Castle Playgroup

Inspection of Castle Playgroup The Hut, Kirby Muxloe Village Hall, Station Road, Kirby Muxloe, LEICESTER LE9 2EN

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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

Staff support children emotionally during settling sessions working alongside parents well. Key person relationships are strong, and children form close attachments with the staff who care for them. Children feel confident to seek help and comfort. Children are beginning to manage their emotions. Staff help all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They adapt their language and interactions to support children's needs well. Children make good progress especially those with SEND.

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The provision is good

Staff plan activities to reflect the children's interests. Staff give clear instructions for children to follow. For example, children enjoy following a recipe to make playdough. Staff also have high expectations for children's behaviour. For example, children freeze when they hear bells. They recognise this as the signal to stop playing and proceed to tidy up. Children have a positive attitude to learning. They enthusiastically join in using actions and words during story time and singing. Staff help children to become more resilient by encouraging them to have a go or try again. Children play an active role in the community. For example, children performed a song at a Christmas event and made remembrance poppies for a community display. This helps build children's confidence and understanding of the world.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff plan an ambitious curriculum. They regularly assess their provision to reflect the interests and needs of the children. Staff know the children well and what they what children to learn. They assess children's learning and use this information to implement appropriate next steps in learning. Children are well supported in their development. n Leaders and staff identify children's starting points when they first attend the setting. This helps to inform their planning and develop good relationships. However, the information they gather for children who speak English as additional language is not always effective in supporting all children to make good progress. n Staff engage effectively with children during planned activities and routines. Staff comment, expand and question children to support their communication and language skills. Staff introduce new vocabulary and extend children's

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need to do better?

learning. For example, children name different scents to add to playdough. However, staff, on occasion, do not extend children's learning in spontaneous play to ensure best possible progress. n Staff plan purposeful activities to support independence. Children follow expectations modelled by staff. For example, children follow instructions to use safety knives to cut their own banana during snack time. Staff support children

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need to do better?

27 June 2025 to make their own decisions, such as choosing how to make their own obstacle course. Children show good levels of independence and develop key skills they will need for the future. n Leaders and staff put in place effective support for all children especially those with SEND. They work effectively with outside agencies and parents to ensure consistency in information sharing. Staff skilfully adapt their teaching to reflect the needs of the children. Children with SEND thrive. n Children enjoy being physically active within the setting's outdoor space. They also access a variety of activities indoors to develop their larger muscles. For example, children access soft play equipment where they jump, climb and balance. Children also develop their smaller muscles well, to help with early writing skills. For example, children enjoy pegging wet doll clothes on a washing line. n Children learn self-care skills. For example, children visit the toilet and wash their

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need to do better?

hands before eating. Staff sensitively assist children who need some additional help managing their own self-care needs. For example, toilet training. Staff discuss the importance of being healthy during daily meals. As a result, children are developing their knowledge about healthy lifestyles. Staff also promote the importance of regular tooth brushing. Children develop their understanding of good oral hygiene. n Staff share information about children's learning well. Parents understand how their children are progressing and how to support their learning at home. This collaborative approach supports children's development well. Staff also share up to date information about children transitioning to schools to ensure consistency in children's care and learning.

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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 strengthen information gathered about children with EAL when they first start to help enable them to make good progress n enhance support for children in spontaneous play to make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544713 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10398757 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 24 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Quincey, Marie

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reference number

Telephone number 0116 2390306 Date of previous inspection 7 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Castle Playgroup registered in 2017 and is located in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire. The playgroup employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8:45am until 3pm. The out-of-school provision offers sessions from 7.30am until 8.30am and 3pm until 6pm. 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 nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n The inspector spoke to several 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 nursery.

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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

27 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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