St Stephen's County Junior School

Leverstock Green Playgroup Village Hall, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 8QG

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Inspection date 5 October 2018 Previous inspection date 4 November 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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The provision is outstanding

n The key-person system is outstanding. Staff successfully work with parents to promote children's needs to ensure that all children are emotionally secure. Children are visibly happy and establish impressive relationships with staff and peers. n The manager and staff work exceptionally closely to monitor children's progress. They conduct highly effective observations and assessments of children's skills and successfully identify their next steps in learning. Children make excellent progress. n Staff expertly follow children's interests and learning needs when planning activities. Children enjoy an extremely wide range of highly stimulating and challenging activities across all areas of learning. They are highly motivated and eager to learn. n The manager and staff engage parents thoroughly in their child's development. They consistently share ideas for activities and information about children's progress.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from superbly consistent support to their learning. n Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities thrive in this highly stimulating environment. They fully benefit from the staff's expert and specialist knowledge. All children's needs are exceptionally met and they flourish. n Staff's utmost priority is to keep children safe. They thoroughly risk assess the premises and consistently support children in developing safety awareness.

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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

n continue to identify training needs for staff to help maintain the already outstanding standards of teaching and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed observations of activities with the playgroup manager. n The inspector held meetings with the playgroup manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the playgroup's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability, training and qualifications of staff. n The inspector held discussions with staff and interacted with children throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views through written feedback.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Qualified staff attend training to further develop their excellent knowledge of their role in safeguarding children. They are highly vigilant to the signs of abuse and know the steps to make referrals of concerns. The manager meticulously checks staff's suitability and leads robust supervision meetings to evaluate their teaching, safeguarding practice and identify training needs. She is highly dedicated and inspires staff. The team strives for excellence and plans on attending even further training to maintain the excellent teaching and learning. The manager astutely engages staff, parents and the local authority in the innovative reflective practice. This accurately helps to build upon the outstanding provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is consistently outstanding. Qualified staff are highly responsive to children's learning needs and provide them with an extremely wide range of exciting activities. For example, children concentrate extremely well during a 'sound hunt' and use a tick list to mark the sounds they hear. They are highly motivated to learn and investigate. Staff create exceptionally stimulating play areas for children. For example, children benefit from innovative ways to learn mathematical skills. They are expertly challenged to count, add and take away conkers as they learn to use different scales. Staff exploit children's natural curiosity and use all opportunities to promote their impressive learning. All children make exceptional progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children show increasingly high levels of confidence and independence. They have a very comprehensive understanding of their boundaries and develop a positive sense of self-esteem. Children's behaviour is exceptional. Staff are exceptional role models and highly focused on promoting children's social skills. Children are developing an excellent understanding of healthy lifestyles. They enjoy nutritious snacks and have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills and to play outdoors. Children are extremely kind and considerate towards others. They gain wonderful first-hand opportunities to expand their understanding of people, families and communities.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children achieve a tremendous foundation for their future learning, including those who are learning English and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children are extremely creative when initiating their own play. For example, they are enthusiastic during storytelling and show exceptional imagination as they play their favourite characters, select resources and retell the story. The manager and staff ensure appropriate funding is used to provide children with specialist support. All children are extremely well prepared for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129361 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10063510 Type of provision Sessional day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Leverstock Green Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 November 2015 Telephone number 01442266270

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reference number

Leverstock Green Playgroup registered in 1974. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am to midday and from 12.30 to 2.30pm, a lunch club is offered from midday until 12.30pm. The playgroup provides funded 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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