Warden Bay Playgroup

Inspection of Warden Bay Playgroup Village Hall, Warden Bay Road, Warden, Sheerness, Kent ME12 4NB

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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 arrive happy and confident. Parents and carers are invited into the playgroup to settle their children and pass over information to their key person. Children wave their parents off with ease. They have strong attachments with staff, who know them well. The environment is planned daily to meet the needs of the children. As a result, children are eager to explore with their friends. For example, they are excited to see what sensory resources are hiding in the 'dark den' and ask staff about the 'Hungry Caterpillar' activity, where they investigate the fruit from the story with interest. Children begin to explore a range of mathematical concepts, from shape and size to counting and numbers.

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The provision is good

All staff help to plan an effective and ambitious curriculum that focuses on promoting children's independence and speech. Children actively explore the environment, both inside and outside, choosing where they prefer to play. For example, children enjoy using the outside area to mark make on a large scale. They select their own paint and chalk independently. Staff ensure that they are deployed well to meet the needs of the children, and they talk in a calm and gentle manner to support all children in their learning and development. Children show good levels of concentration at activities. Children generally behave well. Older children are good role models for the younger children and show patience and kindness.

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need to do better?

n The new manager and committee have made lots of improvements and created a harmonious staff team in a short space of time. For example, physical changes have been made to the large indoor space to create an enabling environment. Staff say they feel valued and appreciate that their suggestions are taken on board. Together, the staff team has designed a new and ambitious curriculum that builds on what children know and can do. Staff make good use of popular stories to ignite children's interests in learning and to further develop their vocabulary. Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff understand what they want children to learn and why. n Early years pupil premium funding is used well to support disadvantaged children and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders and staff look carefully at what children need and then decide how to spend the funding. They have recently used funding to hire large resources,

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need to do better?

such as climbing frames for inside. This meets the developing needs of the children based on their next steps and interests. Children show confidence with their physical development as they climb. The resources across the provision meet the needs of the children well. n Parents speak highly of the playgroup. Staff regularly share progress information

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need to do better?

5 July 2023 with parents through parents' evenings and an online app. They hold regular 'coffee mornings' for parents to attend. This provides opportunities for staff to speak to parents about what the children are learning and how this can be further developed at home. Furthermore, it gives parents a voice and opportunities to feed back their ideas and thoughts on the running of the setting. This allows the new leaders to fully understand what parents want for their children and how they can work in partnership together effectively. n Children with SEND are generally well supported. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a good understanding of the children who need additional support. Children are identified quickly when they show delays. Staff communicate with parents, outside agencies and other provisions that children also attend to help them understand and cater for children's needs. However,

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need to do better?

staff do not always use strategies consistently to work on children's next steps. n Staff use positive ways to promote children's good behaviour. For example, they remind them of the rules, such as to use 'walking feet' and 'no shoes, no outside'. However, staff do not always provide clear and consistent guidance about their expectations. For instance, when children explore the climbing frame and want to climb up the slide, staff tell children 'no'. Consequently, children are not always sure about what they are allowed to do and why. n Leaders and managers provide good opportunities for children to learn about the diverse community in which they live. They take the children out to the local park and beach. Staff from the children centre visit the setting regularly to cook with the children and teach them about their oral health. The new committee recognises that it is very much an integral part of the community and continues

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need to do better?

to strengthen this aspect of the provision.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and committee understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. Risk assessments are completed across the provision each morning. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) fully understands her role and ensures that staff attend regular training to embed their safeguarding knowledge. For example, the DSL knows the local area well and provides specific training for staff on areas of safeguarding, such as radicalisation and county lines. All staff can confidently speak about what they would do if they thought a child was at risk of abuse or neglect. Furthermore, the staff and committee have a thorough understanding of the local authority designated officer and how to report allegations. Thorough recruitment and induction of staff and volunteers ensure those working with children are suitable.

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should:

5 July 2023 n improve the provision for children with SEND to ensure that agreed strategies are consistently implemented n improve teaching to make sure children understand why some behaviour might not be appropriate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127753 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10300102 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Warden Bay Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07733210301 Date of previous inspection 3 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Warden Bay Playgroup registered in 1995 and is located in Sheerness, Kent. The playgroup opens for five mornings and two afternoons, during term time only. There are seven staff members, six of whom hold early years qualifications. The playgroup is in receipt of funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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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 manager and discussed how the curriculum is delivered. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with parents and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at a selection of documentation and checked evidence of the suitability of staff working with the children.

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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

5 July 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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