St Paul's Playgroup

St Paul's Playgroup Semilong Community Centre, Norfolk Terrace, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN2 6HS

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Inspection date 11 January 2019 Previous inspection date 22 September 2015

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3

Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement 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 is a provision that requires improvement

n The provider has not ensured that all committee members follow the necessary procedures to enable Ofsted to complete the required suitability checks. n Although teaching practice is good overall, during some activities staff do not seize opportunities to extend the learning for the older and most able children to help them make outstanding progress consistently. n The monitoring of staff practice and the programme for professional development are not incisive enough to raise the quality of teaching to an outstanding level.

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It has the following strengths

n The manager uses her assessment tracking well to identify any gaps in children's development. When needed, she quickly takes steps to involve other professionals in order to provide targeted support to effectively close gaps. n The manager and staff have made supporting children's communication skills a priority. They run an accredited programme of support. Staff encourage parents to read to their children regularly. They often use signing alongside their spoken commentary to help support children's understanding. n Staff are kind and reassuring in their interactions with children. They respond quickly and sensitively to any incidents of challenging behaviour. n All children make good progress relative to their starting points.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date provide Ofsted with the required information so that checks can be completed to confirm the suitability of all members of the management committee. 30/01/2019

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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 reshape activities more to provide the highest levels of challenge for the older and most able children. n continue to embed leadership observations of staff practice and tailor the programme of professional development more closely to individual staff performance, to help promote consistently outstanding teaching.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector had a tour of the premises inside and outdoors. She spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views. 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 throughout the inspection. n The inspector discussed aspects of policy and procedure with the playgroup manager. She looked at relevant documentation, discussed self-evaluation and checked evidence of the qualifications and suitability of staff and committee members n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation on staff practice.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

The provider has failed to inform Ofsted of committee members. This means their suitability can not be assured. However, these committee members have Disclosure and Barring Service checks in place and they do not have any recruitment responsibilities or any access to children. Staff undergo robust recruitment checks and ongoing checks to help ensure their suitability to work with children. Overall, this means that although this is a breach of requirements, the impact on children is minimal. Therefore, safeguarding is effective. The manager effectively ensures all staff are alert to any signs that may give rise to child protection concerns. The staff and designated safeguarding officer know the procedures to follow in the event of any such concerns. The manager is a good role model and encourages staff to develop and share ideas for activities, for example during their regular meetings. Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are very positive

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

about the service the playgroup provides.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff share information regularly that helps support parents to continue their children's learning at home. They regularly observe their key children to identify what they need to learn next. Staff provide a range of activities they know children will enjoy. Children follow their own ideas and choose how to use the wide range of resources on offer. For example, they pretend their model cars need rescuing from hills they have made from play dough. Staff effectively help children make up simple stories. They promote children's understanding of the world and their imaginations well as children play outside. Children use the mud kitchen area to pretend to make ice creams. They enjoy growing vegetables and using them in cooking activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff help children learn to adopt healthy practices. They encourage children to play energetically both inside and outdoors. Staff ensure that children receive healthy snacks and drinks. The curriculum includes planned opportunities to help children to value each other's differences. Staff take children out on walks to see where they live in the community. Parents visit the setting to teach children about the different cultural festivals they celebrate at home with their children. Staff provide children with enthusiastic praise and encouragement. This helps to support children's confidence and motivation to learn.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children show a positive attitude towards their learning. Children develop key skills that help to prepare them for later learning in school. They gain secure literacy and mathematical skills. Children read their names at snack time. They count the pieces of food that they may take. Children show an increasing ability to listen, concentrate and follow instructions. For instance, they listen well to a favourite story and join in repeated refrains. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities close gaps in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220081 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10065135 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person St Paul's Playgroup (Semilong) Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 September 2015 Telephone number 07923053411

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reference number

St Paul's Playgroup registered in 1999. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to level 4. The playgroup opens Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 3pm, Wednesday from 9am to 1pm, Thursday from midday to 3pm, and Friday from 9am to midday, during term time only. It 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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