The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding playgroup has received a pat on the back from education watchdog Ofsted – a second successive “good” rating.
It represents another big step for 345 Playgroup, which had faced closure due to a lack of children before Georgina Twelves and business partner Brendan Moran bought it in November 2012.
Georgina said: “We then worked extremely hard to raise standards and children’s attendance. Since then we have gone from strength to strength.
“I not only own the playschool but work as the manager with my hardworking team and very supportive co-manager Sharon Chappell to ensure all children who attend the setting feel safe and secure while thriving and being educated in all areas of development to become school ready.
“We offer a stimulating friendly and safe environment for all our families and have fantastic connections within the local community regularly visiting the local library and going on outings to promote the children’s understanding of the world.”
The first Osted report under the new ownership was in September 2013. The latest inspection, carried out last month, found the playgroup – based at United Reformed Church in Pinchbeck Road – was “good” in all four key areas:
- effectiveness of the leadership and management
- quality of teaching, learning and assessment
- personal development, behaviour and welfare
- outcomes for children
The inspector noted that “children arrive confidently and ready to learn”, partnerships with parents are “strong” and “staff use their observations effectively to plan for children’s next steps in learning”.
The report said: “Teaching is consistently good and, on occasions, excellent. Staff play alongside children and, through skilled interventions, promote children’s learning at every opportunity.”
The playgroup is not yet rated “outstanding” because “the manager is not yet using the system for monitoring children’s progress to contribute to analysing the impact of the teaching on the achievements of specific groups of children”.
At the time of the report there were 20 children on the roll. It can cater for 34.
