Stenson Fields Playgroup

Inspection of Stenson Fields Playgroup Stenson Fields Primary School, Heather Close, Stenson Fields, Derby DE24 3BW

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff provide a stimulating and welcoming environment where children are safe and secure. Children benefit from the key-person system and gradual settling-in sessions. This means they settle quickly and begin to learn about what they can do. Staff have high expectations for all children. For example, they interact with children with enthusiasm and join in their play. This is evident when staff follow children's lead and challenge them effectively by adding extra resources to extend their learning. Staff add ribbons to the box of cardboard tubes. The children are curious and search through the box. They fix the ribbons to the tubes and run around screaming with delight as they learn that wind makes the ribbons blow.

p.2

The provision is good

Children demonstrate that they are happy and enjoy being at the playgroup. They are eager to learn and take part in the activities that are on offer. They behave well and make strong attachments to their key person and each other. They listen and concentrate and have a positive attitude to learning. Staff help children who speak English as an additional language well. They use children's home language and sign language effectively to help them understand and join in activities.

p.2

The provision is good

The manager and staff work in partnership with parents and other professionals. They gather information about the children from when they first start and talk to parents daily about what their children have been doing.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff work well as a team and their commitment to meeting the needs of the children is effective. They attend training to enhance their skills and knowledge. The manager supports staff effectively through regular checks on their practice to help improve their performance and teaching. n Staff provide a range of exciting activities to support children's interests and learning across the curriculum. They gather information from parents about children's learning experiences outside of the playgroup. Staff use this information to focus on providing children with a wider range of experiences that give them the key skills they need. For example, staff read stories to children regularly. However, staff do not always actively promote effective ways to support parents to continue their children's learning at home. n Staff foster children's communication and language skills effectively. They ask questions that encourage children to think and give them time to respond. They

p.2

need to do better?

introduce new words to help increase their vocabulary. However, at times, staff do not recognise opportunities to help extend older children's early reading skills, for example, through using books more effectively. n Staff provide a range of opportunities for children to learn about leading healthy lifestyles. For example, children follow good hygiene procedures, such as

p.2

need to do better?

26 September 2019 washing their hands before eating their snack. They enjoy eating healthy snacks and have opportunities to play outside daily. In addition, children grow fruit and vegetables and eagerly talk about picking the strawberries and eating them. They continue to talk about vegetables as they play in the home area and pretend to make dinner. n Children are becoming independent from an early age. Younger children demonstrate that they are comfortable in their surroundings. They move around the room and outside selecting the toys they want to play with. Older children take themselves to the toilet and are capable of putting their coats on without staff support. n Staff provide children with praise as they play. This helps to build up their confidence and self-esteem. Staff are attentive to what children say and do and have developed strong relationships with the children. Children learn to share

p.2

need to do better?

and take turns. For example, they use the equipment in the water tray and learn to pour and compare the sizes of the jugs. They wait patiently for their turn to use the large jug and share the little jugs among themselves. n The manager and staff reflect well on developing the playgroup and have made targeted plans for improvement. Since the last inspection, they have changed the outside environment to help provide more opportunities for children to explore, investigate and solve problems. For instance, they have introduced a building station where children can use a variety of wood, drainpipes and boxes to construct whatever they wish.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Security in the playgroup is good. The manager and staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to protect children from harm. They have completed mandatory safeguarding training and are aware of the wider issues related to child protection. Staff have a good understanding of different types, signs and symptoms of abuse to look for that may indicate a child is at risk. They understand the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's welfare or an allegation made against a member of staff.

p.3

should:

n make better use of opportunities that arise during children's play to help older children develop an early interest in reading n enhance opportunities for sharing ideas and activities with parents to support them to extend their children's learning at home.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 206879 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10062457 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Stenson Fields Playgroup Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01332 772452 Date of previous inspection 3 July 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Stenson Fields Playgroup registered in 1987. It is based within the Community Room of Stenson Fields Primary School in Derbyshire. The playgroup employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and from 9am until midday on Wednesday and Thursday. The playgroup is in receipt of funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke with the children and staff and held discussions with the manager. She and the manager completed a learning walk throughout the playgroup to understand how the playgroup operates and how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of education provided during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the manager and discussed with the manager the children's assessments, their learning and development and the progress they make. n The inspector spoke to parents on the day of the inspection and took into account their views. She also reviewed the written questionnaires completed by the parents and carers. n The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including safeguarding policies and procedures and evidence of qualification certificates. She checked the evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup and discussed the

p.5

Inspection activities

improvements that have been made since the previous inspection.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6