THE TEAM leader of a playgroup in Stroud which was deemed inadequate by education regulator Ofsted has vowed to improve. 

Whiteshill Preschool Playgroup was given the low rating after an inspection on Thursday, July 4. 

The playgroup - which at the time of the inspection had 25 children on roll between the ages of two and four - previously received an Outstanding rating. 

In the most recent inspection, all categories (quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development plus leadership and management) were rated as inadequate. 

Inspectors said: "Weaknesses in the leadership and management of the pre-school impact on the welfare of children.

"The committee do not have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. For example, they do not monitor staff practice to ensure that all staff, including those with management responsibilities, have the skills they need to be able to fulfil their duties.

"This has a negative impact on the care and education children receive.

"Many staff have a weak understanding of how children learn.

"This means that they do not support children to build on what they already know and can do to help ensure they make good progress.

"The provider identifies the weaknesses in teaching practice and is accessing support from the local authority to help improve the delivery of the curriculum

"The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

"There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first."

Anna Morgan, the new play leader at the group said it has had a difficult few years, saying that they have designed a new curriculum for September which would be a 'new, fresh chapter' in its history. 

She said: "Firstly, I would like to say that, whilst this result is disappointing, it has not come as a surprise.

"I got the job of play leader at the playgroup in January, to start my hours after Easter.

"The Playgroup has had a difficult past few years, without a consistent Play Leader for most of that time.

"It quickly became apparent to me that, whilst the children were very happy and well looked after, the operational side of the Playgroup had been neglected.

"I invited in the Quality Team from the council to visit in April to help support me to put the action plans in place and start making the changes needed.

"We have already improved so much, but, in the words of our Ofsted Inspector, "You just haven't had enough time yet, have you?". 

"Looking forward to September, I have already designed a new, bespoke curriculum (where my background as a Primary School teacher has been invaluable) adhering to the statutory and non-statutory guidance, we have a robust Safeguarding policy (adapted from the PATA template) and we have a new Deputy Play Leader, with many years management experience. 

"Whiteshill Playgroup has formed an important part of the local community for a quarter of a century now, nurturing a generation of children.

"Yes, this past six months have been difficult to navigate, but this is a new, fresh chapter in the Playgroup's history and I am very excited to see what the future brings.

"Let's hope I can look back in another 25 years and see this time as the beginning of something really special, something our whole community will be proud of. 

"And if anyone else would like any more information, I have created videos addressing each and every section of the report on our website, which can be found at: www.whiteshillplaygroup.co.uk

The Ofsted report can be found - tinyurl.com/mu23hm4d