St Mary's Playgroup

St Mary's Playgroup C/O St Mary's Primary School, Orchard Place, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8AP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 April 2018 18 March 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The management does not provide effective staff supervision. Staff are not sufficiently supported in their roles to enable them to raise the quality of teaching and improve outcomes for children.  Staff do not use the information from observations and assessments well to inform planning. Consequently, they do not plan activities that reflect children's interests and next steps in learning, to ensure children make good progress.  The provider has not informed Ofsted of a change in opening hours. This is also a breach of the Childcare Register.  The management does not routinely monitor groups of children's progress, to identify and narrow any gaps in learning and development.  At times, staff do not give children clear explanations to help them understand their expectations for good behaviour.  Staff do not consistently work closely with parents to help them encourage their children to make healthy food choices.

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This provision is inadequate

 Self-evaluation is not fully effective in identifying areas for improvement and weaknesses in practice.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are kind and caring towards the children, helping them to feel settled and secure.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 monitor and support all staff to develop the skills and knowledge required to provide good-quality teaching and learning experiences for all children 01/07/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff plan challenging and enjoyable experiences for children that cover all areas of learning and consider children's individual needs, interests and stages of development 01/07/2018

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Due Date

 improve awareness of when Ofsted needs to be notified of any significant changes to the provision. 01/06/2018

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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

 improve use of the tracking and monitoring system to effectively track the learning progress of different groups of children  review and improve behaviour management to ensure that all staff consistently use the same approach to support children to learn about rules and boundaries  continue to work closely with parents to help improve children's understanding of how to make healthy choices  strengthen the evaluation process to effectively identify weaknesses in practice, to target areas for improvement and raise outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector discussed the supervision of staff and their professional development opportunities with the provider and manager.  The inspection was carried out following Ofsted's risk assessment process.  The inspector observed the staff interactions with children and spoke to the staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the day.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including risk assessments, accident records and children's development folders.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The playgroup is run by a committee that has appointed an acting manager while it advertises for the position to be filled. The management does not carry out individual supervisions of staff. Therefore, it is not able to identify where additional support or training is needed to ensure all staff are confident and have the required skills to undertake their role. There are clear weaknesses in the way the management evaluates the playgroup. For example, the recommendation from the previous inspection to improve performance management has not been addressed. The management does not ensure that staff provide children with a stimulating and engaging environment that reflects children's interests and stage of development. The management does not track and monitor the learning progress of specific groups of children, to help ensure every child receives the support they need to make strong progress. The management has links with

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

other early years professionals to help support children moving on to school. Staff have positive relationships with parents and keep them informed of their children's progress. However, staff do not provide parents with additional information, such as how to promote healthy choices for children at mealtimes. The management has a secure understanding of its responsibility to safeguard children. The manager ensures staff are effectively deployed around the playgroup to supervise children and keep them safe. Safeguarding is effective. However, the management is not aware of its responsibilities in relation to notifying Ofsted of any significant changes, such as extending the hours when childcare is provided.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff carry out observations and assessments. However, they do not use this information to plan children's next steps in their development and address any gaps in their learning. Consequently, children are not sufficiently challenged and motivated to learn and do not make appropriate progress across all areas of learning. For instance, staff do not consistently support children to develop their mathematical skills, such as learning about size and shapes as they engage in activities. Children have some opportunities to explore and investigate their local community to help them to learn about the world around them.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Staff do not provide children with a suitably stimulating learning environment. The resources on offer do not fully engage children. For instance, children explore the soil and mini-beasts. However, they do not have sufficient resources to extend their learning further. Staff do not set clear rules and boundaries to help children learn what is expected of them, such as reminding children not to run about indoors and to pick toys up off the floor instead of standing on them. Staff offer children opportunities to exercise to develop their physical skills and well-being. However, they do not consistently help children to learn about how to make healthy food choices.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children, including those who need additional support, are not adequately challenged in their play and this has a major impact on their learning. For example, children using paint to explore colour are not given sufficient resources to gain a sense of achievement with their chosen task. Children are not making good progress in their learning and development to ensure they are well prepared for the next stage in their education and for the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127606 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1134913 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 25 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person St Marys Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 March 2016 Telephone number 01795 536803

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reference number

St Mary's Playgroup registered in 1985 and is run by a committee. The playgroup is situated in Faversham, Kent. It is open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 3.30pm, during term time only. There are seven staff members, five of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3. The provider 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

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