Venture Academy

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/02/2005 Inspector Name Patricia Chapman

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Phoenix Montessori Nursery Setting Address 27 Stamford Hill London N16 5TN

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REGISTERED PROVIDER 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

Phoenix Montessori Nursery, opened in 1991. It operates from 2 rooms situated on the ground floor and basement of a large house. Children have access to a secure garden area. The nursery is situated in Stamford Hill in the London Borough of Hackney. There are currently 39 children from 2 to 5 years on roll. This includes 21 funded three and funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of session. The group supports 2 children who speak English as an additional language. The group opens 5 days a week all year round. Sessions are from 08:00 until 18:00. Eleven full time staff work with the children. Ten have early years qualification. One staff member is currently on a training programme. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP). The nursery uses Montessori teaching methods.

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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?

The standard of education offered at Phoenix Montessori Nursery is of high quality and the children are making very good progress towards the Early Learning Goals. The quality of teaching is very good overall. Staff have a good understanding of the early learning goals, they are effective Montessori teachers and have a good understanding of how children learn. Resources are used well to support the development of the children's individual interests and abilities. Activities are well balanced between self chosen and adult directed activities throughout the day. Staff interact well with children, they are attentive and extend children's achievements through valuable questioning and encouragement. Staff are able to keep children focused at group story time and have a good understanding of how to use props to maintain the children's interest and attention. Staff manage children's behaviour well and their high expectations are reflected in the children's conduct. The resources are

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How effective is the nursery education?

well organised to promote the children's independent learning. Observations of the children's skills are well used to monitor and extend children's progress in the six areas. The leadership and management is very good. Staff are clear upon their roles and responsibilities. Staff are supported by the senior worker during supervision sessions and they have training opportunities to update their teaching skills. The nursery has effective strategies in place to develop practice. The nursery works well in partnership with parents and who recive regular feed back relating to their children's progress. Parents are well informed about the activities that their children undertake within the nursery. There is little written information of the next steps for individual learning in children's records, this may limit the parents ability to work in partnership with the nursery to support their children's learning.

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What is being done well?

• The support children receive, by good quality interaction with staff, to develop their own ideas and interests. • The organisation of resources and routine of the day that encourages children's independent learning. • The support children receive from staff to use resources in a creative and meaningful way. • The positive behaviour management employed by staff to create a calm and positive • learning environment for the children.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• The identification in children's developmental records of the next step in children's individual learning across the six areas of the curriculum, to enable parents and students to work closer together with staff to support the children's learning

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Generally good progress has been made since the last inspection. The assessment sheets used to monitor the children's progress is now under the heading of the six areas of learning. Children now have good opportunities to develop their creative skills, and are encouraged to explore and express their own ideas while engaging in activities. Parents are regularly given updates on their children's progress across the six areas of learning. Parents are encouraged to share their knowledge about the progress their children are making in the home environment with staff.

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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 show increasing confidence in their environment and initiate their own learning with staff on hand to support and guide. They talk freely about their home life and experiences and have an increasing awareness of their own and others needs. Children behave well, are independent and concentrate well while engaging in a range of activities. They form good relationships with adults and are able to sit quietly and enjoy group activities such as story time.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children listen to stories and show an increasing vocabulary. They use talk in imaginary situations and increasingly to discuss and clarify their ideas. Children demonstrate a growing enjoyment of books and concentrate well at story time and enjoy the props used by staff such as finger puppets. They are learning that print carries meaning and becoming confident when using tools for early writing.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children demonstrate an increasing ability to problem solve while engaged in a range of activities. They enjoy number rhymes and the sequence of stories and events. Children show curiosity about numbers and often count reliably up to ten and beyond. They frequently talk about shape and size when engaging practical and Montessori activities. They able to sort by size, shape and colour. They use positional language when playing with resources such as the doll's house.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children show interest in the world in which they live, ask questions and identify features of plants and insects in the garden. They frequently go on outings to places of interest and visit people living in the local community. They have good opportunities to learn about different cultural celebrations and festivals. They make good use of technology to support their learning by using the tape recorder to listen to stories and record their own singing and story telling.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move with increasing confidence and enjoying music and movement sessions. Children handle tools and equipment with safety and increasing control to support activities such as drawing, cutting and model making. They have good opportunities to develop the physical skills in the outdoor area and wellington boots are provided so they can enjoy the outside environment in wet weather.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

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

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children respond well to a varied and sensory environment. They use equipment imaginatively and are encouraged to express their own ideas while engaging in a range of activities. Children regularly engage in music sessions and dance sessions and particular enjoy stories and dance supported by a visiting story teller. Children have daily opportunities for role play and small world play such as the doll's house.

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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 improving the following: • identify the next stage of children's learning across the six areas of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and share this information with parents.

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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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