Sandon Road Baptist Church Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are confident, happy, and motivated learners.

They have lots of fun exploring and using their imagination. Staff use 'in the moment planning' methods effectively to guide children's learning as they play. Children make good progress from their starting points.

Their independence is embedded throughout the playgroup. Children revel in enjoyable and challenging opportunities that help to develop their physical abilities. They have the freedom and space to test out their ideas and assess their own risks.

For example, they focus on using wooden planks and boxes to make their own structures. Staff use prai...se effectively to promote children's excellent behaviour. Children are very respectful, courteous and use good manners with each other and staff.

They enjoy going on nature walks and visiting the local shops. However, there are limited opportunities for children to learn about different people, cultures and religions outside of their immediate family and community. Staff gather information from parents to aid effective settling in when new children start the playgroup.

Parents feel that their children are very well cared for and describe the nursery as their child's 'second home'. Children have formed strong bonds with the caring and enthusiastic staff. They confidently separate from their parents and delight in the warm welcome they receive.

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

Staff provide children with the time and reassurance to have a go and do things for themselves. As a result, children display high levels of confidence in their abilities and resilience. Children lead their own learning through play.

Staff skilfully recognise and take advantage of individual moments to extend children's thinking effectively. As a result, children become absorbed in their learning.Staff focus strongly on promoting children's positive attitudes to healthy eating and good hygiene.

They engage children in discussions on the benefits fruit and vegetables have on their bodies. Children practise their independence skills while chopping up their own fruit. They enthusiastically talk about how the fruit feels and smells, and decide to plant the seeds from the fruit to see what grows.

Children benefit from quality one-to-one time with the caring and friendly staff. They support children with their personal needs and development. Staff enthusiastically encourage children to join in conversations and they introduce new words and questions effectively, to extend their vocabulary and thinking.

As a result, children confidently express their wishes and needs.Staff provide enjoyable experiences for children to explore nature. Children learn to care for growing vegetables, harvest them and cook vegetable stew with support from the staff.

They have excellent opportunities to develop their physical abilities on the climbing equipment and in challenging activities. Children display excellent social and imaginative skills. For example, they chat together on the wooden train and talk about going to the beach.

Staff are excellent role models and have high expectations of the children. They help children to learn about good manners and turn taking. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are supported well and make good progress relative to their starting points.

However, there are limited opportunities for children to widen their understanding of cultural diversity and differences between themselves and others.The manager carries out observations of staff practice effectively. She uses the findings to identify future training opportunities to further enhance the quality of teaching.

Staff build positive relationships with parents. Stay-and-play sessions enable parents to be involved in their children's learning. The manager uses questionnaires to gain feedback from parents.

She values the comments they make in order to maintain children's good progress.The manager has established good links with teachers from the local primary schools. When children are ready for school, class teachers visit the playgroup.

The manager also visits the school with the children, where they all have lunch. As a result, children are socially and emotionally prepared for school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff have a robust understanding of the signs and symptoms which could indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know what procedure to follow to protect children from harm. The manager has comprehensive safeguarding procedures and policies in place and these are implemented effectively by the staff.

The manager and staff stay up to date with all safeguarding training and, as a result, have excellent and informative knowledge. The manager and staff have a broad understanding of wider safeguarding issues and how to identify and report any concerns.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide children with opportunities to develop a greater understanding of cultural diversity and differences between themselves and others.