Cobtree Playschool For Special Children

Inspection of Cobtree Playschool For Special Children Cobtree Hall, Mote Park, Willington Street, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8EB

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 Good

p.1

The provision is good

Children are excited when they arrive. They happily say 'goodbye' to their parents and are keen to find their friends. Staff warmly welcome children and support them to choose what they would like to play with, which helps them to settle. At the start of the day, staff discuss children's well-being with parents, which enables them to adapt daily routines to accommodate any changes. For example, children who had breakfast very early in the morning are offered their snack soon after arrival. This positively promotes children's emotional and physical health.

p.2

The provision is good

Children successfully develop their communication skills and make good progress from their starting points. Staff use a range of ways to help children communicate and understand. Visual aids, such as picture cards and personalised timetables, help children to know what is coming next. Staff join in children's play and introduce new words such as 'squeeze' as they narrate what children are doing. This helps to prepare children well for their next stage in education.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They are skilled at recognising when children are becoming restless and disinterested in the activities on offer. Staff use a range of effective ways to help children remain calm, such as watching bubbles from a bubble machine. Children behave well and are learning about rules and boundaries.

p.2

need to do better?

n Managers and staff forge strong, supportive relationships with parents. They value the importance of involving parents in their child's learning. This includes sharing ideas to support parents to build on learning at home. n Staff work in close partnership with specialist agencies. This means children get the extra help they need to progress. Staff, parents and other professionals work together to tailor personal plans with individual targets to help children achieve their goals. n Managers evaluate the quality of provision, which includes feedback from parents and other professionals. They observe staff's practice to identify areas for development. Staff meet together at the end of the day to discuss the effectiveness of the activities on offer. However, staff do not receive regular opportunities to meet with managers to reflect on their practice and discuss their individual coaching needs. This means that sometimes professional development

p.2

need to do better?

is not precisely targeted to consistently raise the quality of teaching. n Managers and staff know what they want children to learn during their time at the playschool. The curriculum is focused on all areas of learning and adapted according to the needs of the children present. n Staff understand the individual needs of the children in their care. They skilfully

p.2

need to do better?

25 February 2025 use observations and the knowledge of children's expectations to plan small, achievable next steps. Furthermore, the next steps are shared with parents, so they can build on these at home. This helps to ensure consistency for children. n Staff carefully consider the needs of children when planning the learning environment. They ensure that there is a range of activities to help each child make progress in their learning and development. For example, there is a balance between activities on the floor and on table tops, so all children can freely access and make choices in their play. n Children enjoy accessing the many opportunities on offer. Staff plan activities that build on children's concentration. For example, children engage for a long time as they participate in a 'hello game'. Children respond positively to staff's requests, such as trying to sit quietly while waiting for their turn.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children are beginning to understand the expectations of behaviour. Staff know children well and put strategies in place to pre-empt any potential behaviour challenges. For instance, children choose when they have their snack. This helps children to remain calm. Furthermore, staff use a range of strategies to support children to be kind to others. For example, they gently remind children of rules, such as using 'kind hands'. n Staff support children well through a range of transitions. For example, staff sing songs to inform children about changes, such as clearing away for snack. This helps children to understand what is coming next. n Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement, which promotes children's self-esteem and confidence. They support children to keep trying, which helps to build their resilience. n Staff are helping children to become increasingly independent. For example, they show children how to wash their hands themselves after a painting activity.

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 strengthen and improve supervision arrangements to support staff's professional development needs to raise the quality of teaching even further.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 127120 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10376052 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Maidstone Mencap Charitable Trust Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01622 670464 Date of previous inspection 15 May 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Cobtree Playschool For Special Children registered in 1968. It operates from a hall in Maidstone, Kent. It opens from 10am until 1pm, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, during term-time only. It provides free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The playschool employs seven members of childcare staff. All of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 4.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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

25 February 2025 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