Herrick Playgroup

Inspection of Herrick Playgroup Lockerbie Avenue, Leicester, Leicestershire LE4 7NJ

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised. Staff do not ensure that the entrance to the setting is secure for visitors. Furthermore, the provider has not submitted the required documents to Ofsted in order to assess the suitability of all individuals connected with the setting. This means that those responsible for the running of the setting have not been confirmed as suitable to do so. As a consequence, children's safety is potentially placed at risk. Younger children do not receive a consistently good-quality education. As a result, there are gaps in the youngest children's development.

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The provision is inadequate

Children demonstrate that they are happy and make choices from the range of accessible and age-appropriate play equipment. However, high expectations for children's behaviour are sometimes not demonstrated by staff. Activities planned for children reflect all areas of learning and staff ensure children's individual interests are reflected. However, opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening skills, particularly those who speak English as an additional language, are not consistently supported.

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The provision is inadequate

Children show confidence in their play and have formed positive and secure relationships with staff and their friends. Some staff have recently undergone training to support children to move their bodies to music and explore the sounds of instruments more in play. During a music and movement session, older children enjoy moving appropriately to the music and shake instruments in time to the beat.

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need to do better?

n Access to the setting is not managed effectively to ensure unknown persons are not able to enter without the knowledge of staff. On the day of the inspection, the inspector was allowed to enter through the main gate and into the playgroup without being challenged. Additionally, committee members have not completed all checks required of them by Ofsted. This is a breach of the requirements that remains a weakness highlighted at a previous inspection and an additional monitoring visit. n Staff set out their intentions for learning through identifying what they want all children to know. However, for younger children, the teaching of planned activities is not always effective. The quality of interactions with children is variable. As a result, younger children's attention and behaviour deteriorate or they become bored. n Children have opportunities to develop an understanding of the wider world and their community. Staff take children on regular outings, for example to religious

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need to do better?

buildings, to help them learn about different faiths. This helps children to broaden their experiences.

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need to do better?

19 November 2019 n Younger children enjoy sensory activities. They squeeze pasta through their fingers and smear paint onto paper to make their own designs. Older children enjoy threading hooped cereals onto dried and cooked pasta. They show good dexterity as they skilfully thread cereals onto the pasta, counting each one as they do so. n Overall, children do behave appropriately. However, there are times that this is not consistent and does not help children to learn about what is expected. For example, when younger children take toys from their friends, staff intervene to remind them that this is not kind. However, when children demonstrate poor behaviour, staff do not persevere to help them to understand the importance of sharing and turn taking. n Staff promote children's health effectively. They ensure children have regular access to the well-resourced outdoor area. Children use their physical skills well.

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need to do better?

They run, climb and use wheeled toys with confidence. They move easily around all accessible areas both indoors and outdoors. n Staff speak to children in both English and their home language. However, they do not offer enough opportunities for children to hear and develop their speaking skills in different ways. For example, during story time, staff do not always read to children in a way that excites and engages them. This limits children's opportunities to build on their growing vocabulary. n Staff practice is not monitored effectively. Therefore, the quality of education provided is variable, leading to some children not making the progress they are capable of. n All children enjoy role play. They actively engage with staff and their friends during this time as they pretend to cook dinner and make tea. Older children remind staff that this is 'hot, so be careful' and clear up the 'pots' when they

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need to do better?

have finished. n Parents speak positively about the playgroup. Good relationships are forged between the parents, managers and staff. Before children start at the setting, the managers take time to speak with parents to seek information on children's individual needs. This helps the managers and staff to get to know their interests and care needs. Key persons working with children use this information to plan the environment and activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Access to the setting is not managed safely. However, the managers and staff understand the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. They keep their knowledge up to date through attending regular training and during discussions in team meetings. Managers and staff know who to report concerns to, including concerns linked to wider safeguarding issues. The managers have clear recruitment procedures to ensure staff working in the setting are safe and suitable. However, the checks required by Ofsted for committee members are still not completed.

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Due date

provide Ofsted with the necessary information so that the required checks can be completed on new members of the committee, to confirm their suitability. 06/12/2019

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Due date

ensure all reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorised persons entering the premises 06/12/2019

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Due date

ensure that staff consistently use appropriate strategies to manage children's behaviour 06/12/2019

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Due date

provide more opportunities for children to hear and develop their speaking skills through a variety of methods; this is particularly key for those children who speak English as an additional language 20/12/2019

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Due date

improve the monitoring of staff's practice to ensure that the quality of teaching helps all children make at least good progress 20/12/2019

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Due date

improve staff's planning and delivery of activities for younger children to ensure they are consistently engaged in challenging and purposeful play appropriate to the next steps in their learning. 20/12/2019

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY255108 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10115185 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 3 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Herrick Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07946 300097 + 07940 839373 Date of previous inspection 17 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Herrick Playgroup registered in 2003 and is based in Leicester. The playgroup is open each weekday from 8.30am to 3.30pm during term time. It employs six members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and one of the managers completed a walk around the playgroup and discussed the plans and reasoning for the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector completed two joint observations with one of the managers. n The inspector held a meeting with one of the managers and spoke to both managers during the inspection. She reviewed a sample of documents, including evidence of staff's suitability and training. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and looked at written feedback provided to consider their views.

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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

19 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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