Went Valley Pre School

Went Valley Pre School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Went Valley Pre School

Unique Reference Number EY306599 Inspection date 21 November 2005 Inspector Maralyn Chiverton

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Went Valley Pre School

Setting Address Kirk Smeaton C of E Primary School, Main Street, Kirk Smeaton, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 3JY Telephone number 01977 620497

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E-mail

Registered person Lindsay Anne Beck Type of inspection Integrated Type of care Sessional care

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E-mail

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The setting is privately owned and is situated in Kirk Smeaton West Yorkshire. It has been registered since April 2005 to care for no more than 20 children aged 2 to 5 years at any one time. At present there are 26 children on roll. Of these, 16 receive funding. The setting is based in a new 'community room' within the school. There is a separate entrance to the nursery and children are cared for in one room. The children have access to the school hall as well as an enclosed outdoor area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 There are four members of staff, all of whom who hold a recognised qualification in childcare and education. The setting is open from 09.00 to 12.00 term time only. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children thrive because staff follow good, effective practices which meet their individual nutritional, physical and health needs well. Children are very independent in their personal care. Staff are very proactive in developing children's understanding and awareness of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. For example, children understand it is important to wash their hands before lunch and after use of the toilet to prevent them catching germs that could make them ill. Children are developing a good awareness of the importance of a nutritious diet and regular exercise, because staff plan effectively in these areas. Staff promote understanding of a healthy lifestyle through encouraging children to make healthy choices and by considering relevant topics, such as food and nutrition. Children are provided with drinking water throughout the session as well as a variety of nutritious snacks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a positive attitude towards physical exercise. They test their physical skills through well planned activities such as dancing to music. They are beginning to develop a good understanding of how their bodies work through simple explanation. For example, they learn that when they exercise their heart beats faster. Children move around confidently and with control in a variety of ways, such as running, dancing, hopping and jumping. They competently use a variety of small equipment such as scissors and a computer mouse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, secure, welcoming and well maintained environment. Children benefit from staff's very good understanding of how to keep them safe through the implementation of effective policies and procedures. These include health and safety, fire evacuation and written risk assessments. Space is effectively organised to allow children to move freely and access resources and activities independently. A good range of safety measures such as a double entrance and intercom system prevent unauthorised access. Children have a very good awareness and understanding of their personal safety both inside and outside of the setting. For example, they know they would fall over toys if they didn't tidy them away and they know to look for cars when crossing the road. Children are well protected from harm through the good knowledge and understanding of the designated child protection coordinator and all other staff. They

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are fully aware of signs, symptoms and types of abuse and have a comprehensive understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow should they

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 have any concerns. However, there are no procedures in place to report existing injuries. Staff give high priority to maintaining children's safety and welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time in the setting, are well settled and show interest in what they do. They make good progress because staff are motivated, enthusiastic and enjoy what they do. Staff operate an effective key worker system which allows them to be sensitive to, and meet the individual needs of each child in their group. Children are provided with a wide range of interesting activities, which are well planned and purposeful. For example, they make bird cakes and use the computer. Children have independent access to a good variety of resources which include, musical instruments and puppets. They are provided with good opportunities in the daily routines to promote and develop their understanding of colour shape and number. For example, children count each other during registration and recognise the colours of clothes they are wearing. They also recognise the colour and shape of cups and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

plates used during snack time. Nursery Education The quality of teaching and learning is good. Children make good progress because staff have a very good understanding of the Foundation Stage. They provide a broad range of interesting, well-planned activities and experiences that are linked to all areas of learning. Staff use good questioning skills and additional resources to challenge children's thinking. They place great emphasis on good interaction with children and are very supportive in their learning. Children show a good sense of belonging and assume responsibility for their personal care. They are independent, work well in groups and on their own. Children's early communication skills are extremely well supported by the high quality interactions between adults and children. They are confident speakers and are able to recognise and write their own names. Children count competently up to seventeen and beyond and are able to write

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

numerals one to four. They enjoy using their imagination to make up stories and begin to understand that print has meaning through role play areas such as an office and a green grocers shop. Children use their senses and develop a good awareness of the natural world through well-planned and focused activities. For example, planting seeds and baking. They recognise sand compare sounds from the environment when using tape recorders. They are developing a good understanding of how things work and are adept at using the computer. Planning is evaluated to see if learning outcomes have been achieved and written observations are taken of what children can do. However, these are not used effectively to record and extend children's progress. There is no system in place to identify children's attainments prior to entering the setting which limits progression on what has already been achieved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The provision is good. Children feel a good sense of belonging and are fully included in the life of the setting. They are well looked after through staff's high regard for their welfare and care. They are highly valued and their individual needs well met through each key workers good knowledge and understanding of the children in their care. Children behave very well; they are given lots of encouragement, constant praise and support. They are able to share and take turns and are encouraged to be independent and responsible. They show a good level of engagement and enthusiasm in what they do. Children benefit from a setting where equal opportunities are actively promoted through, effective policies and the good knowledge and understanding of staff. Children have a positive attitude to others and have a good understanding of the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

wider world through well planned, interesting hands on experiences such as making Divali cards and having visits from people of other cultures. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered appropriately. Partnership with parents is good. Parents are warmly greeted and welcomed into the setting. Their wishes and views are well respected and valued by all staff. They are informed about their children’s progress through verbal communication. However, there is no formal system which allows them to be involved in a meaningful way with their child’s learning. All children and parents are encouraged to make a positive contribution to the setting.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from a well managed and organised provision with a very good adult child ratio. Staff are effectively deployed to ensure children's needs are met effectively. They are committed to improving the provision they offer by developing further their knowledge and understanding of child care and education. Children's care, safety and welfare is well promoted through formal recruitment procedures, induction for new staff and implementation of effective policies and procedures. For example, health, safety and child protection. All regulatory documentation is in place which ensures the provision runs smoothly and efficiently. This promotes an effective contribution to children's enjoyment, achievement, and ability to take an active part in the setting. Parents receive informal feedback about their child's progress. Leadership and management is good. Children's well being and overall development

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Organisation

is fostered well and children's learning is making good progress. The setting is fully committed to improving the care and education already offered to children through on-going training. Staff are effectively led, deployed and work well as a team. Staff have a good knowledge of the Foundation Stage and have regard for planning, evaluating and observing children's learning. However, there are no formal procedures in place to link observation and evaluation of individual children's learning. The setting promotes an inclusive environment and has a clear vision of where it is going. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Not applicable.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to record. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • introduce an effective procedure for recording existing injuries.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • introduce a more formal system to involve parents in their child's learning and extend children's individual learning through linking observations and evaluations more effectively • introduce a procedure for identifying children's attainments upon entering the setting to promote progression on what has already been achieved.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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