Busy Bees Day Nursery at Northampton Wootton Fields

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 03/03/2005 Inspector Name Kristin Hatherly

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Princess Christian Day Nursery Setting Address Wootton Fields Centre Wootton Hope Drive Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 6DY

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Princess Christian Address Central Office Second Avenue, Centrum 100 Burton Upon Trent STAFFS DE14 2WF

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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

Princess Christian Day Nursery, Wootton Fields, is owned by Nord Anglia based in Cheshire. It is situated at Wootton Fields Centre, Wootton Fields, on the outskirts of Northampton. The nursery is registered to provide full day care for 110 children under the age of eight years. The nursery is open each week day from 7:30 to 18:00 with the exception of bank holidays. There are currently 105 children on the roll. Of these, 29 children receive funding for nursery education. The nursery serves the local community and children come for variety of sessions. The nursery is able to support children with special needs and children who speak English as an additional language. There are 17 full time and 16 part-time staff working with the children. Fourteen members of staff have appropriate childcare qualifications and five members of staff are working towards an appropriate childcare qualification. The setting receives

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Information about the setting

support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

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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?

Princess Christian Day Nursery provides very good quality nursery education overall which enables children to make good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good overall. Staff have a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage, which can be seen through the planning of a wide range of interesting activities. Assessments and observations are used well to give a clear picture of children's progress and are used to inform planning and promote the next steps for individual children. However, the new evaluation forms have yet to be developed to also help effectively inform the planning. Staff know the children well, and are able to adjust activities to cover individual needs and interests. They are able to support children with special educational needs or who are learning to speak English as an additional language. All children are encouraged to take part in the activities. Staff explain activities clearly, and make good use of questioning to

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How effective is the nursery education?

encourage children to think. Sessions are well organised to allow free-play, and children move around confidently, showing interest in activities. Staff promote good behaviour through consistent methods of behaviour management and children behave very well. Leadership and management is very good overall. Staff have relevant qualifications and continue to develop their skills. They work well together as a team. Management and staff show commitment to the continuing improvement of care and education. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents have access to comprehensive information about the setting and their children's progress towards the early learning goals. Children's records are always available and parents can talk to staff at any time. Parents speak positively about the setting and what the children are taught. They are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning

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How effective is the nursery education?

and are well informed about how to support this at home.

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What is being done well?

• Children are confident and develop a positive view of themselves as successful learners. They are developing personal independence, for example, in matters of dressing and hygiene. They are beginning to develop a sense of community through conversations about experiences from different parts of their lives and frequent walks locally. • Children speak confidently in small and large groups, using language for a variety of purposes and take turns in conversations. They are developing their early writing skills. Some children can write their names and others can write recognisable letters of their name. • Children count spontaneously and confidently. Some children are starting to recognise written numerals and are developing appropriate mathematical

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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 language and solving simple problems. • Children move with increasing control and coordination participating in a range of activities to develop their physical skills. They have a growing awareness of the space around them as they move between activities and manoeuvre wheeled toys. They handle a wide range of tools, construction resources and malleable materials. • Children use their imaginations creatively during role play, small world play and as they build using a variety of construction resources. They explore sound using a range of musical instruments and enjoy singing.

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What needs to be improved?

• the development of the new evaluation system to further guide planning and teaching.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made in implementing the action plan drawn up to address the key issues raised at the last inspection. There are clear assessment systems in place supported by observations which clearly identify what children know and informs the planning accurately of what they need to learn next. Parents are provided with information about topics which includes information about what they can do at home. There is a space in the children's folders for parent's observations so parents can inform the nursery about children's 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: Very Good The children are confident and independent and show interest in the range of resources and activities provided and are motivated to learn. Children have a good awareness of the daily routines and work effectively together in small and large groups. They develop good relationship with staff and peers. Children behave well, understand what is right and wrong and show care and concern for each other. Children are building a very good sense of community through walks locally.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children speak confidently in small and large groups, using language for a variety of purposes and take turns in conversations. They listen and respond well to questions. Children experiment with writing as part of play and are developing their early writing skills. Some children can write their names and others can write recognisable letters of their name. Most children recognise letters and their sounds. Children are encouraged to share books and read independently.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing an interest in number and count spontaneously and confidently. Some children are starting to recognise written numerals and are developing appropriate mathematical language and solving simple problems. Children discover the property of shape through construction and craft activities. They understand concepts around size, weight and volume, as they measure and compare in activities such as water play.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children investigate and explore a variety of textures and materials that stimulate their curiosity. They investigate the properties of a variety of substances and learn about growth through planting seeds. Children are beginning to learn how to operate simple equipment and use a computer. They talk about past and present events in their lives and are developing a sense of place through visits in the local community. They are developing an awareness of diversity.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move with increasing control and coordination participating in a range of activities to develop their physical skills. They have a growing awareness of the space around them and the close proximately of others as they move between activities and manoeuvre wheeled toys. They are developing an awareness of their own physical needs including healthy eating and good hygiene practices. They handle a variety of tools, construction resources and malleable materials.

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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: Very Good Children take part in a variety of activities exploring different media and materials. They create collage pictures using different textured materials and create models using both papier mache and wood. They use their imaginations during role play and small world play and as they build using a variety of construction resources. They explore sound with a range of instruments, music and singing. Children draw and paint freely and have free-access to a variety of craft materials.

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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: • the development of the new evaluation system to further guide planning and teaching.

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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.

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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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