Piglets Playgroup

Inspection of Piglets Playgroup Cheviot Crescent, The Old Canteen Community Centre, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 2PR

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely happy to enter this warm and friendly playgroup. They talk to staff as they are greeted at the door with smiles and genuine affection. Children independently hang up their coats and place their lunch boxes onto a trolley. They choose to engage with a range of exciting and age-appropriate resources that allow their imaginations to flourish. Staff provide carefully considered activities and experiences for children to develop their curiosity. They eagerly take part in the children's play, sharing thoughts and ideas that support and extend children's knowledge. Older children actively engage in 'tool time', which causes great excitement, as children are supported to use real tools. For example, staff use a 'hand over hand' approach, and children show delight, as they are able to make a hole with a small battery powered drill.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff have high expectations for children, and they role model positive behaviour consistently throughout the day. Children are respectful and show kindness to each other and invite other children into their play. Staff are extremely skilled at recognising when children may need support with their feelings and emotions and intervene with care and sensitivity.

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The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is ambitious and supports children's learning superbly. For example, outside, a small group of children go on a dinosaur hunt to develop number recognition. Laminated numbers, one to five, are hidden around the garden by staff. Children find the numbers and then find the corresponding number of dinosaurs that have also been hidden. Children are very enthusiastic and excited and shout the numbers out as they find them.

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need to do better?

n The manager and all staff have an ambitious commitment to ensuring that all children actively participate in a range of varied and imaginative activities that will support them to make rapid progress. All staff have excellent communication skills and always encourage children to share their ideas and thoughts. The manager communicates her ideas effectively to staff, and they feel well informed and extremely valued. n Staff well-being is a priority. The manager creates an environment that is welcoming and positive, and staff are confident and highly motivated. Staff access training and other professional development opportunities to further develop their knowledge and skills. Staff are passionate about their role and say they 'love working here'. n Children demonstrate consistently high levels of independence. Before snack time, older children use the bathroom to wash, soap and dry their hands before

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need to do better?

they cut up their own fruit. Afterwards, they scrape any food left on their plate

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need to do better?

15 February 2023 into the bin and put their plate and cup into the washing-up bowl. During mealtimes, staff and children eat together. Conversation is natural, which develops children's vocabulary, and children form strong bonds with their key person. n Babies engage with age-appropriate resources and activities. Staff sing and talk about their play, modelling language and vocabulary, and babies smile and babble in response. Babies become mesmerised as staff use puppets to tell a story. One baby watches intently and laughs as it moves. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive exceptional support from staff, in partnership with the local inclusion team and other professionals. Staff are dedicated and highly motivated to support children's individual needs. This actively contributes to the progress children make in their learning and development. n Older children engage in activities, such as yoga, to support their physical

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need to do better?

development and to encourage mindfulness. Pictures of children in a series of yoga poses are used as prompts during the session. Children have fun showing staff their yoga positions and remembering the names of the poses. Staff acknowledge how yoga has had a positive and calming effect on children's behaviour. n Children are developing a strong sense of community during visits, such as to the shops in the local area. Staff have been encouraging children to think about ways in which they can be kind and helpful to others. Staff and children decided to collect food and provisions to take to the nearby foodbank to make sure that people were not hungry. n Parents are full of praise for the playgroup, describing it as a 'home from home', and recommend it to other parents. Some parents make comments such as 'the playgroup is a big family' and 'staff share information every day, and children make friends and learn so much.'

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager leads the staff superbly and has robust safeguarding procedures that are embedded in practice. Staff fully understand their role in keeping children safe from harm and respond quickly to management if they have any concerns. During staff meetings, the manager ensures all staff have up-to-date information and can access relevant training. The playgroup is well maintained, and children are kept safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY260057 Local authority Stockton-on-Tees Inspection number 10264127 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 32 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Piglets Playgroup Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 07757328380 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Piglets Playgroup registered in 2003 and is located in Billingham, Cleveland. The playgroup employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The playgroup opens from Monday to Thursday, during term time. Sessions are from 8am until 4pm. The playgroup 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 playgroup. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity.

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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

15 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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