St John's Playtime Pre-School

Inspection of St John's Playtime Pre- School St. Johns United Reformed Church, 1 Cowper Street, IPSWICH IP4 5JD

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders and managers do not take appropriate action to safeguard children. This compromises children's safety and well-being. Although staff have completed the relevant training, the provider has failed to ensure that they understand how to report all concerns.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff are not consistent with managing children's behaviour. While some staff intervene to stop children running around indoors, others do not. Children climb on tables and chairs at various points throughout the day. Staff do not consistently address this in a timely manner or help to redirect them to the indoor climbing frame where they can learn to climb safely. This compromises children's safety and means that they are not learning the rules and boundaries that help to keep them safe.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite this, children are warmly greeted by staff when they arrive. They are happy to leave their parents and settle well into the session. Children are learning how to look after themselves. Staff have set up a nose-blowing station, which children use on their own. This allows them to develop independent self-care skills.

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need to do better?

n There is a lack of supervision during mealtimes. Staff are not aware that children are wandering around while eating. This is a choking hazard and puts children's safety at risk. Through discussions with staff, it is clear that they understand the associated risks, but this knowledge is not implemented in practice to keep children safe. n The quality of teaching is not consistent, and children are not adequately supported in their learning and development. For example, during large-group activities, such as yoga, some children are quick to disengage. They struggle to follow instructions as they are unable to see the computer screen that it is playing on. Younger children climb onto the bench in front of the screen and obstruct the view of others. Staff struggle to maintain the focus of all the children and deliver the intended learning outcomes. n Staff do not sufficiently adapt their teaching to match the understanding and

p.2

need to do better?

abilities of the youngest children and those who may need further support. For example, children do not understand what staff are trying to teach them as they try to cut a slice of carrot with scissors. Staff do not demonstrate how to use a knife to cut with. Instead, they place it next to children, who disengage from the activity as they do not know what to do with it. This has an impact on children's confidence to have a go and learn new skills. n Children do not have consistent rules and boundaries to learn from. They are not learning how their behaviour has an impact on others. Children's frequent

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need to do better?

22 November 2023 climbing distracts other children from focusing on activities that staff are trying to teach. For example, children enjoy singing nursery rhymes with the staff, but children climbing and jumping off the sleeping mats repeatedly distracts the other children. The time it takes for staff to respond and how they respond varies. n Staff do not always meet the needs of the very youngest children, meaning that they can be exposed to unnecessary risk. There is a lack of understanding that these children may require more supervision and monitoring than the slightly older children, as it is often the younger children who are climbing and exploring. n Parents speak positively about the setting, noting that staff know their children well and that their children enjoy attending. Positive partnerships exist between the pre-school and parents. Leaders seek parental opinions to assess and improve the services provided.

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need to do better?

n Support is in place to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make progress. Staff work closely with the special educational needs coordinator and parents to ensure that children have consistent routines and experiences. This supports their well-being and development.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Breaches of the requirements compromise children's safety and well-being. Leaders and staff do not have a secure knowledge of how to safeguard children effectively. Leaders fail to work with other agencies to safeguard children. Allegations against members of staff are not referred to the relevant agencies. Instead, leaders investigate the allegation internally. There are gaps in the safeguarding knowledge of staff. They are not clear about how to report concerns about adults working with children. This issue is further compounded by ambiguity in their written policies.

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Due date

ensure that leaders and managers have a secure knowledge of how to appropriately manage allegations made against individuals and refer these to agencies with statutory responsibilities 01/12/2023

p.3

Due date

22 November 2023 improve staff's understanding of child protection issues, including who to report concerns to in line with local procedures 01/12/2023

p.3

Due date

ensure that children are adequately supervised at all times, including mealtimes 01/12/2023

p.4

Due date

review safeguarding policies to ensure that they reflect the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the early years foundation stage 01/12/2023

p.4

Due date

provide staff with support and coaching to implement appropriate and consistent strategies for managing children's behaviour 22/12/2023

p.4

Due date

help staff to develop a clear understanding of how to implement the curriculum to improve teaching practice. 22/12/2023

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 251650 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10305010 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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Total number of places

Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person St John's Playtime Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07895003974 / 01473 716831 Date of previous inspection 8 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

St John's Playtime Pre-School registered in 1992 and is managed by a voluntary committee. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff, all of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from 8.15am to 4.15pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.15am to 4pm on Friday, during term time. The pre-school 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 provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and 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 during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

22 November 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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