Marlow Opportunity Playgroup 1

Inspection of Marlow Opportunity Playgroup 1 Scout Hall, Watery Lane, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP10 0NE

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children receive exemplary support to meet their care and learning needs at this exceptional playgroup. This starts from the very moment they arrive and are collected from their cars. Staff have continued this practice following the COVID-19 pandemic as they noticed the huge positive impact it had on children's well-being. Children are greeted by the friendly, smiling faces of staff they know very well. There is a wonderful, warm and nurturing atmosphere within the playgroup, which focuses on positive experiences. Children are extremely happy at the playgroup and have strong, trusting bonds with staff. They feel completely safe as they enjoy stories while snuggled up with their key person.

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The provision is outstanding

Throughout the session, children access a vast range of highly stimulating, exciting activities and experiences. They can choose from fantastic messy play, sensory experiences and outdoor activities. Staff ensure that all children can access every opportunity on offer. They have incredibly high expectations of all children and provide a curriculum that matches these expectations. Children are making excellent progress in all areas of their development and well-being.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. Staff support them to regulate their behaviour by talking through the routine and giving warning of change. For example, they use visual timetables to communicate that play is finished and snack is next. This supports children to feel extremely safe and secure in managing their emotions.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a robust curriculum that is highly ambitious and individualised. They expertly tailor this to build on what children know and can do. By providing a holistic approach to learning that combines play, care routines and therapies, they support children to achieve the very best outcomes in their development. n All staff expertly use a broad range of communication methods when interacting with the children. For example, during morning group time, they sing, dance and sign with children. Children excitedly communicate back using signing and assistive speech devices. They learn to communicate through welcoming and warm shared social experiences. n Staff skilfully ensure children can choose what they would like to do while at playgroup. For example, children choose whether they want to play in the role- play area or play dough station by communicating using eye gaze. Staff focus intently on the children and their communication. They listen attentively to them

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need to do better?

and really value their choices. This supports all children to feel heard and highly respected as unique individuals. n The exceptional manager and her well-led and passionate team consistently improve their skills and knowledge through training. They do this on a wide

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need to do better?

29 November 2022 variety of topics, both broad and specific. They understand the importance of ensuring they provide care that is essential and particular to each child's complex needs. This ensures that children's care routines and learning are of the highest standard. n The team works extraordinarily closely with local schools in order to support children to make the transition to their next step in education. For example, they make time to partner parents on school tours and accompany children on school transition visits. This supports families to manage change in a way that puts their child's well-being first, by sensitively and reassuringly managing transition to school. n Staff ensure that they consistently communicate highly effectively with other settings that children attend. For example, they work closely with staff, spending time in each other's settings with the child they share joint care for. This ensures

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need to do better?

completely consistent and continuous care is maintained to support complex care routines. Along with collaboration on children's learning and assessments, this partnership ensures the very best care and education for each child. n Parents speak very highly of the positive contribution staff make to their families' lives, particularly their children's lives. Parents gave many shining testimonies, such as 'It's like one big family', 'We would be lost without them' and 'forever grateful'. They detail how staff work tirelessly but happily to support every area of their children's care and learning. It is abundantly clear that parents and practitioners work together incredibly closely to provide the highest quality experience for their children in terms of care and education. n The highly skilled managers ensure that children make excellent links to their community. For example, they take children on trips to the local park and the

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need to do better?

garden centre, where children can learn about animals. Children learn through first-hand experiences about the wider world around them during wonderfully exciting opportunities outside the playgroup. n The extremely knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator works with staff to ensure all children's assessments and referrals are made swiftly. She provides a fantastic wealth of support and reassurance for staff and parents to ensure that gaps in children's development are closing rapidly.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. They hold in-depth knowledge on topics such as bruising on immobile children, neglect and online safety. They know how to contact the local authority if they have any concerns. Managers ensure staff receive specific training to assist children with medical conditions that require specific care or interventions. The setting is clean, tidy and arranged in a way that is safe for children. Specialist equipment is used in a safe and correct way. For example, one staff member is a qualified physiotherapy assistant and supports staff to ensure they use equipment effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2576750 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10250915 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Marlow Opportunity Playgroup CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01628 521890 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Marlow Opportunity Playgroup registered in 2010 and re-registered in 2020 due to the change in organisation. It is situated in the Scout Hut in the village of Wooburn Green in Buckinghamshire. It offers specialist care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, and for one week during the summer from 10am to 12.30pm for holiday sessions for children up to the age of eight years. The playgroup employs 15 staff, nine of which hold level 3 qualifications. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, 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 with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times 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

29 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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