Playlanders Playgroup (St Georges Church Hall)

Inspection of Playlanders Playgroup (St Georges Church Hall) St. Georges Church Hall, Chesterfield Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 1LN

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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 develop good emotional security and a positive sense of themselves. They mostly come into the playgroup happy, and parents state that their children are keen to attend. Staff implement an effective key-person system to ensure that each child has a named person to take responsibility for their learning and daily well- being. They tailor settling-in procedures to the individual needs of each child and their family. Staff plan and deliver an interesting and varied curriculum to support children's learning. Activities are rooted in children's interests and support them well as they prepare for starting school. Children enjoy playing outdoors. They develop their physical skills in the enclosed garden, and are helped to understand safe practices.

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The provision is good

Staff engage in the children's play and learning. They support children in purposeful play. Staff chat to the children as they work and promote their developing communication and language skills. Children behave well and play harmoniously together. Any incidents of unwanted behaviour are managed gently and calmly by staff. Children are familiar with the consistent routines. They know what happens next at any point in the day. Staff are good at ensuring that all children are fully included in the routines and activities of the day. Children enthusiastically help to tidy away before moving on to the next part of the day.

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need to do better?

n Staff are caring towards the children. Children feel safe and secure in their relationships with staff. They develop close emotional attachments, and staff respond positively when children need support. n Staff know where children are in their learning and what they need to do to support children's continuing progress. However, staff do not always challenge children's learning and development to the highest level. In addition, some resources are not challenging enough. For example, the inset puzzles provided during this inspection were too simple for some older children and they quickly lost interest. n Children are developing good friendships. They initiate interactions with each other. Children play imaginatively using their own and imagined experiences. When outdoors, children use the pretend tools to 'fix the cooker' in the mud kitchen. They play in the home corner and pretend to cook meals and make

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need to do better?

drinks. n Children respond positively to the high expectations of staff. Staff are alert to times when children require support to refocus their attention on more- productive and purposeful play. They remind children about the need to play in ways that keep them and their friends safe. n Staff sometimes decide when activities should end, rather than waiting until

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need to do better?

15 May 2024 children have finished. Children are not routinely given notice of when activities change, and this does not give them the opportunity to finish off what they were doing. n Staff chat to children as they play. They discuss what they are doing and talk about their home lives. Children enjoy stories and songs. They join in enthusiastically with number rhymes and songs. Staff count with children in routine and play situations. Children learn mathematical language, such as 'big', 'little', 'tall' and 'short'. n Children confidently choose what they want to play with and readily lead their own play. They develop in confidence. Children enjoy having visitors to the playgroup and readily share their play with them. n Staff help children to learn about the importance of good hygiene routines. For example, children learn about the importance of oral hygiene and are helped to brush their teeth after lunch. Children manage their personal hygiene needs in

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need to do better?

line with their age and stage of development. n Staff benefit from an effective programme of supervision and appraisal that manages their performance and fosters a culture of mutual support. Less- confident staff are supported to improve their practice. Staff maintain mandatory training, such as in paediatric first aid. n The playgroup manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement. They are enthusiastic and motivated to provide a good-quality care and learning experience for children. n Staff and parents have exceptionally friendly and trusting relationships. Parents and carers hold staff in very high regard, stating that staff 'love the children' and are 'caring'. They greatly appreciate the help that staff give with child-rearing practices, such as potty training and mealtimes.

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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 consistently provide the older and most-able children with sufficient challenge and consider the resources they provide to promote this n give children time to complete activities to their own satisfaction and notice of when activities need to change.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221887 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10335540 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Playlanders Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01223 420954 Date of previous inspection 20 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Playlanders Playgroup (St Georges Church Hall) registered in 1992 and is located in Cambridge. There are five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Wednesday during school term times. Sessions are from 9.15am to 2.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, and from 9.15am to 2pm on Wednesday. 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 staff and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager took the inspector on a tour of the setting to help the inspector to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection, and completed a joint observation with the deputy manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the deputy manager and discussed self- evaluation. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of adults working and volunteering in the playgroup. n Children played with the inspector and told her about what they like to do when

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Inspection activities

they are at the playgroup. n Parents shared their views of the playgroup with the inspector. The inspector 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

15 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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