Chesterton Playgroup

Inspection of Chesterton Playgroup The Village Hall, Alchester Road, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 1UN

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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 and parents receive a warm welcome on arrival. Staff provide a calm and nurturing environment, which enables children to feel safe and secure. Children settle quickly and demonstrate their strong bonds with their key person. Staff know children extremely well and are attentive to their needs. They provide cuddles, offer reassurance and give praise. As a result, children are confident to explore and show a positive attitude to their learning.

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The provision is good

Physical development is supported well at the setting. Children enjoy playing in the outside area, running, riding the tricycles and balancing carefully on the equipment. Inside, children make marks for a purpose with a range of resources. Older children learn to cut with scissors competently and are starting to identify and write their own names. They have fun modelling and rolling the dough as they develop use of their hand muscles. Children are confident, overall, behave well and are showing readiness for their next stage in learning and for school.

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The provision is good

Children have many opportunities to learn in an enjoyable and engaging way. For example, after children show an interest in dinosaurs, staff set up exciting opportunities for them explore and extend their learning outside. Staff use many descriptive words to help increase children's vocabulary. For example, they discuss how 'lava flows' from the volcano and how some dinosaurs were plant eaters called 'herbivores' and others were meat eaters called 'carnivores'.

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need to do better?

n The leadership and management team has a clear vision for the setting and is always looking to improve where needed. The team supports the staff extremely well through regular supervisions and looks out for their well-being. Staff speak highly of the management team and say they enjoy working at the playgroup. n Staff help children develop a love of books. For example, children choose books to take home and share with their families, and children have cosy spaces to relax in and read books. This supports children's early literacy skills well. n An effective key-person system is in place. All staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the children in their care. Managers and staff monitor children's progress successfully. They accurately identify aspects of children's development where they need additional help and implement targeted support. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents speak positively about the care

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need to do better?

their children receive. They feel that their children's needs are met and that they progress well in their learning. Parents appreciate the opportunity to borrow a range of resources to support children's continued learning at home. n Although staff have a clear vision for the intent of their curriculum, they do not implement this as successfully as they could during adult-led activities. For

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need to do better?

1 February 2023 instance, staff do not fully consider how to make the best use of the environment they have created, including the activities outside which have been planned to support the children with colour, shape and number. Children have fun and dig in the sand but opportunities to support their maths development are missed. n Partnerships with other settings are strong. For example, staff work well with the neighbouring school and meet regularly with the foundation teacher. Children attend transition visits to the school with the playgroup staff. This helps children to settle well into the known surroundings of school when they first start. n Overall, children are independent and behave well. Staff encourage children to do things for themselves, such as peeling fruit at snack time. Older children are competent in unwrapping their lunches and feeding themselves. Staff help children to learn how to share and take turns. However, children who find it

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need to do better?

harder to sit at routine times, such as mealtimes, are not consistently encouraged by staff to remain at the table at snack time and lunchtime. n Regular local visits into the community support children's understanding of the area in which they live. Cultural differences are explored through discussions and celebrations. For example, children recently celebrated Chinese New Year and they take part in National Storytelling Week. Children understand their own uniqueness and the fact that not everyone has the same beliefs and cultural traditions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the possible risks to children. They know the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child or a member of staff. Managers test staff's knowledge and make sure their safeguarding training is always up to date, including on issues such as the 'Prevent' duty, female genital mutilation and county lines. Regular staff meetings and supervision sessions are used to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Recruitment of staff is robust and managers check ongoing suitability. Regular risk assessments are carried out and appropriate action is taken to ensure the children's safety at all times.

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should:

n refine the planning of adult-led activities and ensure that the intent for the curriculum is consistently implemented in practice n ensure staff are consistent in their approach to behaviour strategies for children who may find it more difficult to sit at routine times, such as lunchtime and snack time.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY467410 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10263908 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 21 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Chesterton Playgroup

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reference number

Telephone number 01869360593 Date of previous inspection 16 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Chesterton Playgroup registered in 2013. It operates from the village church hall in Chesterton, near Bicester, in Oxfordshire. The playgroup is open on Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 3pm, and on Friday from 9am until midday, during term time only. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years, and receives early years pupil premium funding. The playgroup employs six members of staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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 had a learning walk with the nominated individual through all areas of the premises used by the children. n Parents shared their views through written and verbal feedback. The inspector took these views into account. n The inspector spoke with the managers about the leadership of the setting. n The inspector looked at a sample of the documentation. This included evidence about suitability and training records.

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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

1 February 2023 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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