Sunnyside Community Playgroup

Inspection of Sunnyside Community Playgroup Church Hall, Ivy House Lane, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2PP

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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 arrive happy and excited to begin their day at this friendly playgroup. They separate from their parents with ease as staff warmly welcome them in. Children seek out their friends and demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They have many opportunities to explore, be active or to sit quietly looking at books. Children play together very well and are learning how to take turns and respect others. They listen and respond well to staff, who are always close by to offer children support. This results in children's behaviour being very good.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's learning. They have good knowledge of where children are in their individual learning journey as they track the progress they make at the playgroup. The curriculum is built around children's learning needs and supports them to make good progress. For example, when staff see that children have an interest in letters and words, they build on this learning. They show children how to form the first letter of their names with their fingers in sand. Staff add text in the role play areas, such as signs for a café. This helps children to learn how print carries meaning.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff know children very well and tailor their teaching to help them to learn consistently well. Their ongoing assessments accurately identify where children are in their development and what they need to learn next. Staff target their support effectively to address and close any emerging gaps children may have. They work collectively with parents and encourage them to support children's learning at home. n Children have wonderful opportunities to be outdoors. Visits to the allotment and local forest school site are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Children see awe and wonder in nature as they point out bees and look at patterns on snail shells. They are gaining a strong understanding of the world as they talk about the changes they see since their last visit. Children know how to keep themselves safe and show concern for the safety of others. For example, they use a stick to push stinging nettles away from the path and make sure everyone gets past

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need to do better?

safely. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's day at playgroup, as well as their ongoing progress. Parents report their children are gaining strong skills, particularly in their confidence and independence. Parents actively involve themselves in the playgroup, for example, by serving on the committee or helping to rejuvenate the allotment. n Children make good progress in their communication and language development. This includes children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Staff support these children by using clear simple sentences.

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need to do better?

9 July 2024 Children who speak EAL show their developing understanding by responding positively. Staff help children to understand what words mean in different contexts. For example, they remind children about the action of 'squeezing' lemons in a previous activity when the word appears in a story where animals 'squeeze' themselves into a tight space. n Staff set up an enabling environment each day. They reflect on children's previous learning and interests as they decide what activities and resources to provide. However, the same level of preparation is not always given to group times. There are occasions when some children are not able to participate and learn because the group is too large. This results in children who are sitting nearer the back becoming disengaged and restless. n The manager and staff show a keen drive for continual improvement. They are currently looking at ways to further develop the allotment area, as children find

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need to do better?

great satisfaction in growing fruit and vegetables. Policies and procedures are continually reviewed and adapted to keep them relevant and up to date. The manager regularly observes staff's practice, offering constructive feedback to help improve their teaching skills. This helps to inform staff's ongoing professional development.

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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 how to adapt group activities to ensure that all children can fully engage and benefit from the good learning opportunities available to them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129394 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10351664 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 24 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Sunnyside Community Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07935492504 Date of previous inspection 4 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sunnyside Community Playgroup registered in 2000. The playgroup employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The playgroup opens Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during term time from 7.45am until 12.45pm. 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and the manager looked around the setting and talked about how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint observation with the manager. n The manager and the inspector met to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on the staff committee members and safeguarding and complaints procedures. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents, staff and children during the inspection and 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

9 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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