Brandon Preschool

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 04/11/2004 Inspector Name Julie Youngman (TCCI)

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Brandon Pre-School Playgroup Setting Address Forest School Market Hill Brandon Suffolk IP27 0AD

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Brandon Pre-School Playgroup 1029166

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Brandon Pre-School Playgroup Address Forest School Market Hill Brandon Suffolk IP27 0AD

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

Brandon Pre-School Playgroup meets in the old Brandon Forest School. The group is registered for 18 children from aged 2 - 5 years. The group is very well established with long serving members of staff. The Senior Supervisor has been in working at the playgroup for 10 years and has been Senior Supervisor since September. The former Senior Supervisor remains a Supervisor working for 2 mornings a week, she has been working at the playgroup since 1980. There are 18 children on roll at present. 16 are funded 3 year olds . The rooms used by the playgroup are rented from Suffolk County Council. The group operates for 4 mornings 9-00am - 11-25am and 4 afternoons 1-00pm - 3-25pm per week during term time only.

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?

The provision for nursery education at Brandon Pre-School Playgroup is acceptable and of good quality. Children are making good progress towards the Early Learning Goals in all six areas of learning. They are interested and well motivated to take all learning opportunities offered to them. A significant feature of this playgroup is the confidence of the children and the level of concentration they show in their learning. Teaching is very good. The staff have a clear understanding of the Early Learning Goals and how children learn. All staff show a caring and respectful attitude to all children. Staff have good knowledge of the individual needs of each child and meet those needs successfully. They set very good challenges for children and use appropriate methods to help each individual child meet those challenges. The well planned nursery activities stimulate good imaginative talk. Children are encouraged

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

to choose their own activities and follow their interests. Their progress through the planned programme is monitored and they are guided to try all planned learning. Staff are skilful in drawing information from children, answering their questions fully and giving them further information. Leadership and management of the setting is good. The playgroup leader constantly seeks expert advice to further develop the work of the setting. The management committee of the playgroup show interest and are involved in its day to day running. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are well informed about their children's progress and events in the playgroup. They like the activities their children are offered and hold the work of the staff and how they approach their children in high regard.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children are taught to speak clearly, give their ideas and listen well. For example in the discussion about seasonal change children were able to say what clothes they wore for winter weather and why. In discussing bonfire experiences children were able to talk about points of fire and firework safety. • The wide range of interesting play based activities ensure children are eager to learn. • All possible opportunities are taken to teach basic mathematical skills on a one to one basis. • Children have a good range of activities offered in the school hall that enable them to develop physically. For example children showed good confidence in using the climbing frame and using wheeled vehicles. • Staff know each individual child very well and adapt the well planned programme of learning to cater for the needs of each playgroup member on

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 all possible occasions. • Parents think highly of the playgroup and its work.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• Continue to develop the process of planning and assessment, taking advice from LEA Early Years Staff. • Develop ways to involve parents and carers in the day to day activities in the playgroup.

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 Happy children express their needs and share their ideas and views with confidence. For example when children enter the room they are greeted by name, they greet the staff then collect their name cards and add their name to the name tree. They are able to say what activity they would like to try first and then talk about what they were going to do to complete the activity. They show an imaginative interest in all learning activities and concentrate well. Behaviour and co-operation is good.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children engage in conversation easily with other children and all staff showing awareness of the listener. Children develop language for thinking through a wide range of stimulating activities. They listen and respond well to stories and discussions about seasonal change. They draw on past personal experiences to talk about how to keep warm by wearing gloves in winter and how to keep safe near bonfires.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children can count successfully above 1-5. They do so as part of practical activities such are counting the objects they are using and counting shapes they have made in the sand. Children can name position and use size comparison words correctly. Staff take all possible opportunities to teach basic mathematical skills on a one to one basis.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children freely discuss their lives, past experiences and day to day events. They show good understanding of seasonal change. In role play they show understanding of the use of phones, calculators, and simple computers. They show very good observational skills and recall in playing "Kim's" game. They build interesting models with construction kits and can describe and explain what they are doing. Children eagerly explore how objects float or sink in water and the texture of sand.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children have daily access to physical activities indoors. Although there are no facilities for outdoor physical play, the large hall space offers good physical development opportunities. A wide range of physical activities are planned and guided choice is offered with good supervision. Children climb, run, slide, and ride bikes with good control and co-ordination. They use tools well including rollers, cutters, pencils and paintbrushes, in painting, dough and bonfire 3 dimensional activities.

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 Children are given a wide range of opportunities to explore different media and materials. Staffs use skilful interactions to guide children on the successful use of tools and resources. Children are encouraged to express their own creativity in each activity; they use a good range of musical instruments to accompany their enthusiastic singing of songs and reciting of rhymes. They use all their senses well in exploring different materials and express what they find in shape, texture and form.

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

• Continue to develop of the process of planning and assessment, taking advice from the LEA Early Years Staff. • Develop ways to involve parents and carers in the day to day activities of the playgroup.

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