Little Sunflowers

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 01/12/2004 Inspector Name Elaine Poulton

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Sunflowers Nursery Setting Address Beacon Road Pheasey,Great Barr Birmingham B43 7BW

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Sunflowers Nurseries Ltd Address Beacon Road Great Barr Birmingham West Midlands B43 7BW

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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

Sunflowers Day Nursery opened in 2000. It operates from six rooms in single storey premises in Great Barr, Birmingham. The nursery serves the local and surrounding areas. There are currently 156 children from 0 to 5 years on roll. This includes 25 funded 3-year-olds and 7 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports a number of children with special needs. The nursery opens five days a week all year round, from 07:30 until 18:00. Twenty-three part time and 11 full time staff work with the children. More than half of the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. Three staff are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP). They are taking part in the National Day Nurseries Association quality assurance scheme.

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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?

Sunflowers Nursery provides high quality provision overall, which helps the children make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas. The quality of teaching is very good owing to the staff having a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage. Plans are detailed and allow for all children to take part. Staff provide a variety of lively, interesting and purposeful activities to support children's learning, although some children's understanding, thinking or problem solving skills are not always clearly questioned. There is an effective key-worker system in place and assessments are carried out informally whilst children work and play. Relationships between children and staff are good which helps children to feel relaxed and confident as young learners. Staff consistently praise children's good behaviour and achievements and children behave well. The leadership and management of the group are very good. Professional

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How effective is the nursery education?

development is supported and staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge through attendance at appropriate training courses. Effective systems are in place to monitor the quality of teaching and identify and address training needs. Staff are committed to the provision of quality nursery education. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are kept well informed about their children's achievements and they receive individual assessments that contain details about their child's progress in the six areas of learning. Parents are welcome to be involved in their child's learning and to be part of nursery life.

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What is being done well?

• Staff plan a broad and full curriculum for children. There is a varied range of purposeful activities that encourage children to learn and have fun, resulting in children enjoying their nursery day. • Staff present activities in a creative way and children are motivated to learn as a result. The resources are well exploited and children particularly take pleasure in imaginative role play, such as dressing up as crocodiles, cats, and rabbits. Children enjoy experimenting with different textures such as model making with quick drying plaster. • Staff work well together to provide a bright and stimulating learning environment and they spend the majority of their time with the children, leading or supporting activities. The balance of staff led and child centred activities enables children to work in small groups, explore independently and to have choices. • Staff provide opportunities for all children to take part in plays and group story

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What is being done well?

time. Staff support the children and give consistent praise. Children learn

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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 their words and actions and repeat them with confidence, enthusiasm and sense of achievement. • Relationships between staff and the children and their parents are good.

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What needs to be improved?

• the questioning techniques used to support children's understanding of mathematical concepts such as subtracting number and to encourage thinking and problem solving skills.

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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 Children enjoy their time in the nursery and are eager to join in. They are confident to try out new activities and repeat familiar ones. They are beginning to share and take turns on equipment and they are learning a sense of what is right and wrong. Children select resources independently and persist for extended periods of time with activities of their own choosing. They are helped to understand that people have different beliefs, cultures and needs through planned activities and routines.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children interact well with each other and with adults. They speak clearly and are able to initiate and sustain conversations. They ask why things happen, although sometimes children are not always clearly questioned on their understanding. Children participate well in storybook plays and handle books carefully. They can recognise some words and letters and recall initial sounds. Children are beginning to write recognisable letters on the wallboard and some write their name well.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children reliably count to ten and beyond. They begin to recognise shapes and patterns through creative activities. Children begin to use mathematical language such as long and short when measuring parts of their bodies, although not all are clearly questioned to think through or problem solve. They can recognise and name shapes and patterns through creative and planned activities. Children learn to sort size and position items through planned opportunities and everyday routines.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children have opportunity to learn about their environment and they show curiosity exploring living creatures, such as tadpoles and frogs. Children are developing a sense of time and place and are learning about the days of the week and linking days to events, festivals and celebrations. They take an interest in discovering how and why things work such as a vice and battery operated toys. Children are developing confidence in using everyday technology such as a computer, mouse and keyboard.

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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

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are active and move confidently and safely. They can go forwards and backwards and manoeuvre around obstacles with growing control and coordination. They learn how their bodies work through songs, role-play and by taking part in discussions. Children understand about the importance of good hygiene and staying healthy and know why they wash and wipe their hands. Children are beginning to handle fastenings, scissors and construction materials with increasing dexterity and control.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have opportunities to explore a variety of colours and textures through painting, play dough and collage activities. They are able to express their ideas freely through a wide range of media such as modelling materials, cooking ingredients and puppets. Children respond well to music, songs and rhymes and learn new songs and actions for concerts and plays quickly. Children are developing their imaginative play and join in enthusiastically with dressing up activities and role-play themes.

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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 the following: • Build on existing questioning techniques to support children's understanding, thinking and problem solving.

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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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