Southgate West Playgroup

Inspection of Southgate West Playgroup Hilltop Primary School, Ditchling Hill, Southgate West, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 8QL

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders have not provided Ofsted with the relevant details of all committee members, which is a legal requirement. This means that checks have not been completed to ensure they are suitable for this role. This does not safeguard children. However, the management of the setting shows strengths. They provide support to staff and are proactive in identifying areas of improvement. This ensures that all children have a strong start to their learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment. Children access their environment, both indoors and outdoors, with confidence. They show good attitudes and behaviour towards each other and staff. Children show a clear understanding of the expectations staff have of them. They are eager to tidy away activities when they are finished with them and tuck their chairs in when leaving the table.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are eager to learn when arriving at the setting. They register themselves by identifying their name or picture. Staff tune in to children's needs and interests well, including those who need extra support. Children are confident in their use of language. Staff enable all children to have a voice within the setting. For example, they use visual aids for those who require further support in their spoken language.

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need to do better?

n The manager shows good reflective skills. They are proactive in identifying areas of improvement and promptly action these. They provide good support to staff and have clear expectations. Staff have lots of opportunity to communicate. However, leaders do not ensure that necessary suitability checks are carried out on all relevant people. This includes committee members who may have contact with children. This does not ensure children's safety. n Staff tune in to what children already know and plan how they can extend this learning. Staff show particular knowledge of those children who require more support. Staff work well with other professionals. This ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning. However, staff are not always clear about what they want children to learn from activities, to help them make the best possible progress. For example, arctic animals and blue tissue paper are

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need to do better?

placed on a table, and children are witnessed just banging these, not knowing how to engage with them. n Children demonstrate good behaviour and attitudes. They follow the rules of the nursery, which they have participated in creating. They show that these are embedded well when reminding their friends what they are. They take turns in their play and respect the environment around them. Staff often give praise to children. This encourages children to have a go.

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need to do better?

28 November 2022 n Staff promote children's healthy lifestyles. Children show knowledge of what are healthy foods and what is a treat. They explain how they keep their teeth clean and enjoy making choices from the fruit provided at the snack bar. Children have regular access to a large outdoor area. This allows them to develop their physical skills through various activities. For example, when accessing the balancing beams, bikes and climbing resources, children develop their core muscles. n Communication and language is a clear focus. Children enjoy exploring familiar rhymes and songs. They also listen intently to favourite stories. Children communicate with confidence to staff and their peers. n Children engage in activities within a well-thought-out environment. This enables children to build on what they already know and extend their learning. For example, children enjoy a Santa's workshop, where they use their early literacy

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need to do better?

skills. Staff extend this learning by introducing mathematical language when counting the items on their list. Children then match this to the presents they have wrapped before. n Parents give positive feedback and comment that staff provide a warm and welcoming environment. They feel supported and say that communication is always clear and respectful. There is a strong key-person approach that is well established. Staff hold regular meetings and provide feedback to parents. n Management use extra funding well to support individual children's learning. This enables children's experiences to be broadened. All children make good progress in their development. This is enhanced through staff's knowledge of each child. For example, staff gain information on each child to realise different family dynamics and support this through resources such as books, puppets and a doll's house.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Members of the leadership team, including five committee members, have not had the appropriate suitability checks, meaning they are not meeting the statutory requirements. This does not ensure that all children are safeguarded. However, the manager has a clear understanding of safeguarding children. All staff are trained, and their knowledge is regularly updated through frequent meetings. Staff prove good knowledge of the safeguarding procedures. They follow correct actions when they have a concern to ensure children are safe. This includes knowledge of radicalisation.

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Due date

28 November 2022 ensure the correct forms are submitted in order for suitability checks to be carried out for all committee members. 16/12/2022

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should:

n strengthen staff's knowledge so they have a more precise understanding of what they want children to learn from the activities or experiences provided to help them make even better progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY268196 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10233629 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Southgate West Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01293511008 Date of previous inspection 23 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Southgate West Playgroup registered in 2003. The group operates from Hilltop Primary School, in the Southgate area of Crawley, West Sussex. The playgroup is open between 8.45am and 11.45am and between 12.15pm and 3.15pm, each weekday, during term time. The setting employs seven staff, six of whom hold qualifications at level 3. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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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 inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of

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Inspection activities

the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum.

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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

28 November 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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