St Gabriel's Playgroup

Inspection of St Gabriel's Playgroup St Gabriel's Hall, East Street, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 9QH

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety continues to be compromised. Despite weakness being identified at the last inspection, too little has been done to address these and there are further significant breaches of legal requirements. There continues to be very little oversight by the committee and lines of accountability are unclear. Changes to the committee have not been notified to Ofsted and information to check the suitability of those who take lead roles in governance has not been provided. Where staff work with other agencies involved in children's care, there is insufficient information sharing to meet children's needs. Arrangements for staff supervision continues to be poor. Although staff have supervisions, where coaching, training and support is identified, the manager does not take action to address these. Consequently, teaching is variable and at times ineffective. Children come into the setting happily and staff know their likes and dislikes. However, when children first

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The provision is inadequate

start, leaders do not gain required information about them. Parents and carers do not receive the information they need about children, to help them to continue learning at home.

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The provision is inadequate

Children benefit from some changes to the setting. For instance, staff have reviewed mealtimes to limit children waiting for long periods. However, despite leaders focusing on a more precise curriculum for children, this fails to address weakness in children's progress, particularly in their speaking skills. Some children struggle to communicate and this leads to periods of frustration. Staff try to manage this, helping children to learn about acceptable behaviours. However, children become frustrated when they cannot share their wants, needs and wishes. Staff recognise that some children need further focus with their speech. However, because of the lack of targeted supervision and support, they do not know how to target this area of children's learning. Consequently, children do not make the progress they are capable of.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff do not benefit from effective oversight from the committee. The lack of support for managers and staff has resulted in further weakness. Changes to the committee have not been notified to Ofsted, which is a legal requirement. Furthermore, where changes have been made Ofsted has not been provided with the necessary information to ensure the suitability of new committee members. This does not assure children's welfare. n The manager, who is the designated safeguarding lead, does not work with other agencies involved in children's care, including with social services. There is poor communication to ensure that children's needs are met through a shared partnership. Records relating to safeguarding are poorly maintained. This does not promote children's welfare.

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need to do better?

8 May 2024 n Staff do not benefit from effective supervision to help them in their roles. The manager has put in place regular supervisions, which support staff welfare. However, the manager places too little focus on addressing weaker aspects of teaching practice for some staff. At times, some staff stand around and do not interact with children. Despite the manager acknowledging this, she does not address weaker practice. This does not ensure that children benefit from high- quality teaching and limits the progress they make. n Children arrive at the setting happy. Staff greet them and show genuine kindness. They take the time to get to know children. However, the manager acknowledges that she has not gained key information for some children. This means, should an emergency occur, the manager does not have vital information, such as the child's date of birth, parent contact information or the child's home address. Furthermore, despite staff developing relationships with

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need to do better?

some families, there continues to be a lack of information shared about what children are learning and how parents and carers can continue to support this at home. This continues to be a weakness, which has not be addressed from the previous inspection. n Staff understand what children know and can do. They play activities which children take part in with enthusiasm. For instance, funding has been used to provide sports activities. Children listen to the instructor and practise being 'runner beans' and 'frozen beans' as they run quickly and then stand very still. Staff join in with the activity and encourage and support children in their listening and attention skills. However, despite staff having knowledge of gaps in some children's communication skills, targeted support is ineffective. Staff recognise that some children need extra support to catch up in this area of learning. However, they are not sure how to do this, and fail to put in place

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need to do better?

targeted support. Consequently, gaps in children's speaking skills continue to widen. This does not help children to be sufficiently ready for their future learning, including their eventual move to school. n Staff help children to be independent. For instance, children learn how to collect plates and cups at snack times, they learn how to pour drinks and tidy away after they have finished. Staff encourage children to learn to be toilet trained, as they learn to attend to their own needs confidently. Staff praise children when they manage activities for themselves, this helps to build on children's confidence and self-esteem.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure that those with responsibility have effective oversight of practice and provision and an understanding of their roles and responsibilities 29/05/2024

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Due date

provide the necessary information in order for Ofsted to check the suitability of committee members 29/05/2024

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Due date

ensure all important information is swiftly and regularly shared with outside agencies, including children's social care, in order to effectively safeguard children 29/05/2024

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Due date

improve staff supervisions to identify training needs and put in place coaching and support to raise the quality of teaching 29/05/2024

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Due date

ensure that the required necessary information is obtained for every child cared for by the setting, including their personal details, parent's details and the details of who to contact in the case of an emergency 29/05/2024

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Due date

ensure that parents and carers have regular communication about how their children are doing, so that they are fully aware of their children's next steps and how they can help them at home. 29/05/2024

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Due date

8 May 2024 develop staff's understanding of children's individual needs, including their next steps, to help them to provide more effective, targeted support and encouragement for children's learning, particularly around children's speaking skills. 29/07/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113717 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10306065 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 50 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person St Gabriel's Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07999894382 Date of previous inspection 12 July 2023

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Information about this early years setting

St Gabriel's Playgroup registered in 1992. It operates from a church hall in Billingshurst, West Sussex. The group opens from 8.30am to 4.15pm, Monday to Friday, during school term times. The group is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. Six staff are employed. Of these, three staff, including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

8 May 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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