Linden Playgroup

Inspection of Linden Playgroup St Cuthberts Church, Linden Road, Birkby, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD2 2TP

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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 are motivated, independent learners who persevere well on tasks with support from staff. The curriculum provides children with challenge to build and deepen their knowledge across the different areas of learning. Staff provide targeted support to encourage all children to make those next steps in their learning journey, including children with special educational needs. Staff work well with professionals to ensure that children get the support they need to make good progress from their initial starting points.

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The provision is good

Staff engage in lots of dialogue with children and ask well-timed questions, encouraging children to talk about what they are doing and to think and recall knowledge. Many of the children speak English as an additional language and most of the staff are bilingual. Staff value children's home language and provide good levels of support to further aid children in learning English.

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The provision is good

Staff recognise the importance of sequencing in learning and provide lots of opportunities for children to apply their learning in different ways. This helps children to grow in confidence and ensure that knowledge is embedded. Children learn about the names of different shapes and recall this knowledge well during different activities. They point out that an oval looks like an egg. Some children are also able to identify three-dimensional shapes.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum is carefully designed to build on what children know and can do and to ensure that they are exposed to a range of challenging experiences. However, consideration needs to be given to the organisation and planning of whole-group activities. The abilities of the children are wide ranging and activities are not always beneficial to younger children's learning. n Staff generally encourage children's communication and language well. Some children can identify the initial letter sound in their name but staff are not always consistent in their approach to using pure sounds and instead add additional sounds. For example, they say 'nu' instead of 'nnnn' and 'fu' instead of 'fffff'. n Children are physically very able and enjoy a challenge. They are encouraged by staff to become increasingly independent, for example by putting on their coats and attempting the fastenings. This is just one of the ways in which they help to

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need to do better?

prepare children for their transitions to school. Children show good control as they skilfully balance on tyres and and safely manoeuvre bicycles around obstacles. A range of activities help children to develop strength in their hands and improve their control and coordination. For example, children engage in threading activities and use a range of tools, including tweezers, to transfer pom-poms into containers.

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need to do better?

7 March 2024 n Staff provide lots of opportunities for children to count during everyday activities. Staff keep the numbers small to ensure that children have a secure knowledge before progressing to larger numbers. Children set themselves challenges to match the numbers on a display to the corresponding number of scarecrows. They count the spots from one to 10 and match the corresponding number. n Children are encouraged to develop a love of books. Books are taken outside to enjoy, as well as inside, and children enjoy looking at these both alone and with staff. Children talk about what they see and what is happening. This helps to develop their language. Staff support children's language by recognising and valuing children's home language and then repeating the words back to them in English to support their development. n Staff work well in partnership with parents. They find out about what children

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need to do better?

can do when they first start at the playgroup. This allows them to successfully build on children's knowledge and skills and identify any gaps in learning. Parents value the regular feedback they receive on their child's progress and how they can best support their child. Policies and procedures are available in a variety of languages and staff provide good support for families and signpost them to additional services as needed. n The team of staff work together effectively. They attend regular supervision sessions and staff meetings to reflect on their practice. Staff attend regular training to keep their knowledge up to date, which helps to improve outcomes for children.

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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 consider the arrangements and planning of whole-group activities to ensure that all children get the most from these sessions n ensure that practice is consistent when supporting children's communication and language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 311275 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10317001 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 24 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Linden Playgroup (Birkby) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07593349786 Date of previous inspection 2 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Linden Playgroup registered in 1993. The playgroup employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. One member of staff and the manager also hold an appropriate early years degree. The playgroup is open from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The playgroup supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the playgroup 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 playgroup. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk together to discuss the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the playgroup. 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 special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a large-group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.

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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

7 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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