Uplands Playgroup

Uplands Playgroup Thompson Road, Uplands, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1TE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 June 2018 30 January 2015

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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

 Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting. They are extremely confident, independent learners. They develop excellent relationships with the staff and each other. This helps to support children's emotional well-being exceptionally well.  Children's behaviour is exemplary. They have a high regard for each other's feelings. They understand clearly about sharing and turn taking. Staff are exceptional role models who value and acknowledge each child.  The management and well-established staff are highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated to providing children with the best possible opportunities. The skilled staff provide a range of well-planned play experiences based around children's interests and next steps.  Children make rapid progress relative to their starting points. The manager tracks children's progress and learning effectively. This enables her to quickly identify any gaps in children's learning to take immediate action.

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This provision is outstanding

 Partnerships with parents and external agencies are outstanding. There is a strong commitment to working closely with others to help provide the best care possible. Self- evaluation is accurate and effective. Regular meetings with other early years settings in the community are used to share practice and ways to improve further for the benefit of the children.

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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 build and extend on the already high-quality evaluation of practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and staff interactions with children, inside and outside the setting.  The inspector had a meeting with the play leader and chairperson. The inspector completed a joint observation with the play leader.  The inspector spoke with children, staff, and parents at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children, and discussed the provider's improvement plan.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's records, the safeguarding procedures and other written policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The committee, play leader and staff are extremely proactive in making continuous improvements, which raise the outcomes for children even further. They are keen to continue to extend how they evaluate their practice and to develop the roles of the chairperson and play leader even further. The skilled staff attend further training to build on their already excellent skills. They regularly discuss and share new ways of working to enable them to support children's individual needs more effectively. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have an extremely good understanding and awareness of safeguarding procedures. They are very clear about the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about children's welfare. They monitor children's non-attendance extremely well. Parents speak highly about the staff and care provided and indicate they are extremely happy with the playgroup.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have extremely high expectations of the children and adapt their teaching skills to provide support for individual children. The quality of teaching is consistent and exceptionally good. Staff complete detailed, accurate observations and assessments and use these to plan exciting activities to support children's learning to the highest levels. They provide an extensive range of opportunities for children to develop their imagination and communication and language skills. For example, as they take part in developing their own puppet shows using a puppet show box with curtains. Children squeal with delight and excitement as their friends use the puppets and hide behind the box.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The whole environment, both inside and outside, is stimulating and interesting, and children relish taking part in the learning opportunities on offer. Children benefit from prolonged, uninterrupted time to play, explore and investigate the world around them. Children take great delight in making octopus and fish for their fish tank in the builders' tray. They use tools confidently, such as scissors. Staff support children exceptionally well to develop an understanding of the importance of physical exercise, a healthy diet and developing independence skills. For example, children enjoy helping themselves to their snacks using tongs to put the food on their plates and they pour their own drinks very confidently. Children are very aware about the need to wear sun hats and to apply sun cream when the sun shines. Children are able to wander freely between the inside and outside and make their own choices about what they would like to do next.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stages in their learning and eventual move on to school. They are highly motivated, eager to learn and join in with the activities. For example, they enjoy taking part in story telling with staff. Children's social skills are excellent, they interact with each other and seek out their friends and staff to involve them in their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101750 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1088872 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Uplands Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 January 2015 Telephone number 01453 762205

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reference number

Uplands Playgroup registered in 1993. It operates from a building in the grounds of Uplands Primary School. The playgroup employs four staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens during term times, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am until 3pm and on Thursday and Friday from 9am until 12pm. On Friday afternoons the playgroup staff operate a parent/carer toddler group. The playgroup provides early years 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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