The Reddings Playgroup

Inspection of The Reddings Playgroup The Reddings Community Centre, North Road West, The Reddings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 6RF

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

p.1

The provision requires improvement

The two-, three- and four-year-olds show they are settled and relate well to the staff, including those who are new to the setting. They are familiar with the daily routine and behavioural expectations. For example, a four-year-old reminds a younger child that only adults are permitted to sit on the stage. They learn to take turns and sit quietly during small- and large-group activities, for example when playing a game and while waiting to vote for the fruit they would like to be served as snacks.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Children choose activities, and most children occupy themselves happily. They link up with others and enjoy opportunities to share experiences with staff. However, at times, children wander and do not receive the support they need to motivate them in their learning. Children gain independence skills but do not always reach their full potential in preparing for school, due to weaknesses in the delivery of the curriculum. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not get the extra help they need to ensure their school readiness, and the most able children are not suitably challenged to increase their learning. The committee and management team do not have a good oversight of what is happening in practice. They do not evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum well and have not considered how the deployment of staff impacts on children's learning.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Children have daily opportunities for outdoor play and thoroughly enjoy the time to play on wheeled toys, paint marks on the paving with soapy water with control and show physical agility as they run around.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff meet children's personal care needs and promote their emotional well- being. For example, they provide warm reassurance as needed. They regularly ask younger children if they need the toilet and encourage them to have a snack if they want it. n Staff model good manners and promote children's independence well. Children wash their hands ready for snack and serve themselves. Staff remind children to be kind to others and highlight safety hazards, such as running around with untied shoelaces. n Children have some positive learning experiences. For example, they explore mixing paint to make the colour pink and use letter stamps and brushes to practise early writing skills. However, the curriculum is not carefully planned to build on what children know and can do. The learning intentions of many planned activities are not successfully achieved. As a result, children do not make the progress that they are capable of.

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need to do better?

n When staff are with the children, they ask questions to extend children's

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need to do better?

28 February 2024 language and thinking. However, children do not receive many positive interactions from staff during the course of their play. Staff often leave children partway through reading a story or in the middle of a game or activity, leaving children to patiently await their return. n Children with SEND are settled and happy at the playgroup. However, the manager is not proactive in seeking outside professional support in a timely way to ensure that children make the best progress in preparation for their move on to school. n The new staff team is friendly and approachable, and children are comfortable in staff's care. The designated safeguarding lead understands the importance of her role and keeps information about children securely. Staff know what to do if they have any safeguarding concerns. n Parents praise the friendliness of staff and good support when children start at the playgroup. They appreciate opportunities to attend stay-and-play sessions.

p.2

need to do better?

Parents receive regular feedback about how their children have been, but staff do not share ideas to extend children's learning at home based on children's identified next steps for learning. n The manager and staff are not proactive in developing partnerships with other settings that children attend, despite this having been identified as a weakness at the last inspection. n Although the manager supports new staff through induction to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities, she does not receive the support she needs to carry out her role well. This is because the committee does not have a good understanding of its responsibility to monitor the effectiveness of the provision and practice.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

monitor the provision effectively to ensure that staff plan the curriculum carefully and implement it so as to build on what children know and can do, so that every child makes good progress from their starting points 21/05/2024

p.3

Due date

28 February 2024 establish effective partnerships with other settings that children attend, to ensure that information about children's learning is shared to ensure that the experiences children have in the setting enhance those they receive elsewhere. 21/05/2024

p.3

should:

n improve the support for children with SEND and for the most able children, to enhance their overall learning experiences n provide more information to parents about intended focuses for children's future learning to create greater opportunities to work together to increase children's learning.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 101891 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10312012 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person The Reddings Playgroup Committee

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07795992514 Date of previous inspection 18 April 2018

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The Reddings Playgroup registered in 2000 and is managed by a committee of parents. It is situated on the outskirts of Cheltenham and operates from the Reddings and District Community Centre. The playgroup receives funding for the provision of early education to children aged two, three and four years. The playgroup is open during term time, between 9.30am and 2.30pm, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, for children aged over two years. The playgroup opens on Friday from 9.30am to 2.30pm, operating for pre-school-aged children only. The playgroup employs four members of staff. They all have qualifications at level 2 or above.

p.5

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 safety precautions. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector completed a joint observation of a large-group activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to the manager, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to some parents and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.6

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

28 February 2024 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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