Ashwell Playgroup

Inspection of Ashwell Playgroup Village Hall, West End, Ashwell, BALDOCK, Hertfordshire SG7 5PJ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are very confident and arrive at the playgroup happily. They show that they feel safe from the outset. They go to their key person for a cuddle or chat about their feelings. They play happily alongside their friends, and are kind to each other. Children eagerly help their friends, pulling each other up onto the climbing frame and zooming down the slide while holding hands.

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The provision is good

Children make strong progress in all areas of learning. Play areas are interesting and reflect their interests and needs. Children read stories to their friends, dance to familiar songs, and explore sand and water. Staff respond instinctively to children's needs, promoting children's problem-solving, critical thinking and language skills. Children speak confidently. They share a range of ideas, tell stories to each other and play imaginative games, such as making ice creams in the sandpit.

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The provision is good

Children have lots of varied ways to develop independence. Staff know the value of this, especially to support children for the next stage in their learning. Children take responsibility for managing their behaviour, and they play safely. For example, they check around them before they hop from one stepping stone to another.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team has made, and sustained, significant improvements since the last inspection. There is now a stable management committee in place, whose suitability has been checked by Ofsted. The committee offers strong support to the manager to drive a long-term programme of improvements and to maintain improved standards. n All staff support each child sensitively to be confident and active learners. They encourage children to explore through trial and error, to solve problems and to celebrate their achievements. Children are able to adjust their own behaviour, and they learn to manage their relationships with others successfully. n The key-person system is very well managed and enables children to feel settled, safe and secure in the playgroup. This continued during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Staff remained in contact with children, including those who were due to move on to another setting before the playgroup reopened.

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need to do better?

They shared activities with parents to support home learning. Staff helped support children to be ready for the next stage in their learning. Parents praise the care and education that their children receive at the playgroup. n Staff clearly understand what children can already do and what they need to learn next. They take opportunities, as they arise, to build on what children already know. Staff know when to engage with children and when to stand back and allow children to try things for themselves. For example, they encourage children to find the next step on the slide, rather than lifting them up. Children

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need to do better?

26 May 2021 then find the next step, and the next one. This helps those who need support to develop confidence to have a go for themselves. n Staff understand gaps in children's learning and work closely as a team to close these. This includes any children who receive additional funding. Children who learn English as an additional language are well supported. Staff learn key words in children's home languages, and place a strong focus on the language development of all children in the playgroup. n Staff are well supported and helped to improve their skills and to adapt to children's needs. There is a good programme of training and development to help staff to continuously improve their skills. n The manager continuously reviews areas used by children to assess, to manage and to respond to any potential or developing risks. The staff adapt the environment to meet children's needs. A recent change, to make a specific and

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need to do better?

clear area for children to run indoors, has improved children's behaviour and helped to avoid accidents. n Some large-group activities are less well delivered than other learning opportunities. At these times, some children lose interest quickly and do not become deeply involved in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff are knowledgeable about child protection matters and understand how to keep children safe. They receive regular training so that they can keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. Staff accurately identify the possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Staff also understand how to raise concerns regarding their colleagues' behaviour, if they need to. The management committee and the manager have a strong oversight of safeguarding issues. They know how to work with other professionals to help keep children in their care safe.

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should:

n help staff to judge when large-group activities are relevant to individual children's needs and interests and adapt the activity accordingly.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146861 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10149282 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Ashwell Playgroup (Hertfordshire) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07565 528194 Date of previous inspection 27 February 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Ashwell Playgroup registered in 1975. The playgroup employs four members of childcare staff. All four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The playgroup operates Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 9.30am until 1.15pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken this into account in her evaluations. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times during the inspection. They told her about the games that they enjoy at the playgroup and showed her how they can wash their own hands. They showed the inspector their painting activity and described their artwork. n Staff members spoke with the inspector about the children in their care and different aspects of their roles. n The inspector met with a representative of the management committee to discuss the running of the playgroup. n The manager and the inspector carried out a learning walk in the playgroup where they discussed the curriculum on offer and how this met children's learning needs. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the playgroup

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Inspection activities

manager. n A sample of policies and procedures was reviewed by the inspector. This included documents relating to safeguarding, accidents and the suitability of persons working with children. n Parents shared their views of the playgroup with the inspector. The inspector took these views into consideration.

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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

26 May 2021 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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