Blacklands Playgroup

Inspection of Blacklands Playgroup Elim Church, Elphinstone Avenue, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2DR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Staff welcome the children into the playgroup with a friendly smile each day and set up an inviting and safe indoor learning environment. As children arrive, they can make their own choices from the broad range of activities. Children engage in activities that focus them. This helps them to settle quickly. Staff sit and play alongside the children, offering plenty of praise. This supports children's positive attitudes towards learning and motivates them to persevere. For example, children keep trying until they manage to throw a small hoop over a cone. They jump up with excitement once they achieve it.

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The provision is good

Children are curious learners and enjoy exploring the resources. For instance, the youngest children focus for periods of time as they show intrigue at how paint moves across the paper as they move their paintbrush in different directions. Older children enjoy working out how to blow bubbles before excitedly watching how they float in the air.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to be independent learners who are developing key skills for their next stage of learning. They confidently put on their coats before going outside, make choices about their snack and wash their hands prior to eating.

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need to do better?

n The manager shows an ambition to provide good-quality education and inclusive care for all children. She has good systems in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The special educational needs coordinator has made good links with outside professionals to offer a collaborative approach. As a result, children with SEND make good progress from their starting points. n The manager knows her staff well and has procedures in place for the professional development of staff. The manager has been proactive in taking on opportunities to become involved in local authority initiatives and send staff on training that promotes healthy eating. This has developed staff's knowledge of how to promote children's good health and well-being. As a result, the manager and staff support parents to understand what would be in a healthy lunch box and provide opportunities for children to try new healthy foods as part of food-

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need to do better?

tasting sessions. n The manager seeks feedback from parents and staff to help evaluate the quality of the care and education to enhance their practice. For instance, she introduced a book club to provide more opportunities for parents to read to their children and enhance the children's literacy skills further. n Staff plan activities and an environment that take into consideration children's interests and identified next steps. This motivates children to learn.

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need to do better?

16 December 2019 n The manager monitors the progress of groups of children. She works with staff to identify where children need further support in specific areas of learning. This supports children to achieve, regardless of their starting points, and helps to narrow gaps in learning. n All staff are attentive and kind. They interact and engage with the children, listening attentively to what they say. They model language well, repeating back words and helping children to build sentences. However, not all staff are skilled in asking challenging, age-appropriate questions to extend children's learning. n Children show kindness towards each other, learn to take turns and share resources. For example, children pass each other play dough, without the need to be prompted to share. n The manager recognises the importance of outdoor play and how it contributes to children's good health. Children enjoy spinning large hoops, balancing on low-

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need to do better?

level stepping stones and hopping along number paths. Despite this, there is potential to offer a richer variety of activities to further promote their development across all areas of learning and create more opportunities for children to evaluate risk. n The manager and staff form positive relationships with the parents. Parents feel staff are welcoming and approachable. Staff keep parents informed of their children's learning through an online system. They share ideas with parents of activities for them to try at home to support their children's next steps.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff are aware of their responsibilities to report any safeguarding concerns. They know the possible signs of abuse and what to do should they have any concerns about the welfare of a child. The manager ensures that all staff keep their knowledge of safeguarding up to date through regular training. She implements secure recruitment procedures and ensures the ongoing suitability of adults working with children. The manager completes regular checks of the environment and ensures staff are deployed effectively to keep children safe.

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should:

n extend the range and breadth of questions staff use to help every child build on their existing knowledge across all areas of learning n enhance the outdoor area to incorporate further learning experiences that are rich, varied and provide children with opportunities to evaluate risk.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551627 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10127528 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 34 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Blacklands Playgroup Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07891755746 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Blacklands Playgroup registered in 2017. It operates from Elim Church in Hastings, East Sussex. It is open term time only on weekdays, except Wednesday, from 8.30am until 5.30pm. It employs six members of staff, all of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 or above. The playgroup provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and parents. n The inspector reviewed relevant statutory documentation, evidence of staff's qualifications, and policies used by the setting. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation both indoors and outdoors. n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk and discussed how the curriculum is planned.

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Inspection activities

16 December 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

16 December 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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