St Paul's Playgroup

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

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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 demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning and develop good knowledge and skills in readiness for starting school. They are starting to understand mathematical concepts such as number, shape and size. During play they recognise familiar shapes such as a 'green square' and 'red triangle'. Children who have recently started at the playgroup display a strong attachment to their key person. This helps them to feel safe and secure in their new surroundings. Children are happy and make new friendships. They show kindness to one another and are beginning to share.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are particularly well supported. Staff know exactly where children are in their learning and what they need to plan next to help them progress further. They use additional funding well to provide children with extra support. Staff work in partnership with outside agencies and other professionals to swiftly secure the help children need to achieve the best possible progress.

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The provision is good

Overall, teaching is strong and staff have high expectations of children's capabilities. They get to know the children and their families well. Staff understand what knowledge, skills and experiences children need to be successful learners. Children who speak English as an additional language swiftly learn new vocabulary. Staff promote children's communication skills through the use of visual cues and signing.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide children with unique experiences that they have not experienced elsewhere. They learn about the world beyond their local community, through stories, role play and by finding out about different cultures. n Staff are enthusiastic and committed to providing children with high-quality and interesting activities. They interact well with children and differentiate their teaching to meet individual abilities. Children enjoy listening to stories and make connections about what they already know and understand. For example, children point to pictures of the billy goats and compare their 'bushy eyebrows' with their own. They excitedly join in the story as they anticipate what they think will happen next. n Children display good levels of personal development. They learn the importance of washing their hands before eating and sitting down to have their snack. Staff encourage children to try new foods and teach them about the benefits of eating

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need to do better?

a healthy diet. Children use cutlery skilfully and safely. They slice and chop their fruit with a knife to eat for snack. n Overall, children behave well. They listen to and follow instructions, for example,

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need to do better?

24 October 2019 when they are asked to wash their plates after snack. Staff help children who need extra help to manage their behaviour and remind them about the possible consequences their actions could have on others. However, staff do not always maximise opportunities to reinforce children's understanding of taking turns during activities. n Partnerships with parents are well established. Staff take time to speak with parents daily and provide them with ideas on how to enhance children's learning at home. Parents comment on the warm welcome they get and how their children really enjoy attending the playgroup. n Children develop physical strength in their small and large muscles through a variety of activities. Staff encourage children to use a range of mark-making materials to support their finer movements and hand control. Children thoroughly enjoy being creative and making marks. They draw familiar shapes,

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need to do better?

such as circles and tell staff they look like eyes. Children get excited as they dance during group music sessions. However, staff do not always organise these as effectively as they could, to help maintain children's focus and enhance their enjoyment. n Staff are extremely passionate about improving outcomes for all children. They work well together and regularly reflect on their practice. This helps them to identify how they can continually improve. Staff access training to help develop specific areas of their knowledge and skills. This has had a positive impact on helping them to develop new initiatives to help support children's speech and communication development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. They know how to recognise concerns about the welfare of a child in their care and how to report these. The supervisor understands her responsibility as the designated safeguarding lead. She is knowledgeable about how to manage any risks and how to refer these to the appropriate agency. Staff access regular training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Ofsted has been provided with the required information to confirm the suitability of all members of the management committee.

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should:

n support staff to maximise opportunities to strengthen children's understanding of taking turns during activities n review and organise focused physical activities more effectively to help maintain children's attention and increase their engagement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220081 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10092600 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 Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person St Paul's Playgroup (Semilong) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07923053411 Date of previous inspection 11 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

St Paul's Playgroup registered in 1999 and is located in Northampton. It employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and 4. The playgroup opens during term, Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 3pm, Wednesday from 9am to 1pm, Thursday from midday to 3pm, and Friday from 9am to midday. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk of the areas used by children with the supervisor and discussed how the early years provision is organised. n The inspector held discussions with staff and spoke with children at appropriate times during the inspection. The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the supervisor. n The inspector held a meeting with the supervisor, and looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup and members of the management committee. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views from documents provided by the manager.

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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

24 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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