Barns Green Playgroup

Inspection of Barns Green Playgroup Village Hall, Muntham Drive, Barns Green, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0PT

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children make exceptional levels of progress in their learning and development in this extremely well-organised playgroup. Every child is welcomed, valued and nurtured to help them achieve the best they possibly can. Staff know all of the children and families well. They take time when children first start to really understand what every child needs. Any gaps in children's learning close rapidly as staff use their precise knowledge of each child. Staff seek professional support and guidance from specialists promptly if extra help is needed. Children are exceptionally well prepared for starting school. Staff have successfully fostered a clear love of learning in every child.

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The provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate how happy and secure they feel at playgroup. They gravitate to the staff for reassurance, if needed, and confidently invite staff into their play and exploration. Children behave exceptionally well. They fully understand the simple boundaries set by staff and spontaneously show kindness, courtesy and respect to their friends. Staff praise children highly and actively celebrate children's achievements. They role model kindness and children reflect this in their actions and the relationships they form with others. Older children are particularly sensitive around the needs of their younger friends. They hold the hands of younger children and gently guide them to activities they know they will enjoy. The relationships formed between children, and the empathy children demonstrate to others, are outstanding.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team and management committee work tirelessly to develop the playgroup and achieve the highest quality standards. The manager and deputy manager are exceptionally reflective. They take time to continually review the quality of provision and constantly identify further ways to improve. Staff have become successful, reflective practitioners under the guidance of leaders. They critically evaluate their practice and the learning experiences they plan and provide for children. This helps to ensure every child's needs are fully addressed and teaching is of the highest quality. n The curriculum is fully embedded and takes account of every child's learning needs. The playgroup's ethos is that 'children are powerful learners', and staff support this in everything they set out to do. Teaching and learning activities are skilfully adapted to make sure every child can take part. Children are constantly

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need to do better?

challenged and enabled to build on what they already know and can do. The particular focus on outdoor learning is evident. Staff make full use of the village green setting and the local community to enrich and extend children's learning. For example, they regularly go on walks, carry out simple surveys within the village, and visit places of interest.

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need to do better?

10 July 2024 n Teaching is exceptional. Staff are especially skilled in knowing precisely when to interact with children during child-led activities. They successfully integrate themselves to enrich learning, without inhibiting children's imagination. Children welcome the involvement of staff and fully accept them into their play. For example, during an activity, children developed their own game 'hiding' the animals they were playing with. Staff successfully built on this game and extended the activity to develop children's understanding of positional language. They introduced words such as 'under' and 'next to' as children gave clues about where they had hidden the animals. n The key-person system is extremely effective. Staff know their children exceptionally well. They provide excellent levels of emotional support and are on hand to greet children warmly each morning. The few children who are less

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need to do better?

confident on arrival are very quickly comforted, reassured and gently supported until they are ready to play and explore independently. Staff plan regular yoga sessions to support children's emotional well-being and ability to calm and regulate their feelings, which children thoroughly enjoy. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those who are in receipt of additional funding, make outstanding levels of progress from their individual starting points. Precise and rigorous assessments are completed the moment children start. Parents are fully involved in this meticulous process. Funding is used exceptionally well to ensure staff are appropriately trained. This helps to ensure staff continually have the additional skills and knowledge they need to support every child. For example, staff have completed training in supporting children's language skills, and how to understand and provide for children's emotional needs.

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need to do better?

n The daily programme of activities places strong emphasis on ensuring children become confident communicators. Staff empower children to become independent learners with strong self-esteem. All children, including the youngest, newest children, and those with SEND, make their own decisions. Staff equip children with the confidence to ask for help when needed, and to persevere when tasks are difficult, for instance when trying to complete more complex activities. This encourages children to develop resilience and prepares them well for future learning and starting school.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 113371 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10351091 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 30 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Barns Green Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01403 730093 Date of previous inspection 4 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Barns Green Playgroup registered in 1992, although it has been an established part of the village since 1978. It is managed by a voluntary committee and operates from the village hall in Barns Green, near Horsham, West Sussex. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. Funding is accepted to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of 11 staff works with the children, of whom eight are qualified at level 2 or 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the playgroup 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 manager explained how the curriculum is delivered and how the playgroup supports children's learning. n Staff spoke to the inspector and discussed how they plan for children's individual learning needs and what they do to keep children safe. n Children told the inspector what they enjoy doing at playgroup. n The special educational needs coordinator described how the playgroup supports children with SEND.

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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

10 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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