Albert Bear Playgroup

Albert Bear Playgroup Chesterton Community Centre, London Road, Chesterton, Newcastle, Staffordshire ST5 7EA

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Inspection date 29 November 2018 Previous inspection date 29 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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This provision is good

n Staff develop positive relationships with parents, other early years providers and the local schools. They also have effective partnerships with the local authority advisers, including those who support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This helps the management team to evaluate and build upon its practice and to make sure that outcomes for all children are good. n The management team has effective procedures in place to monitor the quality of teaching and support staff in their continued professional development. Staff have attended training on 'supporting two-year-olds'. This has helped staff to focus on children's interests during their play and to introduce specific questions or concepts during children's chosen activities. n Staff provide a stimulating environment which supports and extends children's curiosity and imagination well. They make sure that activities and routines are skilfully adapted

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This provision is good

and take into account the individual needs and capabilities of each child. n Staff are very patient and caring and devote a lot of time to supporting children. This helps to develop children's confidence to explore for themselves. Children gain strong social skills and learn to behave well. n Staff do not always involve parents, as much as possible, in the assessments of their children's learning when they first start at the playgroup. n Some staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to gain an awareness of how they differ from, or are similar to, other people.

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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 gather more information from parents about what their children already know and can do, to involve them more fully in the assessment of their child's learning from the outset n provide children with more opportunities to build on their respect for, and understanding of, the similarities and differences between themselves and others in the wider community.

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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 assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector evaluated staff's assessment of children's progress and how they plan for children's next steps in their learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as children's records and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n The inspector took account of the views of parents and children spoken to on the day.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a very good knowledge about their responsibility to safeguard children. The management team reflects on the progress of individual and specific groups of children across all areas of their learning. Any gaps in children's learning are identified and set as a focus to ensure all children make good progress. Staff provide workshops where children and their parents can play together. During these times, staff discuss children's progress with parents and explain how they can best support their child's learning at home. Parents speak very positively about the care and education their children receive at the playgroup.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff promote children's learning through effective teaching. For example, they make sure that circle time provides children with regular opportunities to get to know everyone in the group. During such times, staff encourage children to increase their knowledge of letters and their sounds, and to name and talk about how they are feeling. Children participate in a science activity where they mix ingredients together to make a dough they can play with. Staff encourage children to follow the pictorial recipe and to count how many cups of flour they need. They introduce new vocabulary to enable children to talk about their observations and experiences. During such activities, staff ask children questions to extend their thinking. Children concentrate as they pour, mix and knead the dough. Activities like this help children to develop the small muscles in the hand needed for writing. Children enjoy playing with the small-world farm set and crushed cornflakes.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

During such activities, staff encourage children to talk about their own home life.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide children with a nutritious and well-balanced diet. They provide children with daily opportunities for physical exercise. Staff offer children good opportunities to assess risks for themselves and experience physical challenge. For example, children test their skills on the obstacle course made of tree logs, empty wire reels, wooden planks, hurdles and hula hoops.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points and develop the skills they need in readiness for school. They begin to learn to share and take turns as they play in the sand. Children have good opportunities to practise their gift-wrapping skills. For example, they wrap and unwrap playgroup toys in tissue paper. Children listen intently during story times. They are actively involved and persistent in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 218081 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10065983 Type of provision Full 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Albert Bear Playgroup Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 September 2015 Telephone number 07808 552451

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reference number

Albert Bear Playgroup registered in 1994. The playgroup employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications, two at level 5, six at level 3 and three at level 2. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for one week at the end of August, Christmas week and bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. 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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