Stepping Stones Playgroup

Stepping Stones Playgroup Stokesley Primary School, Springfield, Stokesley, TS9 5EW

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 June 2018 6 January 2015

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the quality of care and learning for their children. They say that their children are extremely happy at the setting and that staff work exceptionally well to create a family approach in the playgroup. They appreciate regular updates about their children's learning and value the opportunity to borrow high-quality resources to further support learning.  Children's behaviour is exemplary. They consistently demonstrate excellent manners and show care and concern for one another. Children quickly learn to work collaboratively, sharing their thoughts and ideas. For instance, two-year-olds successfully take turns and share resources when they play together in the ice cream shop role-play area.  Support for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is exceptional. The manager and staff team demonstrate a strong commitment to working with external agencies and value feedback from specialists. They use it to ensure

p.1

This provision is outstanding

practice is of the highest quality and focused on supporting all children to make rapid progress in their learning and development.  Staff are highly skilled practitioners. Their engagement and enthusiasm in children's play is superb. Children develop strong emotional attachments with their key person and they build very good friendships with their peers. Their emotional well-being is extremely well supported.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to review and explore opportunities to evaluate the service provided and sustain excellence in teaching and learning.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager and deputy manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Managers follow highly robust recruitment and induction procedures. Staff know precisely what is required if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. They have completed appropriate training to ensure their safeguarding knowledge is current. Excellent training opportunities for staff and regular supervision meetings are highly effective in monitoring staff practice and well-being. The manager recognises the need to continue to refine evaluations of the setting to ensure excellent standards are maintained in the future. Partnerships with schools are extremely robust. Successful transition arrangements support children extremely well to move on to school.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff are qualified and extremely experienced practitioners. They track children's progress meticulously and quickly identify any gaps in their learning. They use precise observations and assessments of children to plan fun and challenging experiences. Activities are targeted extremely well at supporting children to build on their skills and abilities. Staff expertly interact with children, ask excellent questions to extend learning and skilfully follow children's individual interests. For instance, during a mask making activity, staff promote children's problem-solving skills. They teach basic skills, such as using scissors and tape highly effectively, and promote children's independence throughout.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff ensure that children get the best start possible. They work closely with parents to establish children's starting points. This results in individual needs being identified immediately and precise plans are put in place. During group times children show a strong understanding of the excellent routines that are in place. They listen carefully and respond very positively to high expectations. The outdoor area is extremely well developed. Children are curious and eager to play and explore. They are delighted as they play in the mud kitchen area and learn to follow recipes. Children's physical skills are exceptionally well supported. Staff encourage the youngest children particularly well to persevere, so they rapidly gain confidence as they learn to climb up the slide.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are extremely confident, self-assured and highly motivated to learn. They make individual choices in their play and continually extend their own learning. All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress from their starting points. They are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning and their eventual move to school. Older children have gained a secure understanding of letters and the sounds they make. This helps to ensure they begin school with the skills that support them in becoming fluent readers.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 400332 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 1090979 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 24 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Playgroup (Stokesley) Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 January 2015 Telephone number 07950 502 647

p.4

reference number

Stepping Stones Playgroup registered in 1992. The playgroup employs 5 members of childcare staff. Of these, 4 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.50am until 11.50am. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5