Cirencester Opportunity Group

Inspection of Cirencester Opportunity Group Cirencester Opportunity Group, Beeches Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1BW

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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 receive a warm welcome from the friendly, caring staff. Many of the children arrive with great enthusiasm and set off to explore the planned activities and accessible resources. Those who find separating from their carers more difficult receive sensitive support and encouragement to help them settle.

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The provision is good

Staff are aware of children's individual needs, abilities and interests. The setting specialises in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and staff plan a varied curriculum that takes account of what children know and can do. Staff support children's learning successfully. All children, including those with SEND and those learning English as an additional language, make good progress from their widely varying individual starting points.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the experiences they have at the setting, making choices in their play. For example, they engage in role play based on first-hand experiences in the 'fruit shop', encouraging staff to choose and buy items. Children use small-world resources imaginatively. They explore using their senses. For example, they comment on the lemon smell of the play dough they mould and manipulate to make 'cakes' for visitors. They delight in investigating shaving foam, enjoying the feel of it on their hands. Staff support such activities by encouraging children to describe the textures and to practise drawing circles in the foam, to develop their early writing skills.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development well. They help children to learn to be independent. Children learn to put on outdoor clothing and wellies, and they are encouraged to tidy away resources. They learn behavioural expectations and receive excellent support to manage their emotions.

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need to do better?

n The management team and staff are all enthusiastic in their roles, are positive role models and demonstrate good manners. They foster children's self-esteem well and encourage children to take pride in their achievements, showing genuine pleasure when children achieve. n The management team works closely with staff to assess children's progress and identify gaps in their learning. All children are included, and they have many positive interactions with staff. Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to maximise the learning of the quieter children as they engage in self-chosen play. n Staff encourage children to take part in group activities, such as circle time. Children smile as staff sing the welcome song and wait with anticipation to hear their names. They interact with the puppet at 'Bucket Time', which fosters children's participation effectively. Children welcome Digger the therapy dog and

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need to do better?

14 October 2024 also benefit from music therapy. They have plenty of opportunities to express themselves through music, dance and planned creative art activities. n Staff promote children's language development well. They talk through what children are doing and introduce new vocabulary at every opportunity. Many children find it hard to communicate verbally. Staff use effective strategies, such as sign language and picture cards, to help children understand routines, and they respond quickly to children's non-verbal communication. n Children learn some simple mathematical concepts. For example, they join in counting and show interest in numbers and shapes. Staff help children to understand how many objects represent different numbers and to talk about quantities of 'more' or 'less'. However, staff do not always challenge the most- able children to further develop their mathematical awareness. n Children benefit from time spent outdoors. They explore the inviting outdoor

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need to do better?

play space, gaining confidence and independence and an understanding of the world. They develop their coordination, balance and agility as they travel across stepping stones, practice ball skills, climb and play in the sand pit. They develop their muscles as they dig in the planting area and investigate the natural environment of the 'forest' area. n Management monitors the effectiveness of practice and the provision competently to identify ways to continuously improve the provision. They have an excellent understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities, and staff embrace training opportunities to enhance their skills. n Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents give high praise for the support they and their children receive from the staff team. They feel well informed about their children's learning and appreciate opportunities to join their children in the setting at stay-and-play sessions and for swimming sessions. Staff work

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need to do better?

closely with the centre's early intervention outreach team to ensure that families get the best possible support from the centre. The management team provide useful information for parents about storybooks they are reading, activities, local events and helpful safety advice.

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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 make greater use of opportunities to maximise the learning of quieter children as they engage in self-chosen play n create more opportunities to enhance children's mathematical awareness.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539882 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10360067 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 31 Name of registered person Cirencester Opportunity Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01285 659117 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Cirencester Opportunity Group registered in 1984. It is based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 12.45pm and from 12pm until 3.45pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to 12.45pm on Fridays. All day sessions are also available Monday to Thursday for children aged over three years. The pre-school employs seven staff who work directly with the children. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 6, including one who holds qualified teacher status and one who holds qualified early years teacher status. The pre-school provides funded early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The centre manager joined the inspector on a learning walk of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum and family support. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. They observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the centre manager and outreach manager about the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to the pre-school manager, staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n Relevant documentation, including evidence of staff suitability was sampled.

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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

14 October 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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