Hingham Playgroup

Inspection of Hingham Playgroup 20 Hardingham Street, Hingham, Norwich NR9 4JB

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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 have a good sense of belonging and happily enter the playgroup. They foster swift and trusting relationships with staff because they consistently show genuine care and empathy towards them. Staff are always attentive and offer the right level of support to ensure all children's emotional security, and well-being is at the forefront. With robust settling-in processes and regular assessments, staff get to know their key children well. This means staff recognise when children may need some extra support. They sensitively work with parents and external agencies to ensure all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive effective support to thrive, and achieve their best individual outcomes.

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of time and space to explore what interests them. For example, they carefully build towers from magnetic shapes together with their friends. Children love the café, role-play kitchen and share their pretend food with one another. When they occasionally begin to have disagreements with peers in their experimental play, staff promptly notice. They calmly encourage children to use their words to explain why they are upset, and then listen to their peer's point of view. Children demonstrate the effectiveness of this teaching when regularly resolving any peer disputes appropriately themselves.

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need to do better?

n Overall, teaching is good quality. Staff create stimulating activities based around children's interests, which sparks their curiosity and high engagement. Staff use their knowledge of children's development to provide purposeful, learning experiences that are sequenced and build on what they already know and can do. For example, as children enjoy chopping vegetables with a knife, they are developing hand-eye coordination and building muscles in their arms and fingers that support early writing skills. n The management committee has supported the manager to continually improve the care provided to children. They have made some improvements since the last inspection, such as providing regular staff supervisions to support staff well- being and help identify any further training needs. However, the management team do not consistently focus enough on monitoring staff's knowledge of how children learn, to ensure staff build on the already good teaching and raise it to

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need to do better?

an even higher level. n Independence starts at an early age and young children wash hands often without prompting before eating. Children are developing their independence to support them when they go to school, such as placing their belongings in their individual named trays. n Children demonstrate increasing awareness of simple mathematical concepts,

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need to do better?

19 November 2024 such as 'big' and 'small' and counting in sequence. Children love to learn about shape and size through fun-filled activities. During a shape matching activity, staff remind children to slow down and take their time to look closely at shapes before posting them in the corresponding shape postbox. This helps children solve problems with increased accuracy. However, occasionally staff do not consistently make the most out of children's natural curiosities during play, to support them to explore their ideas in greater depth. n Staff are excellent role models and always show respectful behaviours, such as asking if they may join in the children's play. Children emulate these good manners and consistently play cooperatively and develop strong peer friendships. At group times, children confidently demonstrate their understanding of behaviours expected of them, by explaining that 'walking feet'

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need to do better?

indoors can prevent accidents. n Healthy lifestyles are promoted very well. Children have lots of exercise and constant access to outdoors. They learn about the world around them, such as exploring life cycles through growing vegetables and flowers from seed. After children finish their snack, they ask to put their fruit peel in the compost bin. This highlights they are recognising ways in which they can play a part in looking after the environment. n Parents say their children enjoy attending and praise the caring and dedicated staff. They express that they see the progress their children are making, especially in their confidence and speech and language development. Children develop a love of reading and enjoy using the lending library, where they can borrow books to read at home.

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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 build on existing performance management systems to help raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level n focus more closely on guiding staff to consistently support children's thinking skills to help them make even more progress in all areas of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY426135 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10363736 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Hingham Pre School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01953850820 Date of previous inspection 7 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Hingham Playgroup registered in 2011. The playgroup employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, and one holds qualified teacher status. The playgroup opens Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am until 4pm, and Tuesday and Thursday from 9am until 3pm, term time only. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a tour of the playgroup, both indoors and outdoors, to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. Additionally, the manager showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager and also discussed self-evaluation. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. The inspector spoke with parents and carers during the inspection and also took account of their views. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and also discussed self- evaluation. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the playgroup and a selection of other

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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

19 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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