Vale Kids Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

The provision is good • The manager and her supportive team are passionate about the playgroup and have worked hard to address the issues raised at the last inspection. They have developed good relationships with other settings and professionals to provide continuity for all children.

There is an effective system in place for reporting on children's progress at age two. This helps children who are at risk of falling behind to receive the additional support they require to help them catch up. • Staff are highly qualified and use their knowledge of how children learn to provide a range of good learning experiences.

They monitor children's development well and use their obs...ervations to plan individual next steps in all areas of learning. This supports children to make good progress from their starting points. • Staff build firm relationships with parents.

Parents speak positively about the quality of the care and learning at the playgroup. For example, parents report that staff keep them fully informed about children's well-being and learning. They enjoy borrowing books from the playgroup to share with children at home.

• Staff are experienced and provide a warm, nurturing environment. They know children well and are sensitive to their individual needs. Children develop close bonds with staff and are comfortable approaching them for a cuddle or reassurance.

This helps children to settle quickly and feel secure. It is not yet outstanding because: • On occasions, staff do not allow children enough time to respond to questions or develop their own ideas. • Staff do not consistently gather sufficient information from parents about what their children can already do when they first start.