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St Paul's Playgroup in Erith

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2024)
·Church Hall, Mill Road, Erith, DA8 1HN · Bexley
Number of places
50 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Bexley

About this day nursery

St Paul's Playgroup, established in 1992, operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, providing childcare for children aged 2 to 4 years. The pre-school fosters a community atmosphere where children's well-being is central to all activities.

Children are warmly greeted and quickly settle into chosen activities, demonstrating focus and concentration. Staff hold high expectations for children, promoting independence in daily routines such as handwashing and self-care.

The setting, rated 'Good' by Ofsted on 19th March 2024, prioritises effective support for children's behaviour, encouraging sharing and turn-taking, and providing swift intervention when needed. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those who speak English as an additional language, are well-supported through an ambitious curriculum with appropriate adaptations to ensure full inclusion.

Staff collaborate with other agencies involved in children's care and development, with the special educational needs coordinator actively supporting these children. Opportunities for outdoor learning are excellent, allowing children to engage collaboratively in activities like mark-making on a large chalkboard and counting on a number mat.

Children participate in experiments mixing sand and water, discussing their findings, and navigate obstacle courses to develop risk assessment, balancing, and climbing skills. The inspection noted the positive impact of both indoor and outdoor education on children’s learning.

Parents consistently provide positive feedback, describing staff as warm and friendly and appreciating the clear communication regarding their children’s learning and development.

What it's like

The pre-school is a community that has children's well-being at the heart of everything it does. Children are greeted warmly and happily settle into chosen activities, showing focus and concentration. Staff have high expectations, promoting independence, and effectively support children to share resources and regulate their behaviour.

Warm & Friendly StaffExcellent Outdoor LearningStrong SEND SupportGood Communication CurriculumPromotes Healthy EatingInclusive Environment

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm

Established

1992

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for St Paul's Playgroup

Last inspected 19 March 2024 · Natalie OLeary

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

The pre-school is a community that has children's well-being at the heart of everything it does. Children are greeted warmly and happily settle into chosen activities, showing focus and concentration. Staff have high expectations, promoting independence, and effectively support children to share resources and regulate their behaviour.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff know the children well and all children, including those with SEND and who speak English as an additional language, are making good progress.
  • The curriculum for communication and language is well-designed, with staff role modelling language effectively and asking questions that encourage recall and reflection.
  • Opportunities for outside learning are excellent, allowing children to collaborate, engage in experiments, assess risk, and develop physical skills.
  • Healthy eating is promoted through nutritionally balanced lunches, a fresh fruit snack, and exposure to various fruits and vegetables.
  • The pre-school is an inclusive environment where children develop a positive sense of self, respect, empathy, and kindness towards others.
  • Partnership with parents is good, with parents speaking highly of the staff and feeling well-informed about their children's learning and development.
  • The manager is reflective, regularly seeking feedback from parents and staff, and supporting staff's professional development.

Areas to develop

  • 1plan the learning environment more effectively to support children and enable them to chose resources and direct their own play and learning.
Inspection #10307955 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak extremely highly of the pre-school.

They describe the staff as warm and friendly.

They speak positively about the levels of communication they receive.

Parents feel very well informed of all aspects of their children’s learning and development.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language are well supported. The curriculum is ambitious and adaptations are made to ensure all children are included in all activities. Staff work in partnership with other agencies involved in children's care, learning and development. The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

Outdoor space

Opportunities for outside learning are excellent. Children work together to make a little bench so they can collaboratively mark make on a large chalkboard. They count and identify numbers as they hop along the number mat. Experiments take place as children mix sand and water and talk about the results. Obstacle courses are made to help children begin to assess risk and further develop their skills in balancing and climbing. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Inspection history

Date: December 2007

  • April 2024Good
  • March 2024Good
  • April 2018Good
  • March 2018Good
  • November 2014Good
  • October 2014Good
  • December 2013Requires improvement
  • November 2013Requires improvement
  • July 2011Requires improvement
  • December 2007Requires improvement

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