Medbourne Playgroup

Inspection of Medbourne Playgroup Medbourne Village Hall, Main Street, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8DT

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the wide variety of stimulating experiences on offer. They immerse themselves in play after confidently entering the setting. Staff use children's interests to plan exciting activities. For example, children watch a volcano in amazement as baking soda and vinegar cause it to erupt. They shout, 'Wow', as the liquid runs down the side and have discussions about how it smells and looks. Children make car shapes out of play dough and put them onto a plate to make a 'traffic jam'. They discuss where the cars may be going, using their imagination to create a story.

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The provision is good

Children are curious about the natural world and the staff embrace this. The outdoor space is used by staff to encourage children to develop in all areas of learning. Children observe the changing of the seasons, collect items to make bird nests and identify different wildflowers. Children are developing a sense of community as they wave at a variety of vehicles and people passing by. Visitors from local villages come in to show the children kittens and ducks.

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The provision is good

Children have strong bonds with the staff team. Children willingly go to staff for help and support. Children behave well. Staff support them during minor conflicts. They offer suggestions on how they might be resolved. Children learn how to play cooperatively and share toys with their friends. Staff model using good manners throughout the day. Children's independence is encouraged. They put on their own coats for outdoor play and attempt to do up their zips and buttons by themselves.

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need to do better?

n Children have plenty of opportunity to develop physical skills and be active. They run around giggling together outside. Children are supported to climb and jump out of a small tree. They build towers out of large blocks and laugh as they topple over. Staff talk to children about food at mealtimes. They discuss which foods are healthy and good for them. Children are learning what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. n Staff have built up strong relationships with parents. They use a variety of ways to communicate and share information. Parents comment that they have seen developments in their children's confidence since starting at the setting. Staff encourage parents to continue children's learning at home. For example, children took home bird feeders they had made to hang in their gardens and they report back which birds they have seen. n Overall, children's communication and language are well supported. Staff use a

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need to do better?

mixture of stories, songs and rhymes throughout the day. Children are fascinated and engaged when listening to a story at group time and join in the parts they know. However, staff do not consistently support language in play.

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need to do better?

26 May 2022 They, at times, use closed questioning and can ask children too many questions. As a result, children are not given opportunities to extend language or enough time to respond. n Staff ensure that children revisit learning experiences. This helps them secure their skills and knowledge. Children enjoy attempting to again complete a tricky dinosaur puzzle that they had mastered the day before. Children follow the routine of the day well. They know what is expected of them at different times because this is repeated daily. n Children benefit from a well-established, knowledgeable staff team. Staff use effective communication tools to share information between each other. However, staff do not yet have regular, effective supervisions with the manager. Therefore, they are not given this opportunity to confidentially discuss any concerns or be provided with support that promotes the interests of children.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children in developing skills they may use at school. They explore sounds and early phonics using a 'sound bag' with the children. The bag contains interesting items starting with the 'letter of the week' for the children to talk about. Children are given opportunities to develop writing skills. They make labels for plants and are encouraged to write their name on their pictures. Staff use early mathematical language throughout the day. For example, they use words such as big, small, long and short in activities. Children count out cups as they have snack time. n Children's individual thoughts and curiosity are used to plan activities. This allows them to become interested and engaged in learning. For example, a child wondered what would happen if plants were not watered. Staff skilfully used this idea to create an experiment. Children watch over time as differences appear between two beans as they water one and not the other. They make predictions

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children. They know how to identify signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff are aware of the process for recording and reporting any concerns, including how to report an allegation made against a staff member. The designated safeguarding lead ensures staff's knowledge is secure. She gives weekly updates regarding safeguarding issues within the wider community. The manager has a clear, safe recruitment process. This ensures those who are employed by the setting have the necessary suitability checks. Staff carry out risk assessments daily to ensure the environment and equipment are safe for children.

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should:

26 May 2022 n support staff to improve their questioning techniques to ensure children's language is consistently developed in play n develop an effective supervision process to give staff opportunities to discuss any concerns and receive support that promotes the interests of children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 226442 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10064539 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 24 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Medbourne Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07762 435 495 Date of previous inspection 30 June 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Medbourne Playgroup registered in 1982. The playgroup employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, all are appropriately qualified to level 3. The manager holds a postgraduate certificate of education. The playgroup opens Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, during school term time, from 9.15am to 3.15pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk where they discussed the curriculum and intention for learning. n The inspector sought the views of parents. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n A sample of documentation was viewed by the inspector. n The inspector had conversation with key staff members, including the designated safeguarding lead and the setting's special educational needs and disabilities coordinator. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of practice with the manager.

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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 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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