Noah's Ark Playgroup

Inspection of Noah's Ark Playgroup Holy Trinity Church, Church Hill, Kimberley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG16 2HY

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children receive emotional support from staff when they first start attending. This helps them to settle quickly. Some children glance back to their parents and blow a kiss when they leave them. This is because they are excited to arrive and play in the well-resourced and inviting playroom. Staff and children quickly form strong bonds with one another. Children involve staff in their play and sit on their knee to complete activities. Children learn to share and take turns with others. For example, when they play a game with their friends, they take it in turn to throw a dice and answer questions.

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The provision is good

Staff understand how children develop. They plan experiences to help develop children's understanding and their large-muscle skills. Staff ask children to join in with action rhymes and to follow instructions. For example, children touch their heads, shoulders, knees and toes. When staff ask them if they can go faster, children laugh and giggle with their friends and repeat the actions quicker. Outdoors, children ride on tricycles and balance bikes. They negotiate a pathway, moving in and out of other children and obstacles safely. Staff help children to learn new skills that support their small-muscle control. For example, children copy staff and learn how to roll dough in between their hands to make small ball shapes.

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need to do better?

n Staff have clear rules and boundaries in place and give children gentle reminders about these. For example, when children run indoors, staff ask them what they should do. Children reply and say that they 'need to walk inside'. When staff engage children in planned activities, they talk to them about the rules at the start of the activity. For example, staff remind children to listen and take turns with their friends. n When children with special educational needs and/or disabilities first start attending, the manager and deputy manager visit them in their home. This helps them to get to know children. It provides opportunities to speak to parents about children's individual needs. The special educational needs coordinator works closely with parents and other professionals to provide specialist equipment for children. This helps to meet their individual physical needs. n Staff know the children well and plan a broad and balanced range of activities

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need to do better?

and experiences to support their learning. For example, staff encourage children to be creative and to explore and investigate a range of materials. Children use water, soap and different colours to pretend to make 'potions'. They confidently talk about their experiments. When they turn the water blue, they are keen to tell staff that it looks like 'ocean water'. n Staff encourage parents to provide healthy foods for their children. They offer children healthy drinks, such as milk or water. However, staff do not consistently

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need to do better?

22 February 2022 support children to understand about the benefits of healthy practices and how these can promote good oral hygiene habits. n The manager supports staff's well-being. For instance, because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager regularly checks in with staff and asks them how they are feeling. The manager continues to support staff through supervision meetings. This helps staff to reflect on their practice and to identify further professional development opportunities. Recent training has extended staff's knowledge of how to support children with their emotions and feelings when they arrive at the playgroup. n The manager uses additional funding effectively to offer children new experiences. For example, staff take children on a bus and to soft-play centres and farm parks. This helps to broaden children's horizons. n The daily routines in the playgroup generally run efficiently. Children have

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need to do better?

opportunities to eat, exercise and play outdoors, which enhances their well- being. However, occasionally, staff do not recognise that younger children become restless when they have to wait for others to join their table at lunchtime. n Staff encourage children to learn skills that will help them in the future. They encourage children to develop confidence to talk about their views and thoughts. Staff ask children a good range of questions and give them time to think and respond.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff carry out daily risk assessments indoors and outdoors. This helps to provide a safe environment for children to play. Doors and gates are securely locked to promote children's safety. This stops children from leaving unaccompanied and unknown people from entering the playgroup. The manager and staff understand the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They are able to identify if children are being drawn into radicalisation and extremism. Staff know the procedure to follow to report concerns about a child's safety or welfare.

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should:

n support staff to give children clear and consistent messages to help them develop an understanding of healthy practices, such as promoting good oral hygiene habits n improve staff's understanding of how to organise some parts of the daily routine to ensure that younger children are suitably engaged while they wait for their lunch.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253124 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10113262 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Noah's Ark Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 0115 9458 553 Date of previous inspection 5 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Noah's Ark Playgroup registered in 1994 and is situated in Holy Trinity Church, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire. The playgroup employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the playgroup and discussed how the manager intends to implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She reviewed relevant documents and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector.

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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

22 February 2022 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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