Windmills Opportunity Playgroup

Inspection of Windmills Opportunity Playgroup Sheddingdean Community Centre, Maple Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8UA

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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 make friendships and enjoy their time at this nurturing and inclusive playgroup. They receive a warm welcome from their friends and the very attentive staff when they arrive. Staff provide effective support to help reassure children throughout the day. This helps children to continually feel settled and secure.

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The provision is good

Children are confident to move between the indoor and outdoor space and make decisions about what they play with. For instance, children have great fun developing their balancing skills as they navigate along a low-level climbing apparatus. Staff skilfully encourage the children. They praise them for their efforts and offer their hands to hold. Very soon, children's confidence grows and they show visitors how they can jump off the steps.

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The provision is good

Children behave extremely well. Staff help children to share resources and take turns. They use visual aids, such as pictures and timers, to help children understand the expectations for behaviour. When children struggle to regulate their emotions, staff calmly intervene and provide successful support. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language are very well supported. Staff use additional funding effectively and provide a stimulating curriculum. Adaptations are made to ensure that all children are fully included in all activities.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are committed to the playgroup's continuous development and continually evaluate children's learning and welfare. For example, specific training to help children's learning is implemented to help all children make good progress. Leaders are extremely passionate about ensuring that children's well- being is at the heart of everything the playgroup does. To help achieve this, they work closely with parents and other professionals involved in children's care. n Staff at the playgroup know the children very well. They understand what they know and can do. They plan activities to help build on children's skills and learning. For example, following the theme of healthy eating, children make muffins using courgettes and cheese. They weigh and grate the ingredients and then take turns to help stir these into the mixture. Children excitedly show their parents and/or carers their cooked items. This helps to promote children's self-

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need to do better?

esteem. n Staff encourage children to learn about various aspects that keep them safe and healthy. For example, children sing a song that helps them to remember how to seek help if needed. Outdoors, children pretend to make soup and vegetable pies and offer these to the adults. n Overall, staff promote children's language and communication skills well. They

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need to do better?

25 April 2024 model language by asking children questions and talking to them. However, on occasion, some staff do not recognise opportunities to include new language or encourage problem-solving during activities. n Staff provide targeted support to encourage all children to make good progress in their learning. For example, they make very good use of the environment to help children manage their emotions. Children have use of a sensory room and a newly developed 'chill-out' area. They independently help themselves to the visual resources, such as cards and books, to help them communicate their feelings. n Children enjoy a varied curriculum that includes outings within the immediate environment. For example, children visit the nearby school library, where they enjoy listening to stories. This helps children to become familiar with the school that they may attend in the future. Children and staff visit shops to buy

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need to do better?

ingredients for their baking and go on bus journeys to explore their surroundings. These outings help children to gain an understanding of their community and the wider world. n Staff have developed a close relationship with the headteacher and staff from the adjoining school. They discuss the learning needs of children and implement any suggestions through fun activities. For instance, there is a focus on developing children's hand-eye coordination in readiness for hand writing when they go to school. n The manager and her staff have developed strong partnerships with parents. They regularly share information about their children's progress and provide support about how to extend children's learning at home. Parents report that their children have come on in leaps and bounds since joining the playgroup. They say that the manager and her team are fantastic and are very flexible in meeting their needs.

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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 support staff to develop a more consistent approach to extending children's learning when joining in with their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113835 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10335728 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 20 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Windmills Opportunity Playgroup Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 01444 220378 Date of previous inspection 26 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Windmills Opportunity Playgroup registered in 1992. It operates within the Sheddingdean Community Centre in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. The playgroup employs seven members of staff. They all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens Monday to Friday, during school term time. Sessions are from 8.45am to 11.45am and from 11.45am until 2.45pm. The playgroup 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 room leader and the inspector had a learning walk together. They observed and evaluated an activity together. n Discussions were held with the leadership team about the management of the playgroup. n The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of staff. She sampled a range of documentation, such as safeguarding arrangements, first-aid certificates and risk assessments. n The inspector observed staff practice and considered the impact on children's play experiences. n The inspector spoke to children, engaged in their play and observed staff's interactions with them. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views on the care and education provided. The inspector took these into account.

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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

25 April 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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