Tunstead Playgroup

Climbing frames, see-saw bridges and ball games gave Tunstead Playgroup a physically active character in February 2022. Children practised balance outdoors and accuracy when throwing and catching. Familiar stories and creative activities provided a quieter counterpoint.

Ofsted rated the playgroup Good on 3 February 2022. It has capacity for 27 children in total; children attending at that inspection were aged 2 to 4. The setting is in Stacksteads, Bacup.

In February 2022, learning combined stories, craft and activities shaped by children's interests. Children joined in familiar passages during reading, while an interest in story animals prompted staff to introduce less familiar animals. This gave conversation a concrete starting point and extended children's vocabulary.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the February 2022 examples included language through stories, hand control through craft and coordination through outdoor play. Children chose activities for themselves, and wheeled toys added another opportunity to practise balance.

Books about different families, resources representing different ethnicities and exploration of festivals broadened children's experience in February 2022. Portrait painting also helped children discuss similarities and differences between people. These were everyday ways to introduce the idea that families and individuals differ.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and specialist support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well tailored, with children making good progress from their starting points. Staff worked with other services to address barriers to learning.

In February 2022, staff gathered information from parents before children started, and parents knew their child's key person. Frequent updates connected children's learning at the playgroup with activities at home. Regular observations informed the next steps staff planned for each child.

Self-care was part of the day in February 2022: children practised toileting and recognised when to wash their hands. However, adults sometimes stepped in where children could have attempted tasks themselves. Independence needed more space to develop.

The address is Tunstead Community Cente, Haworth Drive, Stacksteads, Bacup, OL13 0SA.

In February 2022, attendance was term-time only, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. That pattern followed the term calendar rather than providing year-round attendance. At that time, the playgroup also provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

• Independent thinking and responsibility. In February 2022, staff sometimes solved problems for children and did not consistently encourage care of toys or tidying after play. These were improvement priorities, relevant to families who want children to practise persistence and take responsibility for shared resources.
• Term-time planning. The February 2022 attendance pattern covered weekdays during term time. Before joining, ask whether that session pattern still applies and how it would fit your family's childcare needs.

Tunstead's February 2022 picture will appeal to families who value active outdoor play, familiar stories and communication between staff and home. Its term-time session pattern would suit care organised around the term calendar. The balance to weigh is independence: children had choices, but adults needed to leave more room for them to attempt tasks and solve problems.