Illogan School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 18/03/2003 Inspector Name Wendy, Anne Lunn

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Out of School Day Care Setting Name Highbury College, Childcare Providers Setting Address Dovercourt Road Portsmouth Hampshire PO6 2SA

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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

Ladybird Nursery is part of the Highbury College childcare provision. It is situated on the first floor of the sports block at the Wembly Grove entrance to the campus. The nursery have use of a self contained open playroom unit. There is a fully enclosed, soft surface, outside play area. It cares for children from students and the local community. The registration is for 20 children. There are currently 32 children, from six months to five years of age, on the roll. This includes six funded three year olds and seven funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are no children with special needs at this time. All of the children, currently attending, speak English as their first language. The nursery opens five days a week during school term times. Sessions are from 08:30 until 17:00 hours. Four part time staff, and two full time staff, work with the children. All staff have early

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Information about the setting

years qualifications. There is a training programme in place for all staff. The setting receives support from a teacher from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, and from liaison with the local schools.

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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?

Highbury Ladybirds nursery offers acceptable nursery education and is of good quality overall. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Inspect in three-four years. The overall quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a sound knowledge of individual children, and have established good relationships with them. They praise and encourage children increasing their confidence and self esteem. They have high expectations of behaviour and use most daily routines to extend children's learning.However,some opportunities are missed, and insufficient use is made of assessments to progress children's learning and planning does not reflect individual needs. Children are making very good progress in mathematical development, and generally good progress in personal, social and emotional development,communication,language and literacy, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical development, and creative development. There are currently

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How effective is the nursery education?

no children attending with special educational needs or who speak English as an additional language,however,systems are in place to provide support. Leadership and management is generally good.The nursery is currently receiving support from a suitably qualified and experienced member of staff from within the college.They work closely with local schools and a qualified teacher from within the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. A strong staff team are in place who work together to improve the quality of the education within the nursery. They have yet to fully develop how practice is evaluated, and how children are assessed, related to the early learning goals. Partnership with parents and carers is generally good. Parents receive useful information about the setting and its provision.However,they are not given information on their children's progress through the stepping stones so they are not

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What is being done well?

• Staff create a stimulating environment where children learn, through a wide range of practical activities,during the daily routine. • Relationships within the nursery are very good.Staff question children effectively encouraging them to contribute their own ideas. All children are valued and staff have a good knowledge of children's home circumstances. • Children's progress in mathematics is very good. Many learning opportunities are provided throughout the day to extend childrens knowledge of

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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 numbers,size,and shape. • Children are confident and able to communicate.They co-operate,take the initiative,and show good levels of concentration.Behaviour is very good.

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What needs to be improved?

• staff's knowledge of the early learning goals, and how to use assessments to plan and evaluate for the next stage of learning. • the structure of all activities and resources to fully extend children's learning and provide sufficient challenge.(hand writing) • opportunities for parents to be actively involved in their childrens' developmental progress,and how to extend their learning at home.

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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: Generally Good Personal, social and emotional development is generally good. The children are confident, they take the initiative, and show high levels of concentration e.g. during free play activities. They develop good relationships with peers and adults, and co-operate and share resources. The staff have a very good knowledge of the childrens individual needs,home circumstances and family situations. There are some missed opportunities to extend the childrens learning during the daily routine.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Communication, language and literacy is generally good. The children's language skills are good,they are confident in interaction with the staff and each other and can express ideas in imaginative play.The staff extend childrens vocabulary through discussion, and question children effectively. However, children are not given every opportunity to practise handwriting skills, and there is a lack of extension of activities for older/more able children.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Mathematical development is very good. Staff make very good use of practical situations and incidental opportunities to introduce the language of mathematics and to help consolidate learning. The children are confident in recognising and using numbers in familiar context ,and have a good understanding of shape and size. They use a wide range of mathematical vocabulary and are confident in comparing and measuring.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Knowledge and understanding of the world is generally good. The children enjoy exploring and investigating and staff encourage children to discuss what they have found. Children are confident in using I T equipment. They learn about their environment and the world around them through planned topic work.However,children are given limited opportunity to investigate and explore natural materials,and there is a lack of provision of resources reflecting a diversity of culture,gender,and ability.

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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: Generally Good Physical development is generally good. Children demonstrate a sound sense of space and move confidently during physical activities. A wide range of large and small equipment is available for children to use throughout the day. Children enjoy developing skills in the use of tools and malleable materials. A lack of planned provision in the organisation of outside play results in an inconsistent range of physical activities being provided throughout the year.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Creative development is generally good. Children are confident and enjoy expressing themselves in many activities during the daily routine. They talk to each other, enjoy participating in singing sessions, and have built up a repertoire of songs and rhymes. Children do not have free access to explore a range of materials as staff lay out resources and select tools and equipment.

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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

• Increase staff knowledge of the early learning goals and how to use the stepping stones to plan for the children's next stage of learning. • Provide additional opportunities to extend childrens learning through activities such as:snack time,lunchtime,outside play time and the assessibility of creative resources.

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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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