The Windsor Boys' School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 07/05/2004 Inspector Name Tonia Chilcott

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Out of School Day Care, Full Day Care Setting Name Fairthorne Manor Day Nursery & Holiday Playscheme Setting Address Fairthorne Manor, Curbridge Botley Southampton Hampshire SO30 2GH

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of South East Hampshire YMCA

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name South East Hampshire YMCA Address Fairthorne Manor Curbridge, Botley Southampton Hampshire SO30 2GH

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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ABOUT THE INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public that the nursery education for funded three and four year old children is of an acceptable quality. Inspection of nursery education also identifies strengths and weaknesses so that providers can improve the quality of educational provision and help children to achieve the early learning goals (elgs) by the end of the Foundation Stage. This inspection report must be made available to all parents. If the setting has been inspected previously, an action plan will have been drawn up to tackle issues identified. This inspection, therefore, must also assess what progress has been made in the implementation of this plan.

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Information about the setting

Fairthorne Manor provides several childcare facilities. The nursery operates from the Manor house and the after school and holiday club operate from the grounds on the estate and the sports hall. The nursery provides places for 89 children aged from four months to five years. They are registered to accept nursery education funding for three and four year olds. Sessions run from 8:00 until 18:00 Monday to Friday all year round. Children are also able to attend half day sessions, either morning or afternoon. Children have access to several rooms throughout the nursery, with an enclosed garden available. The After School Club is registered to provide care for 36 children from four to eight years, although some older children can attend. Sessions run Monday to Friday, term time only. The Holiday Play scheme is registered to provide care to 790 children from four years to eight years old, although children attend that are up to 14 years old.

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Information about the setting

Children over seven years are able to access the residential facilities. Sessions run from 9:00 until 16:00 and care is available from 8:00 at the breakfast club and from 16:00 until 18:00. Full and part time staff work with the children. Most members of staff hold relevant qualifications. Some members of staff are currently on training programmes. There are appropriate procedures in place which support children with special needs and additional needs, and the group are able to support children who speak English as an additional language. The setting receives support from a teacher from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYCDP) and the Area SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-Coordinator).

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Information about the setting

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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How effective is the nursery education?

Fairthorne Manor Day Nursery provides good quality nursery education and children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals through a wide range of interesting activities. Children are making very good progress in all areas of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff's sound knowledge of the Foundation Stage enables them to plan an exciting and stimulating range of activities. Time and resources are used well. There is an effective system in place to support children with special needs. An assessment system is used to record children's progress towards the early learning goals and these assessments are then used while the staff are planning the provision, thus ensuring that children's individual needs are met. The staff use the accommodation and outside area well, and plan the layout carefully to ensure that children's learning is supported. Children behave well in response to the staff's expectations and sensitive support. Staff know the children

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How effective is the nursery education?

well. Leadership and management is very good. The nursery benefits from strong leadership and the staff are encouraged to attend training on a regular basis. The procedures to support and appraise staff are effective in identifying training needs. The staff all work well together as a strong team. There are good procedures in place to assess and monitor the provision ensuring that the nursery is constantly looking towards improving. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are very well informed about their children's progress towards the early learning goals. They are provided with information about the Foundation Stage and the nursery's routines and practice. Parents are able to contribute to their child's development records should they choose to.

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What is being done well?

• The quality of teaching is very good. The staff are sound in their knowledge of the early learning goals and they provide a stimulating environment for the children enabling the children to learn across all areas. •• Staff use the excellent outdoor facilities within the grounds of the Manor on a daily basis. Children regularly take part in nature walks and eagerly explore the environment. The children enjoy tending their vegetable patch and have many opportunities to grow and plant flowers. • The partnership with parents is very good. Staff welcome and encourage parental involvement in their child's learning. There are excellent procedures in place to ensure that information is shared regularly with parents about the children's development and daily achievements.

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What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • Relationships within the nursery are excellent. Staff value every child as special and as an individual and as a result the children are confident, sociable and have caring relationships with one another and the staff. • The systems in place to support children with special needs are effective and ensure that all children are included and supported in all aspects of the daily routines and educational provision.

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What needs to be improved?

• the current systems for planning and assessment, to contain further and consistent reference to the intended learning outcome and how children's learning can be extended.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good progress since the last inspection. Children now have many opportunities to practice sorting, matching, number recognition and ordering during everyday and planned activities. Staff now have a clear schedule in place to allow time to observe and assess the children's development. This ensures that staff are able to plan activities to meet the individual needs of children effectively. The staff now hold regular parent evenings which allow the parents to speak to their child's key worker to discuss their child's development. The meetings also enable parents to contribute to their child's records of attainment, although parents are able to do this at anytime. The staff now plan activities to offer children further opportunities to balance and climb.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children are actively involved in their learning. They are confident, work well together and independently and have good relationships with adults and other children. They learn to co-operate, for example whilst using the computer. Children participate in many activities and learn about different cultures. The children's behaviour is very good.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good The children's spoken language is developing well and they are confident and skilled speakers. Children enjoy books and listen avidly to stories. The children are able to access books easily and regularly do so. Many children learn to recognise words and letters during informal activities for example whilst collecting items on the nature walks. Children have many opportunities to practice writing and some are able to write their own names.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children have many opportunities to experience the use of numbers one to ten. They enjoy activities which give them an understanding of number and shape, for instance whilst playing with puzzles. Some children are able to recognise written number. Children learn to use appropriate mathematical language during practical, planned activities. Children have many opportunities to learn to solve simple mathematical problems.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy finding out and investigating features of living things, for instance whilst tending their garden. The children find out about their immediate environment and enjoy many nature walks to explore the natural grounds of the Manor. They have many opportunities to observe and learn about the surroundings and living things. They are able to use simple information technology equipment confidently and are skilled at constructing with a variety of media, for example large bricks.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children are confident and competent whilst using tools and materials, for example they are skilled at using a variety of construction equipment. They enjoy undertaking physical activities such as the opportunities for dancing, jumping and balancing. Children demonstrate a good sense of space and move confidently during physical activities.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children use their imagination whilst undertaking role play, for example whilst designing, building and playing with their space ship. Children enjoy participating in singing sessions. They regularly explore sound using a variety of instruments. Children respond with their all their senses to many experiences, such as sand and water activities. Children have many opportutnies to express their own imaginations in art and craft activities.

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Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of high quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The next inspection will take place in three to four years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to improving the following:- • extend the current systems of planning and assessment to contain further and consistent reference to the intended learning outcome of activities and how children's learning can be extended.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

The provider must draw up an action plan within 40 working days of receipt of this report showing how the key issues detailed above will be addressed. The action plan must be made available to all parents and to the Local Authority if required. An evaluation of the action taken will form part of the next inspection of funded nursery education.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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