St Mary's Playgroup

Inspection of St Mary's Playgroup THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, HORSEFAIR, BANBURY, OXON OX16 0AE

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

All children show excitement as they arrive at the playgroup. They are quick to find their friends and talk about the journey to playgroup. Staff are welcoming and show care as they engage with children in their chosen play.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive in their approach and are good role models. For example, they remind children about the rules in the playgroup during circle time. They sing their rules songs, and children join in with enthusiasm. This helps children to learn about how to be kind to each other and promotes their positive behaviour. As a result, children generally behave well.

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The provision is good

Staff plan a wide range of activities within an ambitious curriculum. These are aimed at supporting children's learning through play. For example, staff set out the puppet theatre where children use their imagination to create their own games and conversations. Staff join the children and model language and conversation to help them build their communication and language skills.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a range of play to support their physical skills and muscle development. For example, children enjoy exploring apparatus where they can balance, slide and climb, helping them develop their gross motor skills and coordination.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have developed a curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. They review children's progress well and plan effectively for their next steps. They provide a wide variety of experiences to support children to secure and extend their knowledge and skills. n Staff have the same ambition for all children. They engage with parents and other professionals well. This ensures that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive the support they need to make good progress. n Staff model language to the children and use repetition to confirm and secure their skills. Staff introduce new vocabulary to provide challenge and extend children's language development. This helps them build their skills in communication and language through meaningful interactions with staff. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They model behaviour and

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need to do better?

engage in positive interactions to promote and build meaningful relationships. Children learn to negotiate and work together to share resources. Staff help children to identify their feelings and support them to regulate their emotions and develop a sense of right and wrong. n Staff model the behaviours they expect to see from the children. They show

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need to do better?

8 November 2024 their positive attitudes toward learning through high levels of concentration and enjoyment. They engage in independent play where staff are close by to offer praise and encouragement. This gives children a sense of pride in their achievements and the enthusiasm to keep trying. For example, when children are building towers with toy bricks, they learn how to balance them to stop the tower from falling. They cheer and clap when they succeed. n Each key person knows their children well. They build strong bonds with the children, helping them feel safe and secure at playgroup. Children show confidence and a sense of belonging as they play and explore the activities available to them. n Staff have developed daily routines that help children know what is happening now and next. They offer free-flow play at set times during the routine of the day. However, there are times when the routine is not flexible enough to meet

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need to do better?

the needs of some children who prefer to learn outdoors. This, at times, can impact on their ability to engage and focus on meaningful play. n Staff share with parents information about their child's progress and interests. They offer support in how parents can extend this learning further at home and encourage a love of reading through the lending library, which is available each day for parents and children to use.

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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 enhance daily routines to support the individual needs of children more consistently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 133606 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10326461 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 26 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person St Mary's Playgroup (Banbury) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07930 122736 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2023

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Information about this early years setting

St Mary's Playgroup has been operating since 1971 and is situated in Banbury, Oxfordshire. It is open from Monday to Friday, term-time only. Sessions are from 8.30am to 3pm. There are six members of childcare staff. The manager and the deputy manager hold early years qualifications at level 5. Three members of staff hold qualifications at level 2 or level 3. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

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 the playgroup. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

8 November 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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