Laurels Playschool

Inspection of Laurels Playschool Euxton Youth And Community Centre, Laurel Avenue, Euxton, Chorley PR7 6AY

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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 happy at the playschool and arrive eager to start their day. Staff form lovely relationships with children and get to know them well. They find out what children enjoy doing and talk to them about their homelife. Staff engage in nurturing interactions which promotes children's well-being and helps them to feel settled and secure. Children behave very well. They follow staff instructions, such as helping to tidy up in preparation for mealtimes. Children are developing a good understanding of what is expected of them.

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The provision is good

Leaders plan a curriculum that is ambitious for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children's physical development is particularly well promoted. They have daily access to a well- equipped outdoor area and take part in a variety of sports related experiences, such as yoga and dance class. Children demonstrate a great deal of strength and agility when using the outdoor equipment. They skilfully master how to balance on the parallel bars, carefully managing their own risk. Children are self-assured and confident in their own abilities. Staff support children with SEND to take part in the playschool sports day activities. This helps children to feel valued and promotes inclusion. All children develop the skills needed for the next stage in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders plan a broad curriculum which helps children to develop the skills they need for school. They choose topics and celebrations that link to children's interests to help promote engagement and a positive attitude to learning. Staff accurately identify children's next steps and carefully weave these into their planning. This helps to ensure that children build succinctly on their existing skills and knowledge. n The procedures for supporting children with SEND are effective. The special educational needs and disability coordinator works closely with staff to identify gaps in children's learning. Children with SEND access smaller groups and targeted intervention to help them learn. Additional funding is used appropriately to support children's needs and interests. This helps all children to make good progress from their individual starting points. n Staff support children's communication and language development well. They

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need to do better?

engage children in purposeful back-and-forth conversations about the things they like and are interested in. Staff extend children's language further by adding description words to their sentences and introducing new vocabulary. Children are becoming confident, articulate communicators. n Children show good levels of engagement. They demonstrate perseverance and determination when working together as a team to make a den. Children concentrate intently as they carefully thread the rope through the tarpaulin

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need to do better?

17 July 2024 eyelets. They use their problem-solving skills to unwind the rope and secure it down with pegs. When children succeed, this boosts their confidence and helps them to become motivated learners. n Overall, children enjoy taking part in circle time. They sing familiar songs and listen carefully as staff read stories. Children share their 'news' and show confidence when speaking in a group. However, whole group activities are not always organised well enough. Groups sizes can be too large, and children spend a lot of time sat or waiting for their turn. For some children, this is overwhelming, and they do not get the most from the learning experience. n Children demonstrate good levels of independence. They use knives safely to cut up fruit for snack, carefully adopting a sawing motion for harder vegetables, such as carrots. Children pour their drinks, tend to their own personal care needs and take responsibility for their belongings. They are developing some

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need to do better?

lovely skills that will help them when they move to school. n Parent partnerships are in important part of the playschool ethos. Staff keep parents up to date about children's development and provide resources and ideas of how learning can be extended at home. Parents visit the setting to share information about their jobs, cultures and cuisines. This develops children's knowledge of those who are different from themselves and broadens their understanding of the world. n Leaders are dedicated to the playschool and work well together as a team. Staff feel happy and enjoy carrying out their roles. Leaders have some procedures in place for staff supervision and professional development. However, staff practice is not monitored consistently enough. Staff do not all receive precise feedback that will help them to extend their skills and knowledge further. Consequently, there are some minor weaknesses in the quality of education.

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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 review the organisation of group activities to help all children get the most out of the learning experience n monitor staff practice more consistently and provide staff with precise feedback that will strengthen their skills and knowledge further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536653 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10351026 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 20 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person The Laurels Playschool Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 01257 266553 Date of previous inspection 28 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Laurels Playschool was re-registered in 2016 and is situated in Chorley. The playschool employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6. The playschool opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Playschool sessions operate from 8am to 4pm, term time only. The out-of-school provision operates Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 9am and 3.20pm to 6pm, term time only. A holiday provision during school holidays operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. The playschool 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 playschool. n The 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 Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at playschool. 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 that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

17 July 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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