North East Wolverhampton Partnership

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/03/2004 Inspector Name Anne Jeanette Faithfull

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name HARPSDEN PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP Setting Address HARPSDEN VILLAGE HALL GILLOTS LANE,HARPSDEN HENLEY ON THAMES Oxfordshire RG9 4HJ

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HARPSDEN PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP 1029269

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HARPSDEN PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP Address Harpsden Village Hall Harpsden Henley on Thames Oxfordshire RG9 4HJ

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

Harpsden Pre-School Playgroup opened in 1993. It operates from Harpsden Village Hall near Henley-on-Thames. The pre-school serves the local area. There are currently 23 children from two to five years on roll. This includes nine funded three year olds and nine funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The pre-school has systems in place to support children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The pre-school opens four days a week during school term time. Sessions are from 09.15 to 12.00 the older children have the opportunity to attend a lunch club on Tuesday until 13.00. Five members of staff work with the children. Two members of staff have arly years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3 or equivalent. One member of staff is currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare

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?

Harpsden Pre-School Playgroup provides high quality nursery education. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. Teaching is very good. Staff knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals is very good and enables them to work together as a team to provide suitable activities and experiences. The children are confident, happy, settled and eager to participate in the wide range of activities and experiences. Staff are effective in their use of questioning to encourage children's thinking and communication skills. There are limited opportunities for the children to experience and use everyday technology. Staff have effective strategies to manage children's behaviour and encourage children to share and co-operate, relationships between staff and children are very good. A planning and assessment system is in place and is used well to check and record the children's progress towards the early learning goals. Staff participate in planning

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

and written evaluations take place on the planned activities provided to ensure they are suitable to promote all areas of learning. There are currently no children in attendance with special educational needs or English as an additional language. Leadership and management are very good. The committee and staff work well as a team and are committed to ongoing development of staff and continued improvement in the quality of education provided. The staff value the support of the committee. The appraisal system in place for the staff ensures a continuing commitment to the children 's education and on-going training for the staff. The partnership with parents is very good and contributes to the children's progress towards the early learning goals. Parents are encouraged to participate in a number of ways including the parents rota which enables parents to experience the daily resources and activities offered. Parents are given verbal feedback regarding their

p.3

What is being done well?

• Staff knowledge of the early learning goals is very good and enables them to work well together as a team to provide interesting and stimulating opportunities, activities and experiences for the children both indoors and outdoors. • Children's personal, social and emotional development is very good. They are confident, competent and interested in learning. The children are well behaved and good relationships are in place with the staff and children interact well with each other. • Children's communication skills are very good. They are confident in their

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 interaction with staff and can express themselves well. Staff make effective use of questioning to encourage children's communication and thinking skills. • Staff have developed a very good partnership with the parents. Parents are encouraged to be involved with their child's learning and are well informed about their child's progress.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to experience everyday technology in daily routines and activities.

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

Not applicable this is the first inspection.

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 confident, interested, enthusiastic and eager to participate in all activities. They can express themselves well. Relationships are very good with each other and staff, the children show consideration and support for others. The children are well behaved, negotiate well with each other and have a clear understanding of right and wrong.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children communicate and listen well to each other, visitors and staff. Children's contributions in circle time are encouraged and valued. Many of the children are beginning to recognise and write their own name. Activities provided especially the role-play activities offered foster language and literacy skills. Staff effectively make good use of open ended questioning to extend children's thinking and communication skills.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Staff use everyday situations effectively to extend children's counting and number skills. Children can confidently count to nine and beyond. Staff provide good opportunities through planned role-play for example the post office and practical activities to enable the children to experience shape, measure, weight and size. Good use is made of the outdoor area to reinforce the understanding of numbers, including children's own number plates on the bikes.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Staff make effective use of circle time to draw on children's past and present events in their lives and the lives of others. Children have good opportunities to question why things happen and how things work, however, children have limited opportunities to use everyday technology daily. Staff provide many opportunities for the children to experience design and making skills for example the mother day cards and the fridge magnets the children had made.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are given the opportunity through a variety of different activities to effectively use both malleable materials and tools. Children are confident in their personal independence skills and show an awareness of basic hygiene. Children use a variety of equipment with increasing control. Children are given the opportunity outdoors to increase their gross motor skills and co-ordination for example riding the bikes and scooters.

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: Very Good Children are able to express their ideas and feelings and to explore their senses through a wide range of activities including sniff and scratch books. Children are encouraged to use their imagination for example in the story sack sessions. Children use a variety of materials daily to explore texture, shape and colour and good opportunities are provided to encourage children's individual creative skills. Children are encouraged and enjoy singing familiar songs and rhymes.

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: • There is no significant weakness to report but consideration should be given to improve the following, • provide opportunities for children to use and experience everyday technology.

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