Milkyway Preschool Playgroup

Inspection of Milkyway Preschool Playgroup Bangladesh House, 19a Birch Lane, MANCHESTER M13 0NW

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are happy and safe in the playgroup. They are supported very closely by caring staff. The playgroup has a real community feel. All children, even those who are new starters, display strong levels of self-esteem. For example, staff provide flexible settling-in sessions. Children bring in favourite toys from home, which helps to support the transition process.

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The provision is good

Children are aware of what makes them unique. They have a strong sense of belonging. For example, staff speak fluently in children's home languages, as well as English.

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The provision is good

Leaders have high expectations for children and generally provide a well-designed curriculum. They offer activities based on what children need to learn next. Overall, staff think about how they can build on what children already know. For example, they praise children for counting in sequence as they build towers with coloured blocks. This helps younger children to be confident and recite numbers as they play.

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The provision is good

Children build on their prior knowledge as they lead their own play. For example, they pretend that one object represents another during animated role play. They use a metal pan lid to represent a musical instrument that looks similar. Children hold pencils with precision and make marks. They use their small-muscle skills to paint with brushes and squeeze icing onto gingerbread. Activities such as these help to prepare older children for writing when they move on to school.

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need to do better?

n Enthusiastic leaders and staff strive to make continuous improvements that benefit children and families. They have worked hard to address the areas for development raised at the previous inspection. Detailed action plans are used well and as a result, they have achieved a good standard provision. n The curriculum is well planned and overall, helps to develop children's skills. Children make typical and good progress. However, occasionally, staff do not adapt teaching as necessary and build on opportunities to challenge children's individual learning to the highest level. n Staff plan some interesting activities that enthuse and excite children. For example, staff take children on various outings, including to theme parks, ice- cream factories and to a centre designed to teach visitors about sea creatures. This helps children to benefit from new experiences, outside of their home and the playgroup environment.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with external agencies are well established. This helps to ensure consistency in supporting care and learning for children who speak English as an

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need to do better?

13 September 2019 additional language. All children, even those with less than typical levels of development on entry, receive the support needed to allow them to access good-quality provision. n Parents praise the homely and inclusive atmosphere. They commend the staff team. Parents comment that the staff are like family members. Staff share regular updates on children's progress with parents and use different strategies to involve parents. For example, staff hold regular coffee mornings which parents attend to receive formal updates on children's progress. n Leaders provide staff with regular professional development opportunities. They use different methods to help staff to strengthen their good-quality teaching practice, including video observations and peer-on-peer observations. Staff feel well supported by leaders. However, some staff are not as effective at managing their workload, which sometimes impacts on their free time.

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need to do better?

n Children's behaviour is very good. They demonstrate high levels of self-control and quickly demonstrate that they understand the behavioural expectations. They play cooperatively with others and readily share musical instruments with their peers. All children display a positive disposition towards learning. n Friendly staff provide a welcoming environment. They interact with children with positivity and respect. Even new children are confident and happy. Higher than required staff-to-child ratios help staff to provide strong levels of support and care. Overall, staff know the children very well. However, sometimes, they do not build on children's individual interests during planned activities. n Children follow positive hygiene routines, such as handwashing, with little or no prompting. They brush their teeth and enjoy active play. Children expertly manoeuvre through a tunnel and climb steps to the large outdoor slide.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand how to identify and report concerns about a child or the conduct of a colleague. Staff are aware of some of the wider aspects of safeguarding, such as how to identify children who may be at risk of radicalisation. Staff know the appropriate steps to take to keep children safe. Leaders ensure staff keep their child protection knowledge up to date. Since the previous inspection, staff have attended paediatric first-aid training. Staff are confident and suitably trained to deal with any minor accidents.

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should:

n support staff more effectively and help them to manage their workload even more productively

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should:

13 September 2019 n adapt teaching as necessary and build on opportunities to challenge children's individual skills and learning to the highest level n make the most of opportunities that arise to follow children's lead and build on their interests during planned activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY451353 Local authority Manchester Inspection number 10082977 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 3 Total number of places 15 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Manchester Early Learning Centre Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01612257482 Date of previous inspection 12 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Milkyway Preschool Playgroup registered in 2012. The playgroup employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold early years qualifications at level 2 or 3. One staff member has qualified teacher status. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday and from 12.30pm until 3.30pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk to gain an understanding of how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation of teaching was carried out by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n A sample of documents were reviewed, including evidence of staff's suitability and training, and evidence of staff's paediatric first-aid certificates. n The quality of education was observed indoors and outdoors. n The inspector and the manager held regular discussions during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

13 September 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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