Mills Hill Playgroup

Inspection of Mills Hill Playgroup Mills Hill Baptist Church, Mills Hill Road, Middleton, MANCHESTER M24 2FD

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide a warm, welcoming environment where children are safe and secure. Children arrive and quickly settle and engage in a range of activities provided. Although staff are very caring in their approach and know children well, they occasionally do things for children that they could try to do for themselves. Staff plan a variety of activities that children are interested in. However, sometimes, the needs of quieter or less-confident children are overlooked during play and group activities.

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The provision requires improvement

Children eagerly follow their own interests and welcome staff into their play. For example, staff recognise interest in measuring and comparing the height of friends. Staff support children to use a tape measure and to recognise numbers. Staff talk to children about what they see them doing and introduce new words to help to extend their growing vocabulary. They ask questions to help broaden children's learning. However, some staff ask questions that are too complex and in rapid succession, which some children find confusing.

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The provision requires improvement

Although the manager offers staff supervision, there is room for this to be improved further. Partnerships with parents are effective. However, links with other settings that children attend are not strong enough to enable staff to work collaboratively to plan for children's future learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff observe and accurately assess children's progress. They use this information to quickly identify any gaps in children's learning. Staff work closely with outside agencies, when required, to ensure that children and their families receive the support they need. However, partnerships with other settings that children attend, particularly those children for whom the playgroup receives additional funding, are less effective. Staff have not found successful ways to share information about children's learning and development, to fully complement and support their continued progress. n Staff provide parents with daily feedback and regularly update them about their children's experiences and achievements at the playgroup. Parents are asked for their views on the quality of service the playgroup provides and express their satisfaction with the care their children receive. n The quality of teaching is variable. Some staff direct their teaching towards

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need to do better?

more-confident children when engaged in children's play and group activities. They overlook the needs of quieter and less-confident children. This means that some children are not consistently challenged to make the best possible progress. Furthermore, when challenging children to extend their learning further, some staff ask questions that are too difficult, one after the other. This

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need to do better?

6 November 2019 means that children are not always able to respond and demonstrate their thinking. n Children have frequent opportunities to play outdoors and to explore the local community. For instance, they enjoy visiting local shops. This supports their growing understanding of the wider world. Furthermore, staff plan a variety of enrichment activities, such as sports activities with 'coach Richard'. Children enthusiastically join in football activities. They listen to instructions and behave well. n Children are confident and eager to learn. Overall, they learn and develop skills to support them in becoming more independent. That said, some staff do not make the most of opportunities for children to extend their self-care skills and try to do tasks themselves. For example, rather than encouraging children to wipe their own nose or pour their own drinks, staff are too quick to help. n The manager meets with staff regularly to discuss aspects of their role, and,

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need to do better?

more recently, children's progress. The manager conducts observations of staff as they work with children and identifies where staff would benefit from additional training. However, specific and precise targets that focus on improving staff's teaching skills are not consistently used to help staff to improve their teaching skills further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have opportunities to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date through initial induction and training. Staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe and can identify the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. They understand the procedures to follow in the event of any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff undertake daily checks of the indoor and outdoor environment to help to minimise risks and to ensure that it remains a safe place for children to play.

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Due date

develop the supervision of staff further and target precisely the individual teaching skills of staff that require improvement so that all staff provide the optimum challenge for every child in their learning 16/12/2019

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Due date

6 November 2019 support staff to improve the quality of teaching, targeting interactions and questions at the right level to provide sufficient challenge. 16/12/2019

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should:

n review the organisation of some groups and activities so that the needs of quieter and less-confident children met effectively and consistently n use all opportunities available for children to do things for themselves and develop their independence skills fully n strengthen the links with other early years settings that some children also attend, to help promote continuity in their care, learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550183 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 10126896 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 17 Name of registered person Clarke, Debra

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reference number

Telephone number 07956 521902 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Mills Hill Playgroup registered in 2017. The playgroup employs four members of childcare staff, including the manager. Of these, three hold early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and evaluated the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The playgroup manager conducted a joint observation with the inspector. n The inspector held discussions with the playgroup manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n Parents shared their veiws with the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

6 November 2019 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

6 November 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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