Busy Bees at Harrow

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 24/02/2005 Inspector Name Jennifer Devine

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Happy Child Day Nursery Setting Address 1 Francis Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 2QZ

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Happy Child Limited Address 109 Uxbridge Road Ealing London W5 5TL

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

Happy Child Day Nursery, Francis Road, Harrow is one of a chain of nurseries owned by Mrs Ashoobgar Cook. It opened in 2003 and operates from a converted building in Kenton, Harrow. A maximum of 50 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round, except for bank holidays. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor area. There are currently 64 children aged from 3 months to under 5 years on roll. The nursery employs 15 staff. Thirteen of the staff, including the manager hold appropriate early years qualifications. Two 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?

Happy Child Day Nursery, Francis Road, offers high quality nursery education which enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals. In knowledge and understanding of the world and creative development children make generally good progress. Teaching is very good. A major strength of teaching is that the staff have a thorough knowledge of the foundation stage and have a secure understanding of how children learn. Effective teaching methods are in place, for example open ended questioning to encourage children's vocabulary. Staff have a good understanding of observing and assessing children's development and plan a broad curriculum. New planning methods have recently been implemented and staff are developing methods of recording the next steps for children's learning. All children are offered appropriate support and challenges. Currently there are no children with special needs or

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

children with English as an additional language but appropriate procedures are in place. Leadership and Management is very good. The managers are supernumerary and provide appropriate support and cover to staff. The manager leads a happy staff team who are keen to continually improve the nursery education for the children. The manager has a good knowledge of the foundation stage and has a strong commitment to further training. There are generally good systems in place for evaluating teaching methods. Partnership with parents is generally good. Newsletters and information on the notice board keep parents informed about the curriculum offered. Parents meetings are held twice a year to discuss children's progress with the key worker. Parents hand over their child at the front entrance in the mornings rather than settling them into their rooms which prevents parents from seeing their child's achievements daily.

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

Comments from parents establish that overall they are happy with their child's learning except that no visits outside the nursery environment take place.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Staff have a very good understanding of the foundation stage and plan a varied, exciting curriculum. • Children have good opportunities to develop as independent learners through a generally well planned environment which allows children choice and time to explore. • Staff have a good awareness of individual children's needs and provide sufficient and suitable challenges to children such as open ended questioning to encourage vocabulary and thinking.

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 • Children particularly enjoy participating in music sessions and have developed a good understanding of sound recognition.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the methods for recording the next steps of children's learning and using this to aid future planning • the programme for knowledge and understanding of the world to include visits outside the nursery environment •• the programme for creative development to include the effective use of creative resources.

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: Very Good Children are excited and curious to take part in activities. They have made good relationships with each other and familiar adults. They work cooperatively together, sharing and taking turns during group activities. Children use their initiative and are self sufficient in self help skills and in selecting resources for them selves. They have good levels of concentration and persist at activities for extended periods. They are developing an awareness of their own needs and that of others.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident speakers and use a wide vocabulary which is extended by adults. They listen attentively and with enjoyment to stories and group discussions. They have good opportunities for linking sounds and letters. They are interested in books and understand print carries meaning. Older children are attempting to read. Children write for a variety of purposes and write their own names confidently. They are developing their imaginative thinking through well resourced role play.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are learning to count confidently and reliably. They explore simple addition and subtraction through daily practical activities. They are learning about shape, space and size and solving problems as they fit puzzles together or construct various models. There are good opportunities to practise weighing, measuring and recording their findings.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children have good opportunities to be involved in exploratory play and question why things happen such as observing snow melting. They learn about past and present events in their lives and explore their own cultures and beliefs and that of others. They have opportunities to explore the natural world in the garden but this is not extended to visits outside the nursery environment. Children use the computer and other programmable toys with confidence.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children demonstrate good spatial awareness as they move confidently in the garden riding tricycles, running and climbing. They have good opportunities for daily physical exercise and an outside agency visits weekly for planned sports activities. They exercise control and dexterity as they handle pencils, scissors and play dough equipment. Children are developing a good understanding of the importance of staying healthy through topic work and daily routines.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

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

p.5

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Generally good resources are available for free choice creative activities such as sticking and painting but the opportunities for children to use these effectively is limited. They are developing their imagination in planned role play situations such as shopping for clothes. Good musical resources are available indoors and outdoors to enable children to develop their recognition of sound. A music teacher visits weekly for planned music sessions.

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 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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • Points for consideration • strengthen the programme for knowledge and understanding of the world to include visits outside the nursery environment • strengthen the programme for creative development to encourage children to independently choose a range of creative activities.

p.7

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.

p.7

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

p.7