First Steps Playgroup

Inspection of First Steps Playgroup Church Road, Nuneaton CV13 0EE

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children are cared for by some staff who have not had their suitability checked with the Disclosure and Barring Service. This may compromise children's safety and welfare because these staff are supporting children's personal care routines, such as toileting, on their own.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite this, children are supported well so that any gaps in their learning are closed. For instance, staff ask children to join small social and communication group activities. During these activities, staff help children to become familiar with their peers and communicate their needs. Children are keen to explore musical instruments. Staff help them to identify the difference in sounds and how they can be made. For example, younger children play drums loudly and quietly. They understand that if they hit a drum hard, it will make a loud sound. Staff adapt their teaching to meet the different ages and abilities of the children. For example, they ask younger children to take it in turns to choose building blocks and work as a team to build a tower, helping them to learn how to play cooperatively. Older children have opportunities to develop their listening skills as staff ask them to identify the different noises animals make when they are played on electronic

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The provision is inadequate

devices. Children recognise the sounds of sheep and chickens.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not ensure that all staff who work with the children have had a Disclosure and Barring Service check to establish their suitability. This may compromise children's safety and welfare. n Staff offer children plenty of opportunities to be confident when they are physically active. Younger children and those who are less confident ask to hold staff's hand as they balance on stepping stones. Older and more confident children manage this on their own. n Staff are supported to develop their knowledge of how to provide for children's care and learning. For instance, they have an allocated space in the playgroup and are given time to complete coursework when they study for formal childcare qualifications. The management team monitor staff's practice and help them to build on their skills and interactions to support children's development. n Staff share photos with parents to highlight the activities their children take part

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need to do better?

in. However, staff do not help all parents to understand how they intend to support their children's next steps in learning in the playgroup. Furthermore, they do not offer all parents ideas and suggestions about how they can contribute to their children's individual learning at home. n The management team has made improvements to the routine at snack time. These changes have helped to promote children's independence. For instance, staff ask children to use knives safely to butter bread. Children use tongs to

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need to do better?

14 October 2024 select fruit, and they pour their own drinks. n Overall, staff support children's communication skills well. For instance, they help children to build on their vocabulary when they introduce names of tools children use in their play, such as a pizza cutter. Children who speak English as an additional language learn words in English. However, staff do not implement the management team's expectations for them to use key words in children's home language. This is intended to support the language development and transitions for children when they move between home and the playgroup. n Staff talk to children about the playgroup's 'golden rules' to help to promote positive behaviour. They show children how to use 'kind hands' when they ask them to turn to the person next to them to give them a 'high five'. Children remember that they need to use their walking feet indoors and that their mouth

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need to do better?

and teeth are for biting food only. n The management team and staff implement a curriculum that supports children to build on their knowledge. This includes planning activities to help them understand changes in the seasons. Children learn that leaves turn from green to brown in the autumn and that some leaves are still green because they stay on trees for longer. n Children understand the routines during the day, helping them to settle and feel secure. However, not all large-group activities are fully effective. For instance, when staff want all children to sit and listen to a story, they do not manage to maintain all children's focus and attention. Therefore, children are not able to learn as much as possible from the opportunity available.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

obtain Disclosure and Barring Service checks for all staff who work with children. 28/10/2024

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should:

n strengthen partnerships with parents to help them understand what children

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should:

14 October 2024 need to learn next and how they can contribute to this at home n support staff to gather and use key words in children's home languages to build on their language skills and transitions when children move from home to the playgroup n help staff to maintain all children's focus and attention during large-group times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538566 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10368915 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 32 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person First Steps Playgroup CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01455 292083 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

First Steps Playgroup registered in 2016 and is situated in Barlestone, Leicestershire. The playgroup employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5 and seven with level 3. The playgroup opens on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am until 3.30pm and on Tuesday from 9am until 2.30pm, during term time. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the playgroup and discussed how the curriculum is implemented. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager, deputy manager and provider. She reviewed relevant documentation. n Parents shared their views on the playgroup with the inspector.

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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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