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Early years · Report card

Ashburton Playgroup

Inspected 27 Nov 2025 · URN EY283590

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Summary

No overall grade in this frameworkSafeguarding met

Laura Brewer

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Expected standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Expected standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Expected standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Expected standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Expected standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Expected standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Ashburton Playgroup Committee

  • Inspection datesingle source

    27 Nov 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Laura Brewer

  • Postcode verified

    SW15 3AY

  • Name on report verified

    Ashburton Playgroup

  • Safeguarding verified

    Met

  • URN verified

    EY283590

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementExpected
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • InclusionExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+73Very positivemore positive than 50% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praiseeffectiveconfidentlyenjoyfeel safeeffectivelyclearsecurecaring
Criticismnot alwaysgapsconcerns

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1374w+78
  • Leadership252w+59
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve107w0

Strengths

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

Concerns

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
9
Words of findings
1,784
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 42, typical 43
Average sentence
17 words
Next steps
4
typical 3
Hedged sentences
2%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 64%Leadership 12%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 5%About the inspection 17%

Full report text

Ashburton Playgroup

Unique reference number (URN): EY283590 Address: 246A Cortis Road, LONDON, SW15 3AY Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 29/06/2004 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Ashburton Playgroup Committee

p.1

Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Achievement Expected standard

Leaders and staff work with external professionals and parents to help children achieve their targets. Subsequently, children learn the skills and knowledge to support their eventual move on to school. Children show perseverance as they complete puzzles and work out where pieces fit. They explore paint freely and develop their muscles as they explore play dough. Staff set clear expectations for what children can achieve, and they encourage children's independence skills, such as putting on coats and managing zips and buttons. This approach helps to build children's self-esteem. The curriculum promotes children's communication and language skills well. Children communicate confidently, and staff provide targeted support and strategies for those who are still developing these skills so that they make steady progress.

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Achievement Expected standard

Parents receive regular updates about their children's progress and have frequent opportunities to discuss targeted next steps. They value the guidance staff offer, including how to support children's oral health at home. The book-lending library encourages families to foster a love of reading. Parents report noticeable improvements in their children's confidence, concentration and speech and language since joining the pre-school. Leaders work with parents to help children develop good habits at an early stage, so they are well prepared for school.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

Children behave well and have developed trusting relationships with the caring staff. They share, take turns and understand what staff expect of them. Children follow the well- established routines with confidence. Staff give gentle reminders, such as encouraging children to walk carefully indoors so they do not trip. Children play happily alongside or with their peers. They share their achievements, ask questions and show interest in each other's ideas. Staff support children to express how they feel and value their contributions. This approach builds children's self-esteem and strengthens their sense of belonging.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

Staff ensure that all children are included and valued. They put effective strategies in place to accommodate children's individual needs and learning styles. Staff recognise when quieter children need additional reassurance so that they can fully participate and benefit from the learning opportunities. Leaders promote the importance of regular attendance, and as a result, children attend consistently, which supports their early education.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Children develop a sense of belonging at this pre-school because they have built close relationships with leaders and staff. Staff are kind and caring and provide a safe environment to support children's safety and welfare. Staff interact with children consistently in a supportive manner and provide nurturing care. Their approach helps children feel safe and secure, which enables them to be ready to learn.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. They provide meaningful learning opportunities, such as arranging visits from fire officers to develop children's understanding of fire safety. Staff also consider how best to support children in developing effective oral health routines. They use activities with the 'big teeth' to model good brushing techniques, and they plan to extend this by introducing individual teeth-brushing sessions. Snack time is a sociable occasion where children engage with friends and discuss the healthy fruit they enjoy.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Children develop their independence skills, such as putting on their coats and washing their hands before snack time. Well-established routines help children understand what is expected of them and enable them to manage these tasks confidently. Children have opportunities to spend time outdoors and go on local outings in the community. However, staff do not always provide daily opportunities for children to be physically active and practise their large motor skills to further support children's physical development.

