Willoughby-on-the-Wolds Pre-School Playgroup

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 02/12/2002 Inspector Name Sharon Dickinson

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Willoughby - on- the - Wolds Playgroup Setting Address The Village Hall Willoughby - on - the - Wolds Leicestershire LE12 6SX

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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

Willoughby On The Wolds Preschool Playgroup opened over 25 years ago. It operates from two rooms within the village hall in Willoughby On The Wolds. The Preschool serves the rural community with children attending from isolated homes or small villages. There is also access to a kitchen, toilets and a small enclosed outdoor play area, which is sited at the front of the building. The Preschool Playgroup is registered to provide places for 24 children. There are currently 16 on roll. There are two funded three-year-olds and 10 funded funded four-year-olds. None of the funded children has special educational needs or has English as an additional language. Willoughby On The Wolds Preschool Playgroup is open every morning except Thursday with the opening hours being 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. On a Wednesday and Friday morning the sessions are also open to parents and younger children. A summer play scheme is also in operation for two weeks during

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Information about the setting

the school holiday. Children attend a variety of sessions each week. Four part time staff work with the children. Two of these hold Early Years qualifications. Willoughby On The Wolds Preschool Playgroup are members of the Preschool Learning Alliance, and receive support and advice from a mentor teacher who visits regularly.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Children's progress towards the early learning goals has some significant weaknesses. Though they make generally good progress in knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development. Teaching has some significant weaknesses. Staff create a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for children. However staff are not yet secure in their knowledge of the early learning goals and despite their enthusiasm and commitment, sometimes their questioning and explanations are ineffective for the children's age and stage of development i.e. use of mathematical resources. Staff are not always consistent in their approach to behaviour managment. There are missed opprtunities within communication, language and literacy i.e. extending children's vocabulary. Leadership and management has significant weaknesses. Management continue to evaluate the provision identifying staff training needs, improving documentation i.e. play plans

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How effective is the nursery education?

and prospectus etc. There is a clear absence of delegation of planning and evaluation of activities due to staffs limited knowledge of early learning goals. Partnership with parents is generally good. Parents feel involved and informed about their child's progress and speak highly of the playgroup and it's benefits to their children. Parents have regular opportunities to be involved with planning and committee meetings. Parents receive information on their child's progress and aims of the playgroup on an informal basis, although management are currently devising a prospectus including relevant information about the early learning goals.

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What is being done well?

Children are confident and motivated to try activities, they sustain interest and are able to work independently. Children are developing a sense of the world about them through topics and the roles that people play, and by learning about other cultures. Parents feel involved and speak highly of the playgroup they have regular opportunities to be involved with planning and committee meetings.

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What needs to be improved?

the staffs knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals. the organisation of planning in relation to early learning goals and clear activity aims. the provision of adequate information for parents regarding the aims of the setting and the early learning goals. the consistency of staffs approach to children's behaviour fostering children's understanding of right and wrong.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Improvement since the last inspection has been limited. The playgroup Supervisor is in the process of completing her National Vocational Qualification Level 3 training, and further staff training has been identified. Improved planning and assessments have been implemented, and continuous evaluation has lead to continued improvements in this system. Though some progress has been made toward meeting key issues from last inspection these are limited and some issues are still in need for improvement i.e. information given to parents about the educational provision, improvement of staffs knowledge of early learning goals.

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children are confident and motivated to try activities, they sustain interest and are able to work independently. Children have opportunities to self-select, which enables them to make decisions about their own learning and begin to use initiative. Children are not consistently encouraged to consider the consequences of their actions, and develop an understanding of right and wrong.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children learn about shapes and sounds of letters of the alphabet, and many are skilled in reading and writing their own names. There are insufficient opportunities for children to write and communicate meaning in real situations, for example lists, notepads, instructions. Children are given limited opportunities to extend their vocabulary and learn new words through everyday discussion with adults.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children count and recognise numbers up to 10 and show that they understand size and shape through practical activities and role-play. Children do not learn how to use mathematical resourses effectively subsequently more able children are not sufficiently challenged to extend their understanding mathematical language and practical problem solving.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children use their imagination and creativity in selecting, exploring and using materials and equipment such as staplers, tape etc. to join, fold and build. Children are developing a sense of the world about them through topics and the roles that people play, and by learning about other cultures. There are limited opportunities to use technological items to support learning, e.g. computer, programmable toys etc.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children access a range of small and large equipment to develop their hand-eye coordination and large and small motor skills e.g. climbing, balancing, scissor control, malleable activities etc. They move confidently and imaginatively with increasing control and coordination.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are able to explore colour, texture and shape in 2 and 3 dimension and express their ideas freely through a range of activities such as role-play and painting, music and movement etc. However childrens access to te role play area is limited at times by more dominant peers.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately: Y

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable but has some significant areas for improvement. Children progress towards the early learning goals is limited by some significant weaknesses. The next inspection will take place in one to two years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

1. Improve staffs knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals. 2. Develop planning in relation to early learning goals and clear activity aims. 3. Provide parents with information regarding the aims of the setting and the early learning goals. 4. Adopt a consistent approach to children's behaviour.

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