Wootton Playgroup

Inspection of Wootton Playgroup Memorial Hall, High Street, Wootton, NORTHAMPTON NN4 6LW

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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 excited to arrive at this pre-school and are greeted with a warm and friendly welcome. Staff help children to develop their independence as they change into their indoor shoes and hang up their bags and coats. For those children who are hesitant, staff provide gentle reassurance, helping them to feel safe and secure in the environment. Children are eager to explore and quickly settle at activities of their choosing. As staff join in children's play, they engage children in conversation, model language and use open ended questions. This inspires children's thinking and responses.

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The provision is good

Staff help children to enhance their physical skills. Children strengthen their small muscles as they complete puzzles and build with bricks. Outdoor activities, such as running, jumping and riding bikes, allow children to exercise their large muscles. Children show they enjoy movement and music sessions that staff offer, as they freely move to the music. They are confident in their abilities, copying adult's actions and joining in singing nursery rhymes.

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The provision is good

Staff seamlessly introduce mathematics into children's play. As children count objects on cards, staff encourage them to count to the next number. They pause, waiting for a response, providing children with the opportunity to think and reply. Children use mathematical language and use their fingers to correctly identify quantity.

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need to do better?

n Staff set clear and consistent expectations of the pre-school rules. For example, children are reminded and encouraged to use 'kind hands' and 'kind words'. As a result, children's behaviour is good. Staff incorporate a tidy-up song to encourage children to help pack away toys. This helps children to develop an awareness of roles and responsibilities. Children build respectful relationships with each other and staff. The pre-school environment feels calm and relaxed. n Children follow the routines of the pre-school well. Staff use a triangle and a tambourine to identify transition times during the day. When children hear the triangle they know to come to the carpet for circle time. However, staff do not always make best use of these times to maintain meaningful learning for children. For example, when staff take the register, children sit and wait for extended periods. This means that children's learning is limited during these

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need to do better?

times. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are swiftly identified. The leader liaises with parents and external professionals to support children with SEND. They use targeted support plans and strategies to meet children's individual needs. Staff use objects of reference, visual cards and now

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need to do better?

8 May 2025 and next boards to help children express their needs and understand what is happening next. Regular review meetings take place to ensure all children are helped to make good progress. n Staff plan a broad curriculum based on children's interests. Children enjoy a variety of activities that staff provide. For example they explore play dough, rolling, pressing and squeezing. However, staff do not always plan activities precisely enough to focus on children's next steps in their learning. As a result, sometimes children are not supported to make the best possible progress. n Staff support children to develop their language and communication skills. They sing songs and share stories with children. Children join in with the stories and ask questions. Staff model language and use correct pronunciation. They adapt their interaction to support children with emerging language and those that need extra support. Staff hold conversations with two way communication, helping to

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need to do better?

extend children's vocabulary and language skills. As a result, children are confident to share their views and ideas. n Staff build positive relationships with parents, sharing information and ideas on how to support children's learning and development. Key persons keep parents informed about their children's learning at pre-school, through daily discussions. Parents are invited to stay-and-play sessions and comment that they enjoy these as they get to see what their child does at pre-school. n Staff feel supported by the leader and their well-being is good. Leaders hold regular supervision meetings to discuss professional development. Staff keep their knowledge up to date through online training. For example, staff recently refreshed their safeguarding training online.

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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 help staff to support children's learning consistently during daily routines n plan activities more precisely to ensure they are tailored to meet children's individual needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220169 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10398898 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Wooton Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07840 822 476 Date of previous inspection 14 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Wootton Playgroup registered in 1974. It is located in Wootton, Northamptonshire. The playgroup employs six staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The manager holds early years professional status. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday during term time, from 9am until 3pm, Monday to Thursday and from 9am until 1pm on Friday. The playgroup provides funded early years 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 pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. 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

8 May 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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