Evering Road Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children settle with ease and are happy and comfortable in their surroundings. Staff have high expectations for all children and plan a range of fun activities.

For instance, children enjoy learning about different vegetables and herbs as they smell, taste and discuss them. They also enjoy singing songs with props and reading stories that introduce new vocabulary and animal names. Children showed delight when engaging in role play about being mechanics.

Staff supported their play effectively and introduced new language such as 'destination' and 'reversing'. Children have good opportunities to play outdoors and to devel...op their physical skills, for example, when riding on tricycles and participating in a weekly yoga session. This contributes towards them leading active and healthy lifestyles.

Children show good engagement and are given ongoing support to help them to understand about expected behaviour and boundaries. This supports children to behave well. Staff are attentive to children's learning needs, however, on occasion, they do not offer challenges to extend children's learning to the highest level.

Children have good opportunities to learn about different backgrounds and cultures. This was apparent when they made decorations for Chinese New Year and discussed Black History Month, for example. This helps children to respect each other's similarities and differences.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders' self-evaluation of the strengths of the setting and areas for development is accurate. Leaders have worked hard since their last inspection to address the actions raised and to make improvements to the playgroup.Staff are committed to their roles and plan a variety of experiences to help children develop new knowledge and skills.

They support children's learning well. For example, they regularly model new language and provide commentary on children's play. Children are keen to take part and show eagerness to learn.

They make good progress during their time at the playgroup.Staff obtain detailed information from parents when children first start about what children already know and can do. This helps them to plan suitable activities to support their individual needs right from the outset.

Staff display good knowledge of individual children's needs. On occasion, however, staff do not use questioning to full effect to extend children's thinking skills and provide more challenge in their learning.Parents express high levels of satisfaction and appreciation.

They state that staff are very caring and welcoming and provide good levels of consistency for their children's care. They say that they like the nurturing atmosphere created and feel their children make good progress.Staff are positive role models and are very kind.

They provide children with frequent praise and encouragement and recognise their new achievements. This helps to build children's self-esteem and confidence. All children and families are welcomed and valued.

There is a strong culture of working in partnership with other professionals and settings that children attend to support children's learning. This is evident when speech and language therapists and educational psychologists visit the playgroup to offer suggestions to support children's next steps in learning.Staff update their knowledge to further support children's personal needs and learning.

For instance, staff learn sign language and use visual aids to support children's development.Children's eventual move on to school is supported extremely well. This is evident when staff make photograph books of children's new teachers, classroom and uniform to help them to settle more smoothly.

They also have visits to the school to talk to children's future teachers.Staff organise the environment well to provide plenty of opportunity for children to make choices about their play. This is apparent as children enjoy exploring animal puzzles, playing in sand and experimenting with play dough.

Children show good levels of independence and enjoy trying new things for the first time.Mealtimes are social occasions. Staff use this time to discuss healthy foods and the importance of eating a variety of foods to help children grow.

Although leaders monitor staff practice and provide ongoing support, this is not sharply focused on raising the quality of individual teaching to the very highest level.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff complete regular safeguarding training.

They are able to discuss possible signs that may indicate that children's safety and welfare are at risk. They also understand the correct procedures to follow to report any concerns and seek external support and advice. Staff update their Disclosure and Barring Service checks regularly and sign declarations that they are suitable for their roles.

This contributes towards keeping children safe. Staff complete daily checks and risk assessments to help ensure all areas of the playgroup, both indoors and outdoors, are safe and suitable.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: build on the good teaching already in place to extend and challenge children's learning during play strengthen the monitoring of staff performance, focusing precisely on how staff can raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.