Portico Lodge

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 15/11/2004 Inspector Name Susan, Helen Spencer

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Portico Lodge Setting Address Portico Lane Eccelston Park St Helens Merseyside L35 7JS

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Nicole Politis & Savas Politis Address Portico Lodge Portico Lane, Eccleston Park Prescot Merseyside L35 7JS

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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

Portico Lodge Nursery was formally a residential property and is in the Eccleston Park area of St. Helens. The ground floor has been suitably converted by the registered person Mrs Nicole Politis, to provide daycare for 30 children aged between birth and five years. Children are grouped according to age in one of four rooms, with two staff deployed in each room. Mrs Politis who is N.N.E.B. qualified manages the nursery, the staff group all hold a childcare qualification with the exception of one who is working toward NVQ Level 3. Families who use the nursery are, in the main, working parents who live in, or near, the local community. Currently there are ten children attending who are in receipt of education funded places. The nursery is open daily from 8:00a.m. until 6:00p.m. Monday to Friday throughout the year with a two week closure over the Christmas period. Overnight care is not provided.

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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?

Portico Lodge provides good-quality nursery education overall which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provision for their personal, social and emotional development,communication, language and literacy, physical and creative development,is particularly well-planned and they make very good progress in these areas. Teaching is generally good and is guided by teachers' good planning that helps children make good progress towards achieving the early learning goals. The good assessment procedures are effectively used so that staff have a good knowledge and understanding of children's individual needs. The early years curriculum is firmly embedded and provision is very good in most areas of learning. However, some aspects of mathematical development and of children's creative development are not sufficiently extended. The leadership and management are very good. Staff are very effectively managed

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How effective is the nursery education?

and very good provision is made for their ongoing professional development. All procedures and policies are in place and guide the effective and efficient running of the nursery. Links with parents are very good. There are good systems of communication. The manager and staff are readily accessible and parents obtain good information about their children's progress.

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What is being done well?

• Staff offer a high level of care, leading to very good relationships and effective learning. • The provision for personal, social and emotional development, communication language and literacy, knowledge and understanding of the world and physical development is very good. • Planning is good and identifies what children have to do and learn. Weekly evaluation helps them to plan effectively for the next stage of learning. • The leadership and management are very good and there is a commitment to the on-going professional development of the staff. • partnership with parents is very good. They receive good information about their children and are happy with what the nursery has to offer.

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What needs to be improved?

• the mathematical development of children

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What needs to be improved?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • the range of resources materials and opportunities for furthering children's creative development.

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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 settle quickly at nursery. Very good relationships between children and carers result in very good attitudes to learning and behaviour. They listen well, follow instructions and choose equipment sensibly and responsibly. Children are aware of different feelings such as sad and happy and they express these through paintings. Children respect other customs and celebrations by learning about Holi and Diwali, especially when parents and visitors demonstrate traditional dress and foods.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children have very good speaking and listening skills. They interact well as they work and play together. Children recognise their names and practise writing in imaginative play. They select and look at their favourite books and enjoy stories. Understanding is very good, so that they happily talk about characters, such as, Billy Goat Gruff.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children have secure counting skills, but matching numbers to objects is less well developed. Problem solving is introduced into daily activities, when laying tables and organising plates. Children name regular two-dimensional shapes in sand and water play. Mathematical language is appropriate, but there are many unused opportunities for further development in routine activities. Similarly, display is not effective in encouraged learning and mathematical development.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children learn effectively through exciting activities. They hunt for worms, woodlice and centipedes, gaining knowledge through investigation. They learn that sand is a better building medium when mixed with water. Children select from a several construction kits to design and build very imaginative models. ICT and mouse control skills are very good. Well-displayed posters help them realise that they have similarities and differences with children of other races and countries.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children show very good control of their movements. They have very good regard for safety and use space effectively. They balance on the edge of the boat and run, slide, jump and climb over and under obstacles very confidently. Provision of fruit at snack times has developed in them a good understanding of healthy eating habits. Children very skilfully handle small tools, brushes, spreaders and markers very well.

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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: Generally Good Children paint very good portraits of themselves and print interesting patterns using hands, cut vegetables and other shapes. They blend various mediums to make textured designs. Paper collage work is appropriate, but there is not enough choice of materials. Creative play is generally good and helps extend communication skills, as children dress-up and engage in role-play. Singing is enjoyable for children, but instruments are not well used to experiment with sounds.

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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 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.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• extend children's learning opportunities for their mathematical development across all areas of learning and through better classroom display • provide a wider range of resources and materials so that children may have broader choices and experiences in their creative development.

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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.

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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

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