Charlton & District Playgroup

Inspection of Charlton & District Playgroup St. Thomas Church, Charlton, ANDOVER, Hampshire SP10 4AN

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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 are warmly welcomed on arrival. They settle quickly and enjoy their time at the pre-school. Staff provide extra support for children who need it on arrival to help them settle and engage in their play and learning successfully. Children make their own decisions and engage positively with the resources and activities they choose. For instance, children maintained a strong interest in making junk models and creating dough insects.

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The provision is good

Staff guide children's behaviour with careful consideration. They speak to children calmly and at their level to explore why behaviours are not appropriate. Staff also identify children's positive behaviours, which they praise and encourage. Children develop good friendships with each other and build trusting relationships with staff. Staff know their key children's needs and the support they need very well.

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The provision is good

Staff have implemented a curriculum that is securely based on the learning needs of children. There is a strong emphasis on developing children's language and social skills. There are clear processes to identify any gaps in children's learning. Staff promptly respond to these, including implementing individual educational plans and behaviour plans when appropriate. They work closely with parents and any other professionals involved to provide a consistent approach to supporting children's needs. Overall, staff provide effective practice and support to meet children's needs.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a secure understanding of the skills and knowledge that children need to gain over time. They use assessments and observations effectively to understand children's progress and what they need to learn next. Staff provide well-thought-out small-group sessions to promote children's speech and language development, their concentration skills, and to explore feelings and emotions. These sessions help to close gaps in children's development successfully. Children progress well and become ready for their next stage in learning. n Staff provide positive interactions with children. They engage in play and activities, which include ongoing discussions with children. For instance, staff encourage children to recall their knowledge, such as naming parts of fruit and how to care for plants. At times, staff ask children questions in quick succession, and sometimes questions are too easy for some children to answer. This does

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need to do better?

not always promote children's thinking skills as well as possible. n The leaders of the pre-school have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They have a clear oversight of the pre-school provision. Staff feel they are supported well. They have some opportunities for training and

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 professional development. Staff have regular meetings and receive feedback about their work. The new staff team works closely together. Overall, leaders recognise that there are occasional differences in staff's knowledge, understanding and practice. They are working towards developing consistency to help raise the overall quality of the provision further. n Staff support children to follow simple instructions and expectations. For instance, they use visual timetables and pictures with children alongside verbal requests to help them to understand what is expected. This helps children respond to staff's requests, for example to stand still and 'wriggle their fingers' when there is a change of routine or to line up to go indoors from the garden. n Staff promote children's awareness of healthy lifestyles well. Children benefit from discussions about healthy choices along with gardening activities to grow

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need to do better?

fruit and vegetables. This helps children build on their understanding of eating well. Staff build on children's awareness of good hygiene, such as washing their hands before eating. Children develop their independence securely, including making choices from healthy snacks and learning to manage their self-care needs. n Staff provide plenty of opportunities for children to be physically active indoors and outdoors. Children develop their small- and large-muscle skills securely. For example, they develop strength in their hands through using dough and digging in sand. They build on their balance and coordination using equipment, such as stepping stones and balls. n There are strong partnerships with parents and carers. Staff provide parents with a wide range of information to support children's continued learning. For instance, they provide activities and books for parents to use at home. Parents speak highly about the pre-school and staff and about the support they and their

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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 the approach to asking questions so that these are matched more accurately to children's needs and help them to develop their thinking skills further n build further on the development of the staff team to help enhance the consistency of practice to promote children's needs even more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511329 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10388275 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 38 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Charlton And District Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07979 841 318 Date of previous inspection 4 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Charlton & District Playgroup opened in 1978. It is managed by a committee and operates from the Church of St Thomas in the village of Charlton, near Andover, Hampshire. The playgroup is open term time only. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday it is open from 9am to 12.30pm. On Tuesday and Thursday it is open from 9am to 3pm. The playgroup receives government childcare funding and specific funding for disadvantaged children. There are nine staff, including a bank staff member employed to work with the children. All staff hold relevant qualifications between level 2 and level 6, which includes a staff member with qualified teacher status

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n A learning walk was completed and the manager talked to the inspector about the pre-school curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 Discussions were held with the nominated individual, the manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n Parents shared their views about the pre-school with the inspector. n Children chatted to the inspector and interacted with her during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

24 April 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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