The Drive Playgroup

Inspection of The Drive Playgroup Methodist Church Hall, The Drive, ILFORD, Essex IG1 3PP

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Staff warmly welcome children on arrival, helping to create a friendly and emotionally secure environment. Children arrive happily and excitedly. They show strong bonds with staff and a clear sense of belonging. All children join in self- registration by choosing their name. Older children do this independently, while younger children receive support suited to their developmental stage. Staff support children's social development effectively. For example, they encourage children to share, take turns and consider others. Staff model positive behaviour and guide children to manage their interactions. This helps children to build key personal, social and emotional skills.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's sensory and imaginative play, such as by setting up a large mud kitchen with real utensils. They incorporate home-grown herbs, encouraging children to explore nature through smell and touch. Children help to plant, care for and harvest herbs. Staff use these opportunities to help children to develop responsibility, and learn about life cycles and sustainability.

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The provision is good

Overall, staff know their key children well, understanding their abilities and next steps in learning. They work closely with managers to plan a curriculum that supports positive outcomes from each child's developmental starting points. Regular observations and interactions help staff to identify children's interests and inform their planning. Staff take account of children's interests when they design learning experiences. This helps to promote children's positive attitudes towards learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan activities that support children's core strength, balance, coordination and gross motor development. They encourage children to take manageable risks during their play, such as climbing higher or navigating obstacle courses. Children often create these obstacle courses themselves, promoting their independence and confidence. Staff offer reassurance and guidance as children face physical challenges. This helps children to build resilience and self-belief. n Staff support children's language and communication skills effectively through interactive play and meaningful conversations. They join in children's play, narrate on their actions and model language to build their vocabulary. Children explore a wide range of books, including core texts, regularly. Staff use puppets and props to engage children during story time and support them to retell stories. This approach strengthens children's communication skills.

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need to do better?

n Children extend their imaginative skills through role play, such as at a greengrocer's area featuring real fruit and vegetables. Staff set up this area to boost children's awareness of different cultures and knowledge of the world.

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need to do better?

18 June 2025 They encourage respect, turn taking and language skills during their interactions. n Children show strong independence through the daily tasks that staff plan. For example, children clean their noses at the 'nose-blowing station' and use the hydration station independently. During snack time, staff provide trolleys with utensils, such as tongs and spoons, to allow children to self-serve. These activities help to support the development of children's independence. n Developing healthy attitudes is a key focus at this setting. Staff use placemats with pictures of fruit and vegetable during snack time, to encourage discussions about healthy eating benefits. After lunch, staff help children to brush their teeth and talk about the importance of oral health care. These activities promote children's understanding of nutrition and hygiene. n Overall, staff create an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that supports

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need to do better?

children's learning effectively. It builds on children's interests to develop their skills and offer new learning opportunities. However, staff do not consistently organise group times to support all children consistently. As a result, some children lose interest and are not always engaged in their learning. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good support. Staff work closely with parents and carers and external professionals to identify children's needs and plan targeted support. This collaborative approach ensures early intervention and helps children to make consistent progress. n The managers ensure that they and their staff complete all mandatory training. They work collaboratively to reflect on the provision and actively seek feedback to drive improvements. However, staff do not consistently receive targeted professional development to deepen their knowledge and create opportunities to

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need to do better?

extend children's learning further. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff regularly share key information, including targets and strategies to support children's learning at home. This ensures continuity between the setting and 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 review group activities, to ensure that all children are included and engaged in their learning n focus professional development opportunities to support staff to extend the quality of education even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 128487 Local authority Redbridge Inspection number 10388190 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 45 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person The Drive Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07837214151 Date of previous inspection 1 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Drive Playgroup opened in 1974 and registered in 2001. It is situated in the London Borough of Redbridge. The setting is open Monday to Friday, during term time. If offers morning sessions between 9am and midday, and afternoon sessions between 1pm and 3pm. The setting provides government funded childcare. It employs eight members of staff. All staff, including the manager, hold appropriate qualifications in childcare ranging from levels 2 to 4.

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Inspection activities

n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk and told the inspector about what they want children to learn at the setting. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager carried out joint observations with the inspector. They looked at how staff teach and what they want children to learn. n Staff, leaders and the manager spoke to the inspector throughout the day. n The inspector spoke with parents and gathered their views about their experiences of the setting. n The inspector looked at documentation relating to the suitability of those working with children, such as evidence of first-aid training and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

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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

18 June 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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