Our Lady & St Huberts Playgroup

Inspection of Our Lady & St Huberts Playgroup Hallfield Road, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire BB6 7SN

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children arrive happily and settle quickly into this welcoming and homely environment. They feel a strong sense of belonging as their photos, family pictures and personal interests are displayed throughout the rooms. Staff greet children warmly and take time to help them feel safe and secure. Children build trusting relationships with the staff and are confident to explore the well-organised areas of learning. They enjoy routines such as 'wake and shake,' where they join in enthusiastically with songs and actions. Staff encourage children to name their feelings using resources such as the colour monster, which helps them to talk about their emotions.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children are kind to one another, take turns and listen carefully to instructions. Staff support them gently when disputes occur, modelling calm responses and helping children to regulate their reactions. Children with additional needs are supported well through individualised strategies, such as visual timetables, communication boards and small steps assessment. This helps them to make steady progress from their starting points. Staff work closely with parents and external professionals to ensure the right support is in place.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children's personal development is prioritised. Staff are highly skilled in helping children to settle and build secure attachments. Children feel safe and develop confidence to try new activities. Parents appreciate the thorough settling-in process, which supports both children and families when they first join. Even children who are still in their initial settling sessions quickly learn to follow the routine with confidence. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is strong. Staff use targeted strategies, such as 'now and next' boards and communication aids, to help children access learning successfully. External professionals are involved where needed, and staff implement advice consistently. This ensures children make good progress and are fully included in daily routines. n Teaching is ambitious. Staff seize opportunities to extend children's thinking and language. For example, when exploring body parts, children name the heart and

p.2

need to do better?

the brain. Staff skilfully build on this by asking where these organs are located and encourage children to plot them on a body map. This extends children's technical vocabulary, deepens their curiosity and ensures learning is meaningful. n Children enjoy a wide range of exciting activities, but the pace of learning sometimes slows, particularly for those attending part-time. Teaching is ambitious and often sparks curiosity, yet the next steps planned for some children are not consistently challenging. As a result, targets do not always

p.2

need to do better?

9 September 2025 match the ambition seen in teaching, and some children do not make as much progress as they could. n The curriculum supports independence well. Children learn to manage self-care routines, such as handwashing and pouring drinks. They change their shoes for indoor and outdoor play and take responsibility for managing their own packed lunches at mealtimes. Staff encourage children to use slippers, pegs and personal items to develop responsibility and a strong sense of belonging. n Staff provide a rich range of experiences. Children celebrate different festivals and learn about families and cultures beyond their own. However, representation of diversity and disability in daily practice is sometimes limited. For example, while books and resources are available, these are not consistently woven into teaching. This means opportunities are missed to fully prepare children for life in modern Britain.

p.2

need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are successful. Staff share information through the online system and daily conversations. Parents contribute to their child's learning targets and provide details about interests from home. Staff value this input and use it to plan engaging activities that reflect children's lives.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n support staff to plan more precisely for children's next steps in learning to specifically target skills they want children to learn next n provide children with even more experiences to strengthen their understanding of diversity and prepare them better for life in modern Britain.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY357656 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10398316 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person The Trustees of Salford Diocesan Trust

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01254 888141 Date of previous inspection 15 October 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Our Lady & St Huberts Playgroup registered in 1987 and re-registered in 2008. It is located in Great Harwood, near Blackburn. The playgroup opens five days a week, from 8am to 5pm, during term time only. There are seven staff working directly with children, six of whom have an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the playgroup and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

9 September 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6