring staff practice. Staff are supported to reflect on their skills and consider how these could be further developed. They attend training opportunities which help them implement positive changes to practice. For example, staff use knowledge gained from courses aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles to support families to consider their role in providing healthier meal options for their children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff observe children's learning, but some do not swiftly recognise gaps arising in children's progress. The manager oversees the monitoring of children's learning individually and within specific groups. However, this new system has not been effectively used to support staff to recognise areas where some children may need extra support. Staff have worked to develop partnership with parents, for example, they have introduced contact books. However, they do not consistently gain information about what children can do when they first start at the setting, to help inform their initial planning. Staff have an understanding of how children learn and their positive interactions in children's play help children to practise developing skills. For example, using simple questions, staff encourage children to use their emerging language skills to describe what they are making with bricks. Staff listen well and provide opportunities for children to practise their

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

mathematical skills through counting and comparing the brick shapes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The qualified staff team maintains a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment. Children freely explore the resources available and enjoy being able to develop their own ideas in their play. Staff offer lots of praise and encouragement, and are sensitive and caring. Children are happy and settled in the playgroup. Overall, children behave well. They are well supported to develop a good understanding of how to play, share and work cooperatively with others. For example, at snack time children serve themselves and pour their own drinks. They sit and chat with their friends and give support to each other when washing and drying their plates and cups.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are making sufficient progress in their learning and development in readiness for the move to school. However, they are not always effectively supported to make the best possible progress. Children are developing appropriate language skills which they use confidently. They enjoy talking to others about what they are doing in their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 103831 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 1088940 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Parkwood Community Association Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 June 2015 Telephone number 01634 371886

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reference number

Parkwood 'Poppets' Playgroup registered in 1977 and is open Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 3pm, during term time only. It offers full-day care and sessional places. The playgroup employs nine staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager who holds a relevant early years degree. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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