Fenham Playgroup

Inspection of Fenham Playgroup West End United Reformed Church, Lanercost Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 2DE

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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 arrive happily and settle quickly, eager to join in activities. Staff welcome them warmly into the relaxed and appealing environment, which helps to support children's emotional security and well-being. They know children well and are sensitive to those children who may need a little more reassurance. Children show trust in familiar staff, for example by seeking cuddles from them. Staff's attentive and warm approach puts children at ease and they show a strong sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

The playgroup provides a well-planned and engaging curriculum that, overall, supports children's learning and development effectively. There is a focus on ensuring that children have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed when they move on to school. Children develop their independence and are keen to take responsibility. For example, they help staff to set the table for snack time. Staff provide a wide range of resources that are linked to children's interests and are organised to encourage independent exploration. Children play together with confidence and are lively and motivated learners. Alongside this, staff plan activities to help children to develop specific skills. This helps to ensure that all children learn and remember more. Children make good progress and achieve well.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's independent learning well. They extend children's learning and promote critical thinking. For example, while building with bricks, staff encourage problem-solving by asking, 'How can we make the tower bigger?' Children work together to test their ideas, showing resilience and determination. They keep trying until they succeed. Children show pride in their achievements, smiling at staff's praise and giving their friends a 'high five'. n Overall, the curriculum supports children's learning very well. Staff encourage children to develop their mathematical knowledge. However, at times, they overlook ways to deepen children's understanding. For example, although children recall numbers from memory, staff do not consistently support them to learn about number values and quantity. n Active play and exercise are important parts of the daily routine. During outdoor play, children have the freedom to explore and move confidently. Children

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need to do better?

develop balance and coordination, for example when they walk across the tyres. There are further opportunities indoors for children to practise skills, such as climbing the ladder frame. This supports children's physical development well. n Staff teach children good hygiene habits, such as the correct way to brush their teeth. They work with parents to ensure that children benefit from a nutritious diet. Children learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, for example when they tell their friends they must wash their hands 'to get rid of the germs'.

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need to do better?

14 March 2025 They talk about how the food in their packed lunches helps them to grow 'big and strong'. n Managers regularly review teaching practice and provide feedback to staff to build on their skills. They encourage staff to continue with their professional development, which leads to improvements. For example, staff have learned more about how children learn through repeated patterns in play. They have included more activities and resources to support this. Children have increased opportunities to develop their thinking skills and to explore how objects relate to one another. n Staff use additional funding to help to support children's progress. For example, the playgroup provides additional education hours to extend children's opportunities to learn. Staff provide additional resources to help children to develop particular skills in areas where they need more support. This helps to ensure that all children, including disadvantaged children, make good progress

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need to do better?

and do not fall behind in their learning. n Staff use visual aids, such as picture cards, to help children to understand routines and to know what to expect next in their day. However, at times, staff do not provide children with clear, consistent and positive expectations for their behaviour. For example, they do not support children consistently to pay attention during group activities. Occasionally, children distract each other and become restless, which interrupts their learning. That said, overall, children behave well and are polite and kind to their friends.

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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 develop staff's confidence and expertise in teaching early mathematics to help to deepen children's understanding of mathematical concepts n give children more consistent and positive guidance about the expectations for their behaviour.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544285 Local authority Newcastle upon Tyne Inspection number 10380550 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 48 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person Fenham Playgroup Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07969914473 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Fenham Playgroup registered in 2017 and is located in Newcastle upon Tyne. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff, of whom seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.45am until 2.45pm. The playgroup provides government funded childcare and receives additional funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector around the playgroup. She discussed how the provision is organised and shared the aims for the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out two joint observations. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager spoke to the inspector about leadership and management matters and shared relevant documents to support the discussion. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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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 March 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.

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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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