Crossways Playgroup

Inspection of Crossways Playgroup Crossways Village Hall, Moigne Combe Road, Crossways, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8JA

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate 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

The quality of teaching is weak. Staff do not use or adapt activities to meet children's individual developmental needs. As a result, children are not making good progress. Staff fail to challenge and build on older children's learning to help them fulfil their potential. In the absence of a permanent special educational needs coordinator (SENCo), staff are not supported well enough to meet children's additional needs. As a result, some children make poor progress in their communication and language development.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff prevent children from making their own choices and leading their own play. This poor interaction restricts children's interests and motivation to learn, and their all-round development. Most children arrive happy and keen to attend. They make friends and learn how to share and play kindly. New children benefit from caring staff who provide them with comfort and reassurance to help them settle in and feel safe.

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need to do better?

n The manager and leaders do not ensure requirements are met in the event of staff changes. There is no named deputy appointed to take charge in the manager's absence and arrangements for a temporary SENCo are not sufficient to identify and meet children's additional needs. This has a significant impact on some children, who make limited progress in their communication and language development. n The manager and leaders provide staff with insufficient support to improve the quality of their teaching. As a result, staff do not understand how to support children's learning and do not help them to make good progress in all areas. n The manager and staff have introduced new systems to assess and plan children's learning. However, they do not have high enough expectations of what children can achieve and do not challenge older children sufficiently. For example, staff ask older children simple mathematical questions in areas in

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need to do better?

which they are already competent and they do not help children to extend their vocabulary further. n Staff do not make good use of activities and children's choices to support their all-round development and motivation to learn. For example, staff discourage children unnecessarily from playing with the physical play equipment, sandpit and painting activities they repeatedly try to use. These children become upset and frustrated and this restricts their learning. n he manager and leaders have addressed some of the weaknesses from the previous inspection. For example, they have improved the organisation of the activities. Children are not kept waiting unnecessarily during changes in routine, such as after meals. Staff have attended training in managing children's

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need to do better?

8 October 2019 behaviour. They have developed strategies to manage unwelcome behaviour, such as biting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The setting has appointed a temporary designated safeguarding lead. However, she has not attended child protection training that meets the minimum requirements of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. She does not have the required level of knowledge regarding broader child protection issues and the risks to children, or current good practice. Otherwise, staff understand the risks to children and the correct procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child. The management team follows recruitment procedures to ensure new staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children. New staff undertake an induction to help prepare them for their role.

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Due date

ensure the designated safeguarding lead attends an appropriate child protection course that meets the local safeguarding children board requirements 20/11/2019

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Due date

ensure staff receive appropriate support and guidance so they are able to meet children's additional needs 20/11/2019

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Due date

provide all staff with supervision to ensure they develop good teaching skills to help children make better progress 20/11/2019

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Due date

ensure there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence 20/11/2019

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Due date

improve the quality of teaching to challenge and build on older children's learning and to ensure all children make good progress in their communication and language development 20/11/2019

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Due date

improve the use of activities to allow children to make their own choices and lead their play to support their all-round development and motivation to learn. 20/11/2019

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Setting details

Unique reference number 139331 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10107536 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 11 Name of registered person Crossways Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01305 853466 Date of previous inspection 25 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Crossways Playgroup registered in 1993. It operates from Crossways, near Dorchester, Dorset. The committee-run playgroup operates term time only on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 3pm, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am until 1pm, and on Fridays from 9am to midday. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged three and four years. The committee employs three members of staff, two of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3. They are supported by a volunteer.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the setting. She observed the activities and the quality of teaching in the playroom and the outdoor play area. n The inspector sampled children's records and talked to staff at appropriate times. n The inspector discussed the manager's knowledge and understanding of the early years foundation stage. n The inspector took account of the views of parents. n The inspector discussed the effectiveness of an activity with the manager.

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Inspection activities

8 October 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

8 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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