First Steps Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • The playgroup committee and manager have successfully made the improvements required following the last inspection.

They have introduced rigorous monitoring procedures to raise the quality of provision and ensure that all children, including those who receive additional support and funding, make good progress in their learning and development. • Children are extremely happy at the playgroup. They thoroughly enjoy exploring the lively environment and freely choose their play and learning.

Staff have worked hard since the last inspection to transform the outdoor areas. There is an abundance of activities to capture children's interest and imaginati...on, such as the construction site and role-play village complete with postbox. • Staff focus sharply on developing children's language and communication skills.

They take time to listen to children and promote interesting conversations. Some staff have further developed their teaching skills to provide targeted support to children in smaller groups. This helps children to gain confidence and make accelerated progress.

Parents praise the skills of staff in this area. • Staff provide consistently strong support to help children learn about positive behaviour. They give frequent friendly, age-appropriate reminders about the playgroup's rules and expectations.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. • The manager and committee place a strong emphasis on supporting staff's professional development. They have established partnerships with a local college where staff have embraced the opportunity to gain a wider understanding of children's mental health and well-being.

Staff use their qualifications and learning successfully in their daily practice. • The performance management of staff does not precisely focus on helping all staff to raise the quality of their teaching to a consistently outstanding level. • At times, some staff do not use their questioning techniques to deepen children's thinking, to extend their learning to the highest levels.