Kids Academy - West Park

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 27/09/2004 Inspector Name Thecla Grant

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Kids Academy -West Park Setting Address West Park Drive Spen Lane, West Park Leeds West Yorkshire LS16 5AS

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Kids Academy Ltd Address West Park Drive, Spen Lane,West Park Leeds West Yorkshire LS16 5AS

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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

Kids academy West Park opened in 1997. The nursery operates from rooms in an old church hall in the West Park area of Leeds. The nursery is part of a local chain. The nursery is registered for 55 children aged from 3 months to five years. They are currently caring for 64 children of which 15 three-year-olds are in receipt of nursery education funding. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports a number of children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The group opens from 07.30 to 18:00 Monday to Friday all year round. There are 13 full and 2 part-time staff working with the children. The majority of staff hold a relevant childcare qualification. Two staff are working towards gaining a recognised qualification. The setting currently receives support from the Local Authority.

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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?

Kids Academy Ltd provides high quality nursery education overall, which enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff manage children very well and have a good relationship with them. Staff have a very good knowledge of the early learning goals and plan a very interesting selection of activities, which effectively link to the six areas of learning. Equipment and resources are used effectively in all areas of the nursery, to encourage children to be independent learners although children's access to musical instruments and time allowed for children to think things through for themselves is limited. Assessment systems are sufficiently developed to show how children are working towards the early learning goals. There are excellent systems in place to support children with special educational needs and who speak

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How effective is the nursery education?

English as an additional language. The leadership and management is very good. Staff know what is expected of them and are committed to improving the care and education of the setting. The manager acts on advice and has implemented a programme for staff development aimed at improving teaching, which is welcomed by the staff. The partnership with parents is very good. Parents are given very good opportunities to become involved in their children's learning. Parents are well informed about their child's achievements through parents evenings. They are well informed about forthcoming themes and are encouraged to make suggestions.

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What is being done well?

• Staff work effectively in partnership with parents. They are given good opportunities to become involved in their children's learning. They are well informed about their child's achievements, through progress reports and parents evenings. Parents are effectively encouraged to share what they know about their child. • Children show increasing independence in selecting and carrying out activities. They know the routine well and confidently seek others out to share experiences. Children are learning personal independence as they try to put their coats on. One three-year-old is able to fasten his coat, the other three-year-old with him says "well done you can do it by yourself." • Children are learning about their health and bodily awareness. Two 3-year-olds explain what the different items on their interest table are for. One child explains about the bubble bath and when to put it into the bath. The other child describes how his parents wash his hair with the shampoo.

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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 • Leadership and management is very good. The manager fosters a strong staff team, which is committed to improving care and education. Training is encouraged and staff readily attend internal and external training.

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What needs to be improved?

• There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to improving the following: • the opportunities for children to be encouraged to think and demonstrate what they know and understand • the organisation of musical instruments to promote independence and provide an inviting environment to help children explore their different sounds.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. A number of effective measures have been introduced to improve curriculum planning and resources which were raised as points for consideration in the previous inspection report. The staff have welcomed the support of the advisory teacher. Systems have been implemented to improve how the early learning goals are covered on a regular basis. Resources to support children's learning are now in place. These include how things work, other cultures and musical instruments. Children are given very good opportunities to learn as staff have a good knowledge of the early learning goals. They are able to plan appropriately to include all areas of learning. Children now benefit from a wider range of resources including small world toys which reflect race and disability. They access the computer confidently and are learning how to use the tape machine with ear phones.

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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 are settled and are beginning to accept the needs of others with support. They show increasing independence in selecting and carrying out activities and confidently seek others out to share experiences. A group of three-year-olds enjoy a story from the tape recorder. They all have head phones on and smile at each other as they listen to the story.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children respond to simple instructions, they participate in tidy up time and get ready to go outside at garden time. Three-year-olds listen to others in the group as they share what they did over the weekend. Children are beginning to show interest in distinguishing sound for letter, some are beginning to form recognisable letters. One three-year-old concentrates on the pictures in the book he is looking at before turning the pages. He is listening to the story on tape.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Very good attention is given to children's mathematical development. Children show keen interest in number and counting. Most children can count confidently up to 10. One child remembers 27 come after 26 when learning about the days in the month. Children are beginning to calculate and recognise shape and measure. However, on occasions, insufficient time is given to allow children to think things through for themselves, before an answer is given.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are given very good opportunities to explore things. A three-year-old is learning about ice and what happens when it is in the water. Another three-year-old is very interested in the computer and skilfully uses the mouse. Children show interest as they learn about the natural world. They are given good opportunities and go on nature walks. They show keen interest as they learn about different seasons. One three-year-old asks "What comes after winter?"

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move freely with confidence. They climb, balance, slide, kick and throw a football and crawl through a tunnel. Some children can put their coats on and fasten them. One three-year old shows an awareness of her own mind as she states "It's cold we have to put our coat on." A small group of children explore malleable material. A three-year-old uses the equipment provided to re-shape the play dough. He pushes it through one end, pushes the leaver and watches it come out.

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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 are given very good opportunities to paint. They recognise colour such as green, blue, purple. Two 3-year-olds are experimenting with paints one uses red and yellow. The teacher asks "what colour have you made?" she answers "Green." A group of children are happily playing ring games in the garden. Musical instruments are available for activities which are planned for. However, opportunities for children to access musical instruments independently are limited.

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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: • provide opportunities for children to be encouraged to think and demonstrate what they know and understand • improve the organisation of musical instruments to enable children to independently access and explore their different sounds.

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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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