Punch And Judy Playgroup

Inspection of Punch And Judy Playgroup Lympne Village Hall, Aldington Road, Lympne, HYTHE, Kent CT21 4LE

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and explore the environment with confidence, even when they are very new to the setting. They demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and enthusiastically engage in purposeful play that provides challenge and promotes their thinking skills. Children show curiosity. They are excited and quickly learn to successfully operate remote-controlled cars, to explore their senses while creating with herbs and they use real fruit and vegetables within their role play.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well. The key-person system is embedded, forming secure attachments between children and staff. Staff talk confidently about children's interests and use their observations well to decide what children need to learn next. Children's progress is monitored to ensure that all children make good progress from their individual starting points. Parents are involved in their children's learning. They often take books home from the playgroup to read with their children and take home other activities to complete.

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The provision is good

Staff place a strong focus on developing children's communication and language skills. They talk constantly to the children and ask them questions to encourage their learning as well as clearly emphasising key words within their interactions to help enhance children's understanding and speaking skills.

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need to do better?

n The indoor and outdoor environments are stimulating and interesting. Children involve themselves in activities that promote their learning and development well. However, on some occasions, adult-led group activities are not consistently used well to engage all children in the learning opportunities. n Partnerships with parents are a strong aspect of the playgroup. Staff work very well with parents to ensure they know and understand how their children are developing, providing good opportunities for learning to continue at home. n Children develop the skills that will help them learn to read and write. They participate in a variety of mark-making opportunities, encouraging their finer movements and control. They see adults writing and some children try to write their names. Children listen attentively to stories and use books appropriately. They recall familiar stories and talk about what will happen next.

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need to do better?

n The qualified staff team is led and managed well. Staff work closely as a team to ensure children receive a good level of care and education. Staff reflect on their practice. Knowledge gained from training is used effectively to help enhance all staff's teaching skills and opportunities for the children. For example, children engage in rich opportunities to explore their senses and enhance their understanding of the world. n Very effective partnerships are in place with the local primary school and other

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need to do better?

9 October 2019 settings that children attend. This helps to ensure that children are fully supported as they prepare for the next stage in their learning, such as moving into the Reception class at school. n The manager and staff accurately evaluate the quality of the playgroup. They include the views of parents to help identify areas for further improvement. For example, the outdoor area has been successfully enhanced to provide children with a range of experiences and learning in all areas of learning and development. n Staff include information from parents about children's interests and skilfully use a wide range of resources to engage children in their learning. For instance, children use a range of tools and materials to enthusiastically explore and create with natural materials, such as herbs. Staff challenge the children effectively to use their thinking skills and consider, for example, the characteristics of the

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need to do better?

different leaves. Staff give clear explanations to enhance their learning. For instance, they teach children the different names for the herbs, such as sage, rosemary and lavender. n Staff improve children's mathematical skills effectively throughout their experiences. For instance, they challenge children's counting skills as well as encouraging young children to explore and compare size, identifying bigger, smaller, shorter and longer. n Sometimes, staff miss opportunities to support children's growing independence and self-help skills, as staff undertake tasks that children could do themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are clear about their responsibilities to report any signs that may suggest a child is at risk of harm. Staff attend regular safeguarding training to ensure their skills and knowledge are kept up to date. Robust recruitment procedures are used to help to ensure the suitability of adults working with the children. Staff are vigilant about the security of the setting and are deployed effectively to help keep children safe.

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should:

n review the organisation of large-group activities to increase the learning opportunities for all children n make the most of opportunities to consistently support children's growing independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127358 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10063870 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 26

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Name of registered person

Punch And Judy Playgroup, Lympne Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07527111584 Date of previous inspection 13 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Punch And Judy Playgroup registered in 1987. The playgroup is open each weekday, except Tuesdays, during school terms. It opens from 9am to 3pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9am to 12.45pm on Wednesdays. The playgroup committee employs eight staff; of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The provider showed the inspector around the playgroup and discussed the aims of the playgroup. n The inspector talked to parents, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. 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 reviewed a variety of documents, including qualifications, first-aid certificates, policies and records. n The inspector discussed leadership and management with the manager and provided feedback regarding 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

9 October 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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