St Marks & Hesters Way Playgroup

St Marks & Hesters Way Playgroup Community Centre, Brooklyn Road, CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire, GL51 8DS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 June 2018 15 January 2018

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff have a secure understanding of how to promote all children's learning and development. They make good use of what they know about children from their detailed observations, to measure children's progress and plan the next steps in their learning. All children make good progress.  Children are settled and secure with the caring staff who meet all their needs. Children behave very well and staff teach them to share the toys and take turns. They play happily and confidently with their friends and involve staff in their play. Children gain confidence and good self-esteem in the friendly, welcoming environment.  Staff establish effective partnerships with other professionals to share ideas and good practice, and to help make improvements to the provision for children.  Monitoring of staff practice and self-evaluation are good. Managers and staff work as an effective team to help all children make good progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not succeed in encouraging parents to fully support their children's learning at home, and they miss opportunities to regularly share information about children's progress with parents.  Staff do not consistently enhance children's awareness of people, families and communities beyond their own immediate community.

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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

 strengthen partnerships with parents to encourage them all to share information about their children's achievements at home, and for staff to impart information about children's progress with parents more regularly  create more opportunities for children to recognise and value similarities and differences between their own and others' backgrounds and experiences.

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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 play leader.  The inspector held a meeting with the play leader. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and considered their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand how to protect children from harm. They know what to do should they have any concerns regarding a child's welfare and how to respond to an allegation against themselves. The play leader and staff implement rigorous procedures to keep children safe. The well-qualified staff keep up to date with their professional development and maintain the good quality of children's learning. They have good support in this from the play leader. Staff share information with other settings that children attend, so they receive consistency of care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a stimulating learning environment for children, particularly through their use of the outdoor area. Staff support children's play as they check the bug area to see what they can find. Staff plan well for children's language and mathematical development. For example, they show children how to measure height and length using a tape measure. They use mathematical language as they ask children which balls of play dough are bigger or smaller. Staff ask children if they can remember the word for what their caterpillars have become. Children know this is a cocoon. Staff increase children's vocabulary through their meaningful conversations. For example, they explain to children what the x-ray machine and a fire extinguisher are called and what they are used for, as they make up stories using the small-world hospital toys.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children gain good independence, as staff encourage them to decide when they would like their snack and what they will eat. They help themselves to milk or water and staff make sure each child has their snack. Children are given another child's name card and are given responsibility to find that child to bring them to have their snack. Staff prepare children well for their moves to school so they are developmentally and emotionally secure. Staff sometimes use a sand timer to help children to understand when it is their turn to play with something. Children develop their physical skills well and enjoy using a small climbing frame and wheeled toys. Children grow fruit and vegetables and staff teach them about healthy food and lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain good social skills, such as when they talk to each other and staff at lunch and snack time. They are imaginative in all kinds of role play. For example, they enjoy pretending to make dinner or wash clothes in the mud kitchen area. Children involve staff as they pretend they are in a car, going on a trip. They develop good language skills as they play. Children are busily engaged in their play. They choose to play indoors or outside, and they select from the wide range of exciting activities and resources available to them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101605 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1122473 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 24 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person St Marks & Hesters Way Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 January 2018 Telephone number 01242 690025 or 07812396974

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reference number

St Marks & Hesters Way Playgroup registered in 1993. The provider employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup operates each weekday during school term time. Sessions are from 8.30am to 9.20am for the breakfast club, 9.20am to 12.20pm and 12.20pm to 3.20pm. Children may stay all day or for one session. Friday mornings are for pre-school children. The playgroup receives funding to provide 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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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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