Cutgate Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Staff at this well-established playgroup nurture children's needs very well.

Children enter happily each morning and are excited to greet staff. Staff have to pack everything away each afternoon but successfully create an imaginative environment. Staff work hard to create an environment that is filled with awe and wonder.

The walls display children's artwork and family photographs. Children are extremely comfortable and settled, choosing their own resources and leading their own play.Staff offer interesting activities that excite children and engage them in learning.

For example, children enjoy sorting out Chr...istmas decorations into size order as they decorate a Christmas tree. In another area, children enjoy using plastic leaves and flowers to create a table centre piece. They develop their physical skills as they choose and push the leaves into sponges and use their imaginations as they create flower arrangements of differing heights.

All areas of learning are promoted well. However, at times, staff do not always take the opportunity to share new vocabulary with children or extend children's language.Staff are positive role models for children.

They offer consistent praise to children and celebrate their achievements. They teach children to respect one another, look after each other and use resources with care. Children exhibit good listening and attention skills and demonstrate positive behaviour.

Children are prepared with the skills they will need for future learning. The management team is very experienced and supports the staff team well. For example, they reduce staff's workloads when they are undertaking further study.

At times, staff's supervision is not as sharply focused as it could be in supporting newer staff to develop their practice.

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

The management team is extremely experienced and passionate. They have a strong vision for the group and regularly evaluate their service.

They support staff through inductions, staff meetings and daily discussions. New staff have been recruited to the team and although they access supervision meetings, these are not consistently focused on raising the quality of teaching to the highest level.Staff are knowledgeable about children's individual needs because they work closely with parents.

Parents are invited to be part of processes of assessment and their children's learning. Information is regularly shared through daily discussion, social media and newsletters. Parents are invited into sessions.

For example, children, parents and staff have recently worked together on a litter pick in the local area. Parents are very complimentary about the playgroup. For example, they comment, 'The staff are fantastic.

They are so caring with the children and make so much effort with the activities.' Staff place an equal value on learning opportunities in the indoors and outdoors. Mark making is a key strength in the setting.

For example, children enjoy making repetitive patterns on the floor outside using giant chalks. They make patterns in foam and attempt to write their name as they arrive each morning. Staff talk with children as they play and provide a running commentary.

However, at times, they repeat children's vocabulary back to them and do not extend children's language.Children are supported well through change and staff work closely with other professionals. For example, teachers from local schools are invited into the playgroup where they can observe children at play and discuss children's needs.

In addition, close links have been made with professionals from the social care sector, local authority advisers and speech and language therapists.Children's emotional well-being is supported by a caring and nurturing staff team. This has a significant impact on children's confidence and sense of security.

For example, staff sensitively talk with children who are expecting a new baby sibling in the family. Care practices are given a high priority and positive attachments between children and staff are evident. Children enjoy being part of routines and demonstrate that they are settled and secure in the setting.

Healthy lifestyles are promoted superbly. Children enjoy healthy menus, access the outdoors every day and enjoy numerous music and movement sessions. Staff extend children's understanding by talking about the effects of exercise on the heart.

Special visitors are invited in to talk with children and promote healthy lifestyles. Children have recently enjoyed a visit from the oral-health team and learned about the benefits of brushing their teeth regularly.Staff promote the wider world in imaginative ways and children enjoy exploring a range of different cultures and festivals.

For example, they create different artwork, listen to music from different cultures and taste food from around the world. Children start to consider the wider community. For example, they visit the local cenotaph near to Remembrance Day.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff understand the procedures they must follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. They are vigilant to any changes that may affect a child's well-being and work closely with professionals from social care teams and other safeguarding professionals.

Staff show a high level of awareness for keeping children safe. For example, the church hall is used by other groups in the evening. Staff always ensure a full safety check is completed before children arrive.

They extend this by supporting children to become aware of personal safety. For example, they include children in risk assessment and ask children to identify potential hazards in the environment.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen systems for the supervision of newer staff, so that staff receive coaching and access training that has a consistent focus on improving their knowledge in order to enhance the quality of teaching provide more opportunities for children to develop and extend their language skills in order to maximise their learning.