High staff turnover at a children’s playgroup has contributed to Ofsted concluding that it ‘requires improvement’ for a second inspection in a row. 

The report states that Redwood Early Years, located at Emmbrook Infant School in Wokingham, has made “some improvements” since achieving the same rating in last year’s inspection, but the number of staff leaving has “impacted significantly” on the setting making the necessary progress. 

Although training to improve staff’s knowledge and practice has been provided, it is “yet to be fully embedded”. This means some staff are not able to “effectively” implement the curriculum and teaching is “inconsistent”.   

The manager at Redwood Early Years, Sarah Gresty, noted the “unfortunate timing” of the inspection, stating it was the second day of term, with new staff and children. 

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“[…] if the inspectors had come even a week later the result would have been different, we would know the children better and therefore be able to deliver the curriculum more effectively to each unique child and be able to answer questions of outcomes for children,” she said. 

Ms Gresty added that the high staff turnover was due to “the low wages/cost of living” in early years education, and staff moving “out of education altogether” for jobs with longer hours. 

Redwood Early Years provides education for children aged between two and four years old, operating Monday and Friday from 8.30am until 4pm, during term time only.  

It employs eight members of staff, seven of whom are qualified from level 7 to level 2. 

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The inspection, carried out last month, found that the children are “generally happy and settled”, with staff ensuring they are kept “safe and well”. However, the report states that the early years curriculum is “not yet fully established” to ensure children make the best possible progress. 

Staff access regular training “to support their own professional development and knowledge” but the manager's monitoring of staff practice and teaching “is not yet fully effective”.  

This means staff are “unsure” of how best to implement the curriculum in order that children make the best possible progress, the report notes. 

The manager does make sure that safeguarding is “a priority” and staff are “knowledgeable” about signs that could indicate a child is at risk.  

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However, it is acknowledged that some new staff are “in the process” of learning more about 'Prevent' duty and county lines, which the manager is working with to better strengthen their understanding.  

Ms Gresty said they have “already started working on the improvements”, including having input from a detective sergeant at Thames Valley Police regarding county lines and radicalisation and writing their own curriculum.  

“Overall, we are happy with the positives of the report, and we are working on what can be done better and look forward to showing that off to Ofsted when they next visit,” she added.