The Playpen Pre-School

Inspection of The Playpen Pre-School 270a Victoria Avenue, Princes Avenue, Hull, Yorkshire HU5 3DZ

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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

Children settle quickly in the warm, friendly pre-school. They have developed confidence and have established strong bonds with the pre-school's caring staff. Children show that staff are important to them as they give them hugs when they pretend to be sad. Children behave well as staff use effective behaviour management strategies. This helps children to feel safe, secure and valued. All children receive good levels of support and reassurance from staff. Children develop the skills and positive attitudes to learning that they need for future success. This has a positive effect on children's emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

Staff incorporate children's interests and learning needs into activities. For example, while children are playing with play dough, staff follow children's interest in making pizza. This opens a discussion on pizza toppings to coincide with the topic of food. Children's learning is further enhanced as they collaborate with their peers and staff on cutting up vegetables in the role play area.

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The provision is good

Staff use their knowledge of what children know and can do to plan a selection of well-organised activities across the curriculum. For example, children recall how to stay safe in the sun. They show their understanding of number as they count to the day's date. They then talk about what date it was yesterday and what date it will be tomorrow.

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need to do better?

n The manager has high expectations for the pre-school, and the curriculum covers all areas of learning. Leaders and staff understand the order in which children need to learn, and they communicate well together. The manager and staff access regular training opportunities. These help them to continually develop their knowledge of child development and of how children learn. n Staff engage in meaningful conversations with children and listen carefully to what they have to say. For example, staff listen intently as children tell them about the solar system. This supports children in understanding that their opinions are valued. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points in learning. The manager and the special educational needs coordinator work closely with parents to make referrals, seek guidance from other professionals and put plans in place to support children.

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need to do better?

n The manager continues to strengthen partnerships with parents. Staff communicate with parents in a range of ways. These include daily face-to-face meetings, newsletters, social media and an online platform which details children's learning. Parents comment that the pre-school team is friendly and supportive. They state that children enjoy attending and note how children have

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need to do better?

27 June 2022 progressed since starting, particularly in their speech. n The manager has used additional funding effectively to enhance children's learning experiences. For example, a calming sensory area has been created to support children who need extra support to manage their emotions. This helps children to feel more emotionally secure. n Children build meaningful friendships and enjoy each other's company. They learn to take turns and share. For example, children enjoy playing board games together. This helps children to develop suitable social skills. n Although staff focus well on developing children's independence, this is not always consistent. For example, children put on their own coats and shoes before going outside. However, when they come inside for snack time, staff remove children's coats and pour children their drinks. n Staff encourage children to play physically and strengthen their muscles. For

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need to do better?

example, children use the pulley system to lift buckets from the bottom of the climbing frame to the top. Children climb, balance and bounce as they negotiate the climbing frame and trampoline. n Overall, staff promote children's communication and language skills well. Staff use labelling and repetition to support children's emerging vocabulary. Children are encouraged to repeat familiar words and phrases from stories and songs. However, occasionally, staff do not model the correct pronunciation of words. For example, staff talk about 'pussy cats' and 'doggies', and say 'narna' for banana. This means that children do not hear and learn to use the correct pronunciation of words.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that all staff receive regular training and updates about child protection and safeguarding issues. This enables staff to identify concerns about a child's welfare and confirms the process for reporting concerns to the pre-school's safeguarding lead. Staff discuss a wide range of safeguarding issues, such as children who may be at risk of female genital mutilation. Staff also know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Robust recruitment procedures ensure that all staff are, and continue to be, suitable to work with children. Staff attend paediatric first-aid training.

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should:

n provide consistent opportunities for all children to be independent n strengthen staff's knowledge of the importance of using the correct pronunciation of words and the value of narrating children's play, to promote speech and language skills consistently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2551442 Local authority Kingston Upon Hull City Council Inspection number 10225988 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Moses-Pinnock, Joseph

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reference number

Telephone number 01482 493306 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Playpen Pre-School re-registered in 2020 and is in Hull. It employs seven members of staff who work directly with the children. All staff hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am until 5pm. The pre-school 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

27 June 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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