Brimpsfield and Birdlip Playgroup

Inspection of Brimpsfield and Birdlip Playgroup c/o Birdlip Village Hall, Birdlip, Gloucester GL4 8JH

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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 enter the setting happy and pleased to see their friends. They access a broad range of good-quality resources that are thoughtfully set up by staff who know children and their interests well. Children are familiar with the daily routines. They develop an awareness of hygiene routines and wash their hands each morning when they arrive. Children are independent. They hang their belongings on their peg and enter the hall, where they take turns to self-register. Older children show an awareness and understanding of some letters and sounds. They immediately recognise their first name and confidently announce the initial sound. The youngest children receive support from staff to find their name. Staff reduce the number of name cards and celebrate with children when they find theirs.

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The provision is good

Children are supported to develop important skills required for future learning, such as the move to school. Older children display good social skills and develop strong early friendships with peers of a similar age. They become absorbed in imaginative play and group games. Children dress up as familiar storybook characters and assign roles to each other. They chase each other and shriek with laughter as they recreate their very own 'gruffalo hunt'. Children try hard to place their costumes back onto a clothes hanger when they have finished with them.

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need to do better?

n The setting has effective induction procedures which support children to settle promptly. Staff meet with parents, when children first begin to attend, to gather information about children's interests and prior knowledge and skills. However, there is scope to further develop partnerships with parents and promote opportunities for two-way conversations to support continuity and consistency in children's learning between home and the setting. n Children enthusiastically investigate the learning environment. They explore a range of interesting resources and are eager to test their ideas and find out how items work. For example, children twist knobs on a radio and understand how this changes the volume. Younger children hang binoculars around their neck and look through them both ways. However, on occasions, staff do not always recognise when to enhance interactions with children to further support their

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need to do better?

learning and development. n Staff develop effective partnerships with other settings that children attend. They share information about children's individual characters and learning styles, as well as areas in need of further support. Staff have strong links with the nearby primary school. At lunchtime, children eat with school pupils in the hall. This helps children to become familiar with school routines and develop early relationships with teachers and older children. The manager also invites Reception teachers into the setting to visit and get to know children in their own

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need to do better?

16 February 2023 environment. n Parents share complimentary feedback about the 'experienced staff team' and the 'organised environment' which supports children's play and learning. They explain how well their children have settled and 'the peace of mind' knowing their children are in safe hands. n Staff support children's mathematical development well. They introduce children to the language of size and introduce words such as 'big' and 'small'. Staff encourage children to sort small counting bears into groups based on their colour. Children create patterns of size and colour. Staff make assessments of children's learning and use this information to plan further activities to support their good progress. n Children display an interest in books and listen attentively to stories read by enthusiastic staff. They are familiar with the story and excitedly join in with repeated phrases. Staff support children's communication skills and encourage

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need to do better?

children to discuss their own experiences of making gingerbread. They help children to understand difference. Staff explain that each gingerbread has different eyes and a different number of buttons. n The committed manager and staff team work well together. They reflect on practice daily and evaluate each session, identifying areas of strength or areas for development. The manager is committed to making improvements to raise the quality of the setting. For example, she reflected on the layout of the room and moved the dinosaur resources from a table to the floor to encourage more children to become involved.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The staff and manager demonstrate a secure understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They attend regular child protection training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff display an awareness of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of abuse. This includes indicators that may present if children have been subject to extreme views or behaviours. Staff know how to record their findings and the procedures to follow to report concerns to the relevant individuals and authorities. They correctly identify the steps they must take in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff.

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should:

n strengthen partnerships with parents and build on two-way conversations to support continuity and consistency in children's learning between home and the setting n support staff to recognise when to enhance their interactions with children's play

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should:

16 February 2023 to further extend children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101472 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10264351 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 26 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Brimpsfield and Birdlip Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07914091427 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Brimpsfield and Birdlip Playgroup registered in 1993. The playgroup opens Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8.45am to 12.45pm during term time only. It operates a breakfast club for pupils of Birdlip Primary School between 7.30am and 8.35am, Monday to Friday. The playgroup employs five members of staff. Four work directly with children. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the playgroup received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss activities and intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation of staff practice. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff team to evaluate the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector reviewed a range of documents, including paediatric first-aid training certificates and information regarding the suitability of staff.

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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

16 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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