Ladybirds Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 19/10/2004 Inspector Name Karen Molloy

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Ladybirds Nursery Ltd Setting Address Birch Centre, Hill End Lane St. Albans Hertfordshire AL4 0RA

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Ladybirds Nursery Ltd Address Birch Centre Hill End Lane St. Albans Hertfordshire AL4 0RA

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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

Ladybirds Nursery operates from the Birch Centre on the Highfield Park Estate in St Albans. The building is leased from the Highfield Park Trust and the nursery have sole use, with nearby parking. The group were registered in January 2003 and established a baby unit in November 2003. The nursery is now able to care for children from 0 to under 5 years from 08:00 to 18:00. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, term time only and the baby unit operates all year round. Children can attend on a full time or part time basis. There are currently 119 children on roll. The nursery is in receipt of nursery education funding and currently has 37 3-year-olds and 7 4-year-old children. The setting supports a number of children with special needs and children who have English as an additional language. The nursery is jointly owned and managed by Bernadette Lee and Julie O' Kelly. Both owners are qualified, experienced early

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Information about the setting

years teachers. There is staff team of 18, of whom 13 hold an appropriate early years qualification. The nursery has successfully undertaken and achieved the Herfordshire Quality Standards (HQS) quality assurance scheme, in July 2003.

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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 provision for nursery education at Ladybirds Nursery is of high quality overall. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and are committed to ongoing training and development. They provide a positive learning environment and encourage, praise and support children. Staff offer stimulating experiences/challenges and ask questions that develop children's thinking. Children show a good awareness of behaviour expectations. Staff familiarise them with the Golden Rules and children respond well to the boundaries agreed. They show care and concern for others and good manners are encouraged and evident. Staff plan effectively within the six areas of learning and ensure the needs of all children are met. They organise a well balanced range of activities where children have the opportunity to play freely and

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How effective is the nursery education?

participate in more structured small group times. There are effective teaching strategies in place to support children with special educational needs. Staff maintain informative assessment records on the children that are effectively used to inform future planning. Children's progress towards the early learning goals is monitored and targets set for the children's next steps in learning. Leadership and management is very good. The group benefits from a dedicated staff team and enthusiastic managers who have clear expectations. The setting is well organised and there are systems in place for monitoring and evaluating practice. Managers are committed to improving and developing the care and education and practices have been introduced to enable staff to develop their skills further. Partnership with parents is generally good. The setting communicates with parents in a variety of ways about the provision and the Foundation Stage. Parents generally

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What is being done well?

• Staff provide a stimulating and rich learning environment which allows for many activities to take place at once, this ensures that over time, a broad and balanced curriculum is in place, to promote children's development in all six areas of learning. • Staff use good strategies to promote good behaviour and consideration for others. Children have had input into the Golden Rules and these give children clear and consistent boundaries. Staff regularly praise children and their own calm and polite manner sets a very good example for children. • Children's physical skills are promoted effectively through a stimulating range of indoor and outdoor activities. These include; daily walks into nearby

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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 woodland area or park, regular music and movement sessions, opportunities to use computers and other ICT equipment and the use of peg boards, threading resources, scissors and mark making materials to develop fine manipulative skills. • Children's personal, social and emotional development is supported well. They have the opportunity to choose freely from a range of activities during a session and also enjoy adult led activities. Children are happy to arrive and settle quickly. They are developing good social skills, working together cooperatively, sharing and taking turns with their peers. They sit attentively during large group time and respond to questions. • Parents are provided with well presented and informative literature. This includes a nursery booklet covering all areas of the nursery, information on

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What is being done well?

the Foundation Stage curriculum, policies, procedures and notices. Newsletters are detailed and useful and contain suggested ideas on how parents may be involved in their children's learning at home. Information on children's progress is also shared with parents both informally and through more formal, consultation sessions. A library system where children regularly borrow books to take home provides a link between home and nursery.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to initiate conversation, talk and express themselves freely

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This is the setting's first nursery education inspection.

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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 are happy and settled within their environment and participate enthusiastically in activities. They are confident to try new activities and initiate interactions with other people. Children display a high level of concentration as they become absorbed in large and small group times. They form good relationships with adults and peers, hugging each other and chatting with friends at snack time. Children show a good awareness of behavioural expectations.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children listen very well and respond appropriately to adults, who ask challenging questions to make them think. Regular opportunities exist for children to make marks, using a variety of resources including the role play area. Children are developing a wide vocabulary, whilst exploring the meaning of words too. Children are beginning to link sounds to letters and name and sound letters of the alphabet. Children are able to recognise their name on arrival, with some beginning to form letters.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Adults provide practical opportunities, such as, the car park for children to develop their understanding of various mathematical concepts. Many children are able to count reliably to 10 and some to 18. They count the number of children present and know how many corresponding ticks are needed. Children benefit from good support to help them understand shape, space and measure. A jug and hot water bottle introduces the idea of capacity and develops the use of mathematical language.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to design and construct with a range of objects, often with a purpose in mind, with one child persisting in creating a pulley system he had seen earlier. Some children are competent in following detailed instructions in order to build a Lego model, brought into nursery. Children show an interest in ICT, are competent in using the equipment and very able in completing simple program/performing simple functions, with children helping each other.

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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 Many opportunities exist for children to develop their physical skills, both inside and out of the nursery. Children handle tools, objects and malleable materials, such as, scissors, knives, pegs, brushes, dough and pencils safely and with increasing control. They have regular music and movement sessions where children move in a range of ways with good control and coordination. For example, shrugging shoulders, flapping hands and stamping feet. Children participate in daily outdoor walks.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good access to a range of materials and media to promote their understanding and exploration of colour, shape, texture and form. Sand, water and paint are available daily for children to select independently and activities such as mixing colours, leaf rubbings and dough prints introduce new skills. Children engage in various imaginative and role play situations such as car washing and a departure lounge. Children create detailed drawings representing a fire officer's visit.

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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; • opportunities for children to talk and express themselves freely 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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