Whiteshill Preschool Playgroup

Inspection of Whiteshill Preschool Playgroup Whiteshill Scout Hut, Whiteshill Playing Fields, Main Road, Whiteshill, Stroud GL6 6AN

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff warmly greet children and their families as they arrive, and children arrive excited and happy to go to playgroup. Children are confident when separating from their parents. They demonstrate independence and show that they know the routines well. Children eagerly put their bags and drinks away, and they are quick to seek out their friends to play and explore the activities.

p.2

The provision is good

The leadership team has created a curriculum that focuses on helping children to be independent and resilient, to develop self-belief and to feel safe and secure. They want to empower children to learn to manage situations without relying on adults to do it for them. Children demonstrate these skills as they confidently talk about how they feel, and they are learning to share and take turns with resources with little support from staff.

p.2

The provision is good

Leaders and staff provide children with an interesting and stimulating environment to allow them to learn through using their interests. For instance, children practise counting and simple subtraction with staff as they use props during number songs. They then go and independently practise these skills as they use the scales to weigh and sort toys, developing their mathematical awareness further.

p.2

need to do better?

n The leadership team has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Leaders have worked very hard as a team to address the previous weaknesses. The committee is invested in supporting leaders and staff so that they all have the support and guidance needed to provide children with a well- planned and sequenced curriculum. Leaders have a clear oversight of the provision. They recognise their strengths and areas that are continuing to develop and embed further. For instance, as the curriculum is new, this needs to be embedded further to continue to enhance children's learning and experiences. n Leaders and staff monitor children's progress closely. They have a good understanding of which children have gaps in their learning and what children need to learn next. Overall, staff are skilled in their interactions with children. Staff focus on helping children to develop their listening and concentration skills,

p.2

need to do better?

and this is well planned around the children's ages and level of understanding. Older children enjoy playing games where they learn to listen and match sounds to objects. They listen carefully and sound out the words confidently. Younger children enjoy drawing and talking to staff about their pictures. n Children have lots of opportunities to develop their communication and language skills. Leaders and staff skilfully model language and introduce new words as they play alongside children. Children eagerly join in with songs and familiar

p.2

need to do better?

5 December 2024 rhymes. Children confidently narrate their own games as they play imaginatively with their friends. For instance, they pretend that the doll's bed is a bus and talk in detail to staff about their journeys. n The key-person system helps to build secure relationships between staff, children and parents and promotes positive partnership working. Parents are very complimentary about the support that their children receive. Leaders and staff know the children well, and overall, staff target support effectively for children's individual needs. However, at times, staff do not recognise when some of the older and more physical children could do with more opportunities to access more physical play. n Leaders and staff have implemented clear and consistent routines and boundaries. Children refer to the rules and know what is coming next, as they use their visual timeline to understand the structure of their day. Staff help

p.2

need to do better?

children learn to manage their feelings and behaviour, and they work closely with parents to be consistent with their strategies. However, children do not receive the same support when learning to care for the resources and environment; they often drop toys on the floor when they are finished playing with them and allow staff to tidy up while they continue playing. n Safeguarding practices are strong; leaders and staff have good procedures in place to monitor children's welfare. They understand the procedures that they should follow if they were to have any concerns about children or their families.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n continue to embed the curriculum to ensure children receive the challenge that they need to progress further n enhance staff knowledge and understanding of adapting practice to support the older and more physical children's needs n support children in understanding how to take care of the resources and their learning environment.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY348590 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10360733 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person Whiteshill Playgroup Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07591 240203 Date of previous inspection 4 July 2024

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Whiteshill Preschool Playgroup registered in 1996. It operates from the village scout hut in Whiteshill, Gloucestershire. The playgroup is open from 8.30am to 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during term time. It employs four members of staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, two hold qualifications at level 3 and one is unqualified. The playgroup provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to parents and 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 looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

5 December 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6