Little Scholars Littleover

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 12/02/2003 Inspector Name Jean Otter

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Little Scholars (Littleover) Setting Address 10 Austen Avenue Derby Derbyshire

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The partnership of Melanie Henshaw & R Pickering

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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

Little Scholars Nursery is a private nursery situated in Littleover, a suburb in the city of Derby. The nursery has been in operation for five years, occupies a purposely adapted property on two floors, with an outdoor play area. The under two's are situated on the first floor of the nursery and the older children are based on the ground floor. The nursery is open each weekday from 7:45am until 6:00pm for 52 weeks of the year, with the exception of Bank Holidays. The nursery is registered to provide full day care for a maximum of 25 children under eight. A total of 48 children are currently on roll, of these there are six funded four-year-olds and nine funded three-year olds. The intake of children reflects the local area where there is a variety of social and economic backgrounds and varied cultural diversity. The nursery welcomes and supports children with special educational needs and whom speak

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Information about the setting

English is an additional language. The policies and procedures and philosophy of care are common to all facilities. The pre-school coordinator oversees both nursery sites and supports staff when planning and implementing the curriculum. The nursery receives support from a qualified teacher.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Little Scholars Nursery (Littleover) offers good quality nursery education where children enjoy learning through a wide range of interesting activities. Effective teaching helps children make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Teaching is generally good with some very good aspects. Staff have a good understanding of the early learning goals which enables them to create a well organised, stimulating and supportive environment. Staff work well together and form an enthusiastic team, they are engaged in children's play extending learning through appropriate questioning and conversations. Staff provide a good range of practical activities covering all six areas of learning and children are able to choose freely. The daily routine is well structured and there is a good balance between activities which are adult-directed and those initiated by the children. There are effective systems in place to provide good support for children with special

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How effective is the nursery education?

educational needs. Parents feel welcome and are well informed about the nursery ethos and curriculum. They are encouraged to share what they know about their child i.e. initial child profile. Parents receive useful information about their child's progress and have both formal and informal opportunities to discuss their child's achievements with key workers. Management monitor staff performance through appraisal and offer support and training where required. The nursery continues to develop systems for planning and assessment. Staff are fully involved in planning and meet regularly to monitor and evaluate the educational programme and brainstorm ideas, staff feedback is used to develop the next learning outcomes.

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What is being done well?

Children are confident sociable and have caring relationships with each other and staff. Children have opportunities to initiate their own activities. Children express their ideas freely through a good range of creative and malleable activities. Children enjoy books and stories they know print carries meaning and respond well to stories. Children have opportunities to practice writing in meaningful situations i.e. role-play. Staff work well as a team to provide an interesting range of activities and a well-balanced curriculum.

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What needs to be improved?

- the use of daily routines to develop and consolidate children's independence and self-help skills. - opportunities to develop children's understanding of the locality in which they live and the natural world.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Mathematical development is now covered well following staff training and development. Problem solving opportunities are included in practical activities such as counting cups and biscuits at snack time. There is improved access to technological equipment such as computer, tape recorder, electronic toys. However opportunities to explore and learn about their local environment and natural world are still limited, staff plan to incorporate this into future topics.

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are confident, happy and secure they are interested and involved in activities provided and have many opportunities to initiate their own activities. Children form good relationships with peers and adults, their confidence and self-esteem is fostered through consistent praise, encouragement and support from staff. Children's personal independence is promoted well throughout the day, although this could be extended through daily routines such as mealtimes e.g. pouring own drinks.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children's spoken language is developing well. Children speak clearly and fluently as a result of the staff's consistent interest and engagement in their play and conversations. There are good opportunities to develop early reading and writing skills e.g. welcoming and well presented book corner, mark-making table. Children respond well to songs and stories. There are good opportunities to practice writing in meaningful situations i.e. role-play.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children use and are developing an understanding of mathematical language and begin to solve practical mathematical problems through role play, daily routines and planned activities such as cooking. Children are able to recognise, use and record numbers through a variety of well planned focused learning tasks.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children are able to explore and investigate through stimulating activities such as corn flour, collage, free painting. Children talk about past events and experiences relevant to their lives and reinforce their learning though role-play. They are developing a sense of the world about them through topics and by learning about other cultures, however there are limited opportunities to develop children's understanding of the locality in which they live and the natural world.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are confident in movement, staff provide daily opportunities for children to use wide range of equipment to develop small and large motor skills both in and outdoors. Children participate in planned physical programmes such as Top Start, Sticky Kids, Tumble Tots. They are developing well in the use of their hands and fingers through careful use of many tools and materials i.e. scissors, corn flour, free drawing etc.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children express their ideas freely through a good range of activities such as painting, collage, malleable play and movement. Children are encouraged to produce individual results, which are valued by staff. Children use their imagination well with small world resources and role play.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

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

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of good quality overall. Children are making generally 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

1. Provide opportunities through daily routines such as mealtimes to develop and consolidate children's independence and self-help skills. 2. Develop opportunities to develop children's understanding of the locality in which they live and the natural world.

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