Spring Willows Playgroup

Spring Willows Playgroup ST. ANNES HOUSE RYECROFT AVENUE, HEYWOOD, LANCASHIRE OL10 1QB

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Inspection date 15 October 2018 Previous inspection date 16 September 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

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

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The provision is good

n Staff share the dedicated manager's vision for the playgroup and are committed to providing high-quality early years experiences for children and their families. Together, they consider the views of parents and children when evaluating the quality of the playgroup and planning future changes. n Staff observe children and accurately assess what they can do. They use this information effectively to plan a wide range of activities that is well matched to children's current stage of learning and development. n Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment. They gather important information from parents about their child's care routines and learning when they first start to attend the playgroup. This helps children to settle quickly and develop a sense of belonging. n Children delight in opportunities to engage in forest play. Staff encourage them to manage their own risks safely and explore the natural environment.

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The provision is good

n Staff work closely with a range of other professionals to help them support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Professional development is not yet fully focused on sharing best practice among staff, to help raise the quality of teaching to an outstanding level. n Occasionally, some staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend and build on older children's mathematical skills, such as size and quantity.

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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 provide more opportunities for staff to share their good practice and learn from each other, to help raise teaching to an even higher level n make the most of opportunities that arise to extend older children's understanding of mathematical ideas and concepts.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n The inspector spoke with a small number of parents and also considered their views from the written feedback provided during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Overall, the manager supports her staff well. She observes staff as they work with children and meets with them to discuss their role. The manager identifies aspects of staff practice that can be improved further. Staff attend a variety of training opportunities. For example, recent forest play training is used well to provide children with a range of exciting and challenging experiences in the vibrant outdoor areas. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe, including from extreme views or behaviour. They know how to identify and report any concerns they have about a child's welfare. The manager monitors the progress that all children make and swiftly recognises any developing gaps in their learning. This helps her to identify areas where teaching needs to be focused to ensure that outcomes for all children are good.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff play alongside children and talk to them about what they are doing. Staff working with younger children skilfully introduce new words as children play. For example, as toddlers use sand and bricks to build a wall, staff introduce the word 'trowel' when describing the tools that children use. Older children begin to recognise the sounds that some letters represent in words. They practise forming the letters from their name, while younger children delight in making marks with paint and brushes. Children enjoy sharing stories and listen intently as staff share their favourite books. Older children predict what is going to happen next in the story as younger children point to the pictures and describe what they see. This effectively helps to develop children's early literacy skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are effective role models who manage children's behaviour positively. They praise children as they help each other and remind them when some behaviours are not acceptable, gently explaining the impact of their actions on others. Staff encourage children to develop their independence and celebrate as they try to do things, such as pouring their own drinks at snack times. Staff give children who are less confident than others socially the support they need to develop relationships and to take part in all activities. They encourage children to learn about the benefits of being active and eating healthy foods. For example, they remind children that milk helps to make their bones strong.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and enthusiastic learners who are not afraid to try new things. They persevere with tasks and help each other to solve simple problems. Older children explain what they are thinking and try out their ideas while younger children explore the resources available and make decisions about what they would like to play with. All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in relation to their starting points. They acquire a range of important skills to help them move on to the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 316426 Local authority Rochdale Inspection number 10065631 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Greenwood, Jayne Carmichael

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 September 2015 Telephone number 01706 624848

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reference number

Spring Willows Playgroup registered in 1997. The playgroup employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one at level 5. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of 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.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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