Playaway Preschool

Inspection of Playaway Preschool Kingswood Congregational Church, Hanham Road, BRISTOL BS15 8PW

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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

Staff welcome the children warmly. Children arrive happy and settle quickly, choosing from a range of interesting activities indoors and outdoors. They play together building their games. For example, children play on the carpet with the wooden blocks, making roads and creating ramps for the cars. Other children choose to play in the mud kitchen, looking for bugs.

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The provision is good

There is a strong emphasis on developing children's communication and language development. The children are learning about growing plants and vegetables. At snack time, staff place items on the table and encourage children to talk about what they can see. For example, they put pine cones on the table for the younger children and flowers for the older children. This supports children to revisit ideas about things that grow.

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The provision is good

The staff know the children well. They use their knowledge of child development to plan a curriculum that is inclusive to meet the needs of children. This means all children make good progress, regardless of their starting point. Parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) speak highly of the setting. The manager uses additional funding to promote children's well-being and learning. Parents comment on how staff provide support with resources and experiences to develop their child's learning.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear vision to develop children's learning. The staff share the vision and use training to develop all areas of the learning environment. For example, children can select their own resources and activities. Younger children choose song pictures for staff to sing their favourite songs to them. Older children select rechargeable torches to investigate light and shadow. This enables children to make active choices and direct their own learning through their interests. n Children learn mathematical skills through play. For example, they use weighing scales to explore the weight of vegetables and fill measuring pots with water. However, staff do not make the most of all opportunities to develop older children's mathematical knowledge further to extend their learning. n Staff understand the importance of developing children's language, particularly children who speak English as an additional language. Staff naturally sing songs

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need to do better?

to the children as they play. This inspires children to respond and join in. At story time, staff enthusiastically read 'Shark in the Park'. The children join in with the actions. For example, they pretend to have telescopes to look around. This helps to broaden their imagination and extend their vocabulary and love of books.

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need to do better?

26 May 2023 n Staff prepare children well for their transitions to school. They organise meetings to share information and plan visits for teachers from the local schools to meet the children. However, younger children need more support when they transition to the older age group, particularly to encourage them to take part in activities fully. n Children behave and know the routine well. Staff are respectful to children and model polite communication. They give a five-minute warning before an adult- led activity. The children have further reminders, allowing them time to finish off what they are doing. Children sit for group circle time, where they sing songs and welcome each child. Older children learn the days of the week and letter sounds. This helps them prepare for further learning. n Staff encourage children's independence. Children have snack time when they are ready. This supports the development of children's self-help skills. For

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need to do better?

example, children pour their own drinks and help themselves to healthy food. They use spoons to feed themselves. Staff support children who are still learning to develop these skills. n Children have a good understanding of a healthy lifestyle. They know to wash their hands after playing outside, before eating and after using the toilet. Staff are sensitive to younger children's needs. They know the importance of the key person to make them feel safe and secure. Children's key persons sing gently to them as they have their nappies changed. n All children are physically active. They use the climbing walls to build their core strength and muscles. Older children develop their fine motor skills using play dough to make pretend cakes with natural resources.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and deputy manager have a good understanding of local safeguarding procedures. They know when to report to relevant agencies if they have a safeguarding concern. Staff attend training to keep their knowledge up to date, such as on female genital mutilation and the 'Prevent' duty guidance. The manager has a thorough recruitment and induction process for staff, including volunteers. This means all staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities.

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should:

n support staff to extend older children's mathematical development in activities n strengthen the transition for the younger children moving up to the next age group to further support the care and learning leads.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY431065 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 10280221 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 38 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Playaway Preschool Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07741301489 Date of previous inspection 15 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Playaway Preschool registered in 2011. The pre-school is a pack-away setting based in a church hall in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire. It opens from 8am until 4pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are nine members of staff. Of these, five hold an early years qualification at level 3 and two hold a relevant qualification at level 2. The manager hold a qualification at level 3 and has achieved early years professional status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing when they are at pre-school. 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 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 joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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

26 May 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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