St Mary's Playgroup

Inspection of St Mary's Playgroup St Mary's RC Primary School, Cheltenham Road East, GLOUCESTER GL3 1HU

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are keen to attend this friendly and welcoming playgroup. Children are confident to separate from their parents and chat with staff and their friends, showing they feel safe and secure. Children show they know the routines and follow the rules of the group. They sit together and chat with staff while they get ready to go outside for their daily walk and physical play. Children line up, hold hands, and walk around the track together before going into the play area.

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The provision is good

The manager has improved the curriculum since the last inspection. She knows what skills and knowledge she wants the children to gain to help them prepare for their move to school. Staff know the children well and monitor their progress carefully. They work with parents and outside professionals to put in place support where there are any possible gaps in children's development. All children make progress from their varying starting points and any gaps in children's learning are closing well overall.

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The provision is good

Children show a positive attitude towards their learning and spend a long time engaged in activities. They persevere when peeling cabbage leaves and Brussel sprouts, when practising using screwdrivers and when colouring in their pictures. Children confidently cut out their creations and show they are strengthening their hand muscles in readiness for early writing. Children show they are developing a love of books. They confidently recall their favourite stories and independently look at books. Children are gaining good skills in their early literacy development.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have made improvements to practice since the last inspection. They have welcomed support from the local authority and taken on board advice and training. Staff feel well supported in the playgroup and have received training that has had a positive impact on the delivery of the curriculum. Staff report they now use 'Pass the Bear' more regularly following communication and language training to support children's confidence in speaking in a group more effectively. n Children's behaviour is good. Staff teach children to learn to share and take turns and use effective methods to help children follow the routines, such as sand timers. Staff praise children for their achievements, which has a positive impact on their self-esteem. Children form good relationships with their peers and play well together cooperatively. n Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills and are keen

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need to do better?

to go outside and play. Children develop their core strength as they climb using ropes, balance on beams and go up the steps to slide down the slide with confidence. They run around and negotiate space well.

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need to do better?

18 March 2024 n Staff focus on promoting children's independence skills in readiness for school. Children take off and put on their shoes and coats, put spread on their toast and pour their drinks, for example. They use the toilet independently, blow their noses and wash their hands afterwards, showing an understanding of how to support their own self-care. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well overall. They engage children in conversations and talk about what children are doing as they play. Children enjoy participating in story and singing times and are becoming confident communicators. At times, staff do not use effective questioning to encourage children to think, respond and to extend their language even further. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported in the playgroup. Parents report staff support their children's individual needs very well, through liaising with professionals and implementing

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need to do better?

specific strategies. On occasion, where there are possible concerns about children's development, strategies used are not always effective or flexible enough to meet their specific needs. n Partnerships with parents are very positive. They report that they are very pleased with the progress their children are making. Parents say that they are regularly informed of their children's progress, through an online application, parents' evenings, newsletters, and daily conversations, for example. Children say that they really enjoy attending the playgroup and look forward to going to play with their friends.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

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

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should:

n help staff use more effective questioning to give children more time to think and respond to extend their language even further n improve support for those children with possible gaps in their learning so it is tailored more closely to their individual needs to help them move on more quickly.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101569 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10292017 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 24 Number of children on roll 19

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Name of registered person

St Mary's Playgroup (Churchdown) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07840 055 552 Date of previous inspection 19 April 2023

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Information about this early years setting

St Mary's Playgroup registered in 1992. It is located on the grounds of St Mary's RC Primary School in Churchdown, Gloucester. The setting is open Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 3pm, during school term time. A team of four staff work with children and all hold relevant early years qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 6. The playgroup is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the deputy manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together and talked about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with children, indoors and outdoors, and the impact of these on children's learning. n Staff spoke to the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. Children told the inspector what they enjoy doing while at playgroup. n The inspector sampled some documentation, including suitability checks and qualification certificates. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager and discussed the impact of this on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector, who 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

18 March 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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