First Steps Playgroup Limited

First Steps Playgroup Limited Heston Village Hall, New Heston Road, Hounslow, TW5 0LW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 April 2018 21 May 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The manager is an inspirational leader. She carefully monitors and assesses children's progress to ensure all staff have a thorough understanding of each child's needs. This enables staff to respond quickly if a child falls behind or requires further challenge.  Uniquely tailored activities ensure that all children, including those who speak English as an additional language and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities, make very rapid progress. The gaps in the outcomes for children who receive additional funding are closing rapidly.  Children delight in the innovative and exciting activities. They have very close friendships and welcome others into their play. Children eagerly accept challenges provided by staff, helping them to develop their thinking skills and high levels of perseverance.  The views of parents and staff are fully embraced, leading to constant improvement.

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This provision is outstanding

Recent improvements include making changes to dropping-off procedures and introducing cooking and planting activities for the children.  Children love to be physically active. They explore a wide range of activities where they develop their skills, such as through dance, role play, climbing and balancing. Children have many opportunities to learn how these types of activities promote their good health.

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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

 continue to refine the use of the precise information gathered through assessments to provide even more focused support for specific groups of children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and in the garden.  The inspector spoke to staff and the children at appropriate times during the day.  The inspector reviewed a sample of records, including learning assessments, recruitment records and staff qualifications.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Children benefit from an inspiring leadership team that offers exceptionally high-quality mentoring and coaching to all staff. Training is focused precisely on the needs of the children to ensure staff are in the best position to support each child's development. For example, when the manager found that boys were making less progress in some areas, she enhanced outdoor learning facilities. Now boys eagerly access books and writing resources to extend their play. In the future, the manager plans to support staff even further in how they can use the information gathered from tracking groups of children. Extremely close partnerships are in place with parents and other professionals working with children, including speech and language therapists and health visitors. This encourages detailed information sharing and ensures that children receive consistent and targeted support. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are extremely vigilant and have a

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

thorough understanding of the processes to follow if they are concerned about a child. They routinely follow up any unexplained absences and ensure their knowledge of child protection is extremely thorough.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The support provided to children who have communication and language difficulties is exceptional. All staff act as excellent role models and encourage children to extend their abilities. Children consistently persevere and gain extremely high levels of confidence and self-esteem. Staff model the correct pronunciation of words and strongly encourage eye contact and the use of sign language. Children respond very well to this. They clearly understand the routines and know what is expected of them. Staff allow ample time for children to consider their responses to questions before attempting to communicate. Children are encouraged to lead their own learning and staff are quick to follow their interests, offering innovative extensions and challenges, which children fully welcome.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children consistently behave well. They greatly enjoy assessing and managing risks. For example, staff set up a challenging obstacle course where children can climb onto a high platform and jump off. Staff are nearby, but allow the more confident children to approach the challenge independently, while offering more support and encouragement to those who need it. Children are fully involved in checking the safety of their surroundings. They use laminated pictures of potential hazards and diligently check the area for these. This helps them to learn about keeping themselves and others safe.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are extremely motivated and independent learners. For example, they excitedly look for bugs in the garden, using books to identify them. They squeal excitedly, showing staff and other children what they have found. Children explore home-made dough, making structures from straws and pasta, before adding flour to make the texture change. They focus intently as they make marks and draw shapes in preparation for early writing. They show great pride in their achievements when they succeed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY473132 Local authority Hounslow Inspection number 1069971 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 47 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person First Step Playgroup Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 May 2014 Telephone number 0208 5776639

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reference number

First Steps Playgroup Limited re-registered in 2013. The setting operates from the village hall in Heston in the London Borough of Hounslow. The setting is open each weekday from 8.45am to 3.15pm term time only. Children can attend a variety of sessions. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years old. There are 10 staff members, of whom, one holds early years professional status and eight hold relevant qualifications at level 2 or level 3.

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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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