p.3

Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders provide a broad and balanced curriculum that supports all children's development across all areas of learning. Staff implement the curriculum effectively, offering a wide range of experiences that reflect children's interests and encourage them to explore their own ideas. Staff use their assessments of children's progress effectively to identify next steps for children's learning. They identify where children have gaps in their learning and put individualised plans in place to help close these gaps.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Staff extend learning by encouraging children to talk about their experiences. For example, as children use blocks to build models of buildings, staff ask them to describe their own homes. Children build confidence in their communication and language development as they speak about their homes. Staff introduce mathematical concepts during play by asking questions about shape, colour and size. They encourage problem-solving, for instance, by asking, 'How many more do we need?' Staff praise children's achievements, which motivates them to continue learning. Children talk confidently with their friends and take pride in sharing their achievements. They play imaginatively during role play, exploring the home corner, pretending to cook pizza, and ensuring everyone has a piece while counting how many remain.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Small group sizes allow staff to provide close support for children who may require additional input to achieve their goals, particularly with their language and communication skills. Parents value the one-to-one support available for children who require additional help. Children form secure, reassuring bonds with staff and benefit from planned activities that build their skills over time. Staff maximise opportunities to develop children's language and communication. Children move confidently around the environment and demonstrate well-developed fine motor skills. During singing sessions, they hop and dance enthusiastically to their favourite songs.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Leaders and staff know each child and their family well and fully understand children's needs and backgrounds. They work closely with parents to identify any barriers to learning and put effective support strategies in place to promote children's progress. Staff respond sensitively as children settle. They offer a gradual, flexible settling-in period that meets each child's individual needs. Staff recognise the importance of giving children time to feel comfortable and secure, and they do not rush this process.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Staff responsible for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities understand their roles clearly because they receive effective training. They work closely with other professionals to identify gaps in children's learning and to establish support systems that help parents access valuable services. For example, staff guide parents to groups that promote children's language and communication development. Parents say their children make particularly good progress in developing their language skills. Parents enjoy hearing their children talk about their day and sing songs they have learned and recall them with great enthusiasm.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Staff use effective assessment systems to track children's progress. These systems enable them to identify emerging needs promptly and provide timely interventions that support children's development.

p.4

Leadership and governance Expected standard

Since the last inspection, systems to notify Ofsted of relevant changes have been improved to support children's safety and welfare. Leaders understand their key strengths, such as establishing strong partnerships with parents and understanding the needs of the children and families that attend. Leaders demonstrate close links with the local community and strive to provide all children with a secure start to their early education. The staff team is well established, and staff enjoy working at the pre-school and feel valued and supported in their roles. There is a shared focus on providing children with plenty of opportunity to practise their skills and knowledge to support all children's developmental progress. Leaders have identified that they would like to develop the outdoor provision to provide more opportunities to learn about planting and growth. However, leaders do not always ensure that staff plan a

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

curriculum to provide children with sufficient opportunities to benefit from outdoor play.

p.4

Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders maintain clear oversight of the setting. Their knowledge of the local community and their engagement with other agencies support children and families effectively to help their children to thrive. Staff take part in regular professional discussions with leaders, where they identify targets to develop their knowledge and skills. In addition, staff complete mandatory training and access a range of webinars that strengthen their understanding of children's learning and development. For example, recent phonics training has deepened staff's understanding of how rhythm and beats can reinforce children's awareness of sound patterns to support children's communication and language development.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children enjoy their time at this welcoming, community-based pre-school. They arrive happily and settle quickly. Children excitedly show their parents the Christmas tree they helped to decorate, and they show pride in their achievements. Staff know all children very

p.5

Inspector:

Laura Brewer well and understand their individual needs. They have a clear understanding of children's starting points, which they use to plan an effective curriculum with a clear focus on supporting children's language and communication. Staff take the time to work closely with children in small groups or on an individual basis. They introduce new ideas and concepts and encourage children to express their ideas and experiences, for example in discussions about the types of homes that they live in while they build with construction blocks. Staff understand children's different characters and recognise when additional support or reassurance is needed. Their approach is warm and nurturing, which supports children to feel safe and secure.

p.6

Inspector:

Children show confidence as they explore the varied range of activities available to them. They build the skills and knowledge required to support their progress, such as developing independence while putting on their coats and developing mathematical skills during everyday tasks. Children are enthusiastic and engage in conversations with their peers, readily sharing their ideas as they play. The curriculum supports children to make good progress in their learning and to develop the early skills they need for school. Children gain a clear sense of belonging through positive relationships with staff and with one another. This supports their emotional security and ensures they are ready to learn. Leaders and staff work closely with parents to promote regular attendance so that children can benefit fully from all learning opportunities to support their early education.

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Next steps

Leaders should ensure that staff enhance the curriculum outdoors for all children, with more varied and stimulating outdoor active experiences. Leaders should further extend the opportunities for children to engage in a broader range of outdoor physical activities, to further support children's physical development and skills.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, those responsible for safeguarding and special educational needs, parents and children during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Ashburton Playgroup Committee

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 09:15 - 12:15

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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 .

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Urgent improvement

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 .

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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

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