Little Bluebells Playgroup & After School Club

Little Bluebells Playgroup & After School Club Hockliffe Lower School, Woburn Road, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9LL

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Inspection date 6 December 2018 Previous inspection date 1 March 2017

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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 at the playgroup are well qualified and experienced. Ongoing professional development enables staff to build continually on their good knowledge and skills. There are effective arrangements in place for supervising the work of staff. n Children learn about weight and measurement. They use scales to weigh fir cones, shells and stones. Staff support the activity well, encouraging children to guess what might happen. This promotes children's thinking skills. n Staff take swift action to support children whose development does not meet expectations. They work effectively with other professionals and have high ambition for what all children can achieve. n Children play well together. Staff support children to settle any minor disagreements and children behave well. n Children for whom the playgroup receives funding make good progress from their individual starting points. Children rapidly increase their personal, social and emotional

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This provision is good

skills and quickly develop in confidence. n Staff do not always actively ask parents for their views when there are specific areas of the playgroup that they want to review, evaluate and improve. n Staff do not consistently use their good knowledge of children's development to assess their learning. At times, staff carry out observations to gather evidence to prove what they already know about children's development, rather than gaining information to plan activities that provide the highest levels of challenge.

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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 strengthen ways to seek the views of parents and act on their feedback to help to build continually on the good quality of the playgroup n undertake more-precise assessments of children's achievements to plan more meticulously for their 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 a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Staff share regular information with parents about children's development. This helps parents to support their children's learning at home. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. There are comprehensive arrangements in place for recruiting staff. The providers fully understand about their responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff can explain about the signs and symptoms that might suggest that children are at risk of harm. They know how to report any such concerns to the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The manager ensures that there is always a safe number of staff to care for children. They supervise children closely to help keep them safe. Staff make regular risk assessments, helping to make sure that the building is always secure.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make activities exciting for children by using different textured materials to stimulate their senses. When children play with dough, they develop the muscles in their hands through squeezing and modelling. Staff add essence to the dough so that while playing, children smell the enticing aromas. This provokes conversation and stimulates children's imagination as they pretend to make chocolate cakes. Small-world figures are brought to life by staff. For example, they create different worlds for plastic dinosaurs to play in, such as trays of rice. Children practise picking up the tiny grains or rice and observe how they can push the dinosaurs through the rice to make marks in the trays. The playgroup is clean and tidy. Displays of children's work make a welcoming environment. Staff plan activities that support children's learning well and their quality of teaching is good.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy playing in the garden. They explore the natural elements of the weather and become muddy as they engage in rigorous physical play. When children return inside, staff quickly change their clothing to ensure they are warm and dry, so they are comfortable as they carry on playing. Children form close relationships with the staff that care for them. The key-person arrangement is used effectively. Children regularly come to staff for a quick cuddle before going off to play again. They enjoy activities that encourage them to be active. They eat healthy snacks and lunchtime is a sociable occasion when staff and children sit together and talk.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress at the playgroup. Children are confident communicators who talk together as they busily engage in activities. During the day, children make choices about how they learn and request activities they would like to play with. Children gain a strong sense of identity and make friendships with each other. They display their developing awareness that letters carry meaning, such as when they find their name card in the morning and register their arrival. Children use their mathematical knowledge as they play, such as comparing different sizes. They are acquiring the skills that will prepare them well for when they move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500435 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10086384 Type of provision Sessional day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register

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Day care type

Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Bluebell Childcare

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 March 2017 Telephone number 07891377581

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reference number

Little Bluebells Playgroup & After School Club registered in 2016 and is located in Leighton Buzzard. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. The breakfast club operates from 8am until 8.50am. Playgroup sessions are from 9am to midday and from 12.15pm to 3.10pm. The after- school club runs from 3.15pm to 6pm. 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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