Sconce Hills Pre-School Playgroup

Inspection of Sconce Hills Pre-School Playgroup Christchurch Hall, Boundary Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 4AJ

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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 receive a warm welcome from the staff team when they arrive at the playgroup. Staff know the children well and provide a range of activities that allow them to follow their interests. For example, staff know children like to play with cars so they support them to roll cars down ramps and measure how far they travel. Children understand the routines in the playgroup and follow them confidently. For instance, children wiggle their fingers and sing songs with staff when it is time to tidy away toys. Children receive praise and encouragement for doing this, to help promote their self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy spending time outside in the garden. Staff offer encouragement and model how to balance on a beam and climb on larger apparatus. Older children are supported to be safe when they access equipment, for example staff remind them where to place their feet. Staff teach children about the world around them and about nature, as they plant seeds and talk about how plants grow. Staff help older children to remember previous learning, such as the life cycle of plants. Children share their knowledge and tell their friends that the roots of a plant drink water. Children have opportunities to develop the muscles in their hands in preparation for early writing skills. For instance, younger children are given dough to squash and squeeze in their hands.

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need to do better?

n The management team members are proactive in seeking support for children and families who need additional help. They work closely with parents and make timely referrals to other professionals. This helps to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the support they need to progress in their development. n Staff use additional funding effectively to meet children's individual needs. This includes providing support for parents to develop their knowledge of how to promote healthy eating to their children. Furthermore, children are offered a range of healthy foods and drinks to promote a nutritious diet. n Overall, staff observe and assess children's learning well. However, staff do not consistently gather information about what children already know and can do and their interests when they first start. Consequently, staff are not always able to plan precisely for children's care and learning from the outset.

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need to do better?

n Staff invite outside agencies into the playgroup to help broaden children's experiences. This includes inviting people to bring different animals, such as hedgehogs, tortoises and spiders, for children to hold and to learn about what they eat and their habitats. n Staff offer children a range of exciting and interesting activities that they are keen to play with. However, sometimes, staff do not fully support children to

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 maintain their focus and attention during their self-chosen play. Therefore, children flit from one activity to another and do not fully embed their learning. n Staff are supported to build on their professional development. This includes increasing their knowledge of how to use sign language to support children's speaking skills and understanding of the words they use. Children copy staff when they say and use sign language for please, thank you and the names of different fruits at snack time. n Children understand the 'playgroup promises' that staff implement to promote positive behaviour. These promises include using 'kind hands and feet', sharing, and using 'walking feet' and 'little voices'. Staff give children stickers to reward their positive behaviour, such as when they follow the playgroup promises. n Staff help children to develop their imaginative play, such as through role play

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need to do better?

experiences. Children act out the experiences they see at home, such as knocking on a door and asking their friends for a cup of tea. When children hang clothes on a pretend washing line and struggle to make them fit, staff ask them questions to encourage them to solve problems. Children think and work out how to move the pegs to fit the dolls' clothes on the line. n Parents are happy with the learning opportunities the playgroup offers their children. They attend the playgroup for family events and meetings with staff to share their children's learning. Staff provide books for children to take home, encouraging their parents to share these with them, helping to build on children's learning 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 gain further information about children's interests and what they already know and can do before they start attending to help plan for their care and learning more precisely. n develop how staff use their interactions with children to help maintain children's focus and attention during their self-chosen play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253322 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10388376 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Sconce Hills Pre School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07772525092 Date of previous inspection 9 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Sconce Hills Pre-School Playgroup registered in 1966 and is situated in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The playgroup employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens on Monday and Thursday from 8.30am until midday, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am until 3pm, during term time. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the playgroup and discussed how staff implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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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