Heath Farm Day Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 02/03/2005 Inspector Name Susan Hoult

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Heath Farm Day Nursery Setting Address The Granary, Heath Road Dunholme Lincoln Lincolnshire LN2 3QD

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Timothy John Wright & Alison Wright Address The Granary, Heath Road Dunholme Lincoln Lincolnshire LN2 3QD

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

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

p.1

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.

p.2

Information about the setting

Heath Farm Day Nursery opened in April 2002 and is privately owned. It operates from a purposely converted barn adjacent to the owners house situated on the outskirts of Dunholme village in a rural area. Lincoln city is approximately five miles away. The nursery rooms are divided by low level gates and comprise of four playrooms including a baby room with sleeping facilities. The outdoor play space is divided into four areas and is fully enclosed. The nursery is open five days a week Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 and is closed bank holidays and for a week at Christmas. There are currently 84 children aged from birth to 5 years on roll. Of these 33 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from the local area. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs 15 staff who work directly with the children. Eleven of the staff,

p.2

Information about the setting

including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. Four staff are working towards a qualification.

p.2

Information about the setting

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

p.2

How effective is the nursery education?

Heath Farm Day Nursery provides a happy, stimulating environment where children make generally good progress towards the early learning goals with many very good aspects. This is the nursery's first S122 inspection. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff know the children well, are calm, enthusiastic and sensitive to children's differing needs and attitudes to learning. Effective systems are in place to provide good support for children with special educational needs. Staff have high but realistic expectations of children's behaviour. Children's enthusiasm and confidence is maintained enabling them to develop their independence and learning skills. Their ideas are valued, their efforts praised and their work is attractively displayed. This has a positive impact on children's learning and relationships within the nursery. Staff have a very good understanding of the early learning goals. Planning ensures a

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

good balance of adult and child initiated activities covering all areas of the curriculum. Staff observe and assess children's learning against the stepping stones and use the information for the next steps planning. Records clearly show individual how individual children approach learning and their progress towards the early learning goals. The planning of activities and the areas used after snacks and meal times are not always planned to best effect to prevent distractions and hold children's interest. The leadership and management of the nursery is very good. Strong leadership and a dedicated staff ensures that good early years practice is shared and areas for future development are identified. All staff are positively encouraged to undertake further training to enhance their knowledge and understanding. The partnership with parents is very good. Staff recognise the importance of keeping parents informed of their child's achievements. Parents are very happy with the

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

nursery and the progress their children are making.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Communication, language and literacy and mathematical development are incorporated in planned and spontaneous activities in each area of learning giving children on-going opportunities to develop their skills and understanding. • Staff support and encourage children's creative development helping them to make connections between one area of learning and another so extending their understanding. Recognition of children's creativity develops children's confidence and independence in making choices and learning new skills. • Children benefit from the wide range of activities, both inside and outside,

p.3

What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 that support their physical development. • Strong leadership ensures that good early years practice is shared. Continual improvement is assured through a commitment to staff appraisal, development and training. • Staff have a clear understanding of the importance of partnership with parents. This has a positive impact on children's development and learning. Parents receive good quality written information about the nursery and the curriculum which is reinforced verbally. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning and contribute to topics.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the planning of activities and the organisation of space following meals and snack times to minimise distractions and maintain children's interest • the availability of, and children's access to, natural materials to further enhance children's individual exploration and learning experiences particularly in aspects of knowledge and understanding of the world.

p.4

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

p.4

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are confident, independent and express their needs well. They relate positively to each other and approach adults with confidence. Children are enthusiastic and motivated to learn, using their initiative and selecting activities and resources independently. They mainly persevere with tasks although become restless at times when they are distracted by others moving through the nursery or are expected to concentrate for too long. Children are developing a good awareness of self.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing their vocabulary well and are confident in using language to organise their play with others. They are also learning to use basic sign language. Children handle books well and are learning the conventions of reading. They respond enthusiastically to stories, anticipating and describing. They link sounds with letters and are learning to write their names and simple words, correctly formed, using a variety of media. They enjoy attempting writing for different purposes.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Mathematical concepts are experienced throughout the day. Children confidently use correct mathematical language and are keen to use number in everyday situations. Children recognise and count reliably numbers 1 to 10 and beyond and are beginning to understand addition and subtraction. They talk about, recognise and recreate simple patterns in a variety of activities. Children use language well to compare shape, position and size and are developing an understanding of weighing and measuring.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy designing and constructing and experience a variety of opportunities to develop their investigative and questioning skills. However there are limited opportunities for children to further extend their learning by being able to spontaneously and independently select natural materials. Children take part in a good range of topic based activities that increase their awareness of past and present and the world around them. They are enthusiastic about using information technology.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

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

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's small hand skills and whole body movements are developing by using a wide range of tools, construction equipment, textured materials, and large apparatus with growing safety and control. A range of skills are practiced, including balancing and climbing, throwing and catching, moving in different ways to music that help increase confidence, co-ordination and spatial awareness. Children have an understanding of staying fit and healthy through topic work, books and daily routines.

p.6

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children express themselves imaginatively and communicate their ideas and feelings during planned activities and play they initiate themselves. They have fun participating in an imaginative variety of role play situations based on topics which helps consolidate their learning. Colour, shape and texture are explored through a variety of play materials in two and three dimensions. Children enjoy observational drawing. They relish singing songs, action rhymes and using musical instruments.

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• develop the planning of activities and the organisation of space following meals and snack times to minimise distractions and maintain children's interest • develop the availability of, and children's access to, natural materials to further enhance children's individual exploration and learning experiences particularly in aspects of knowledge and understanding of the world.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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

p.7