Avenue Infant and Nursery School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 18/02/2004 Inspector Name Carol Newman

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Christopher Robin Day Nursery - Woking Setting Address 31 Claremont Avenue Woking Surrey GU22 7SF

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Christopher Robin Day Nursery Address 31 Claremont Avenue Woking Surrey GU22 7SF

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.1

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.

p.2

Information about the setting

Christopher Robin Day Nursery (Woking) has been established since May 1986. It cares for a maximum of 44 children aged from three months to five years. It operates from five group rooms in a large detached house situated in a residential area of Woking. It serves a wide geographical area. There are currently 69 children from 3 months to 5 years on roll. This includes 12 funded three year olds and 4 funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting makes provision for children who speak English as an additional language or have special educational needs. The nursery opens five days a week. Sessions are from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round excluding Christmas and Bank Holidays. Fifteen members of staff work with the children. All staff have an early years qualification and two staff are currently undertaking further training. The setting receives support from the Early Years Childcare Partnership (EYCS).

p.2

Information about the setting

Teaching methods follow the Montessori philosophy.

p.2

Information about the setting

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.2

How effective is the nursery education?

Christopher Robin day nursery offers high quality provision, which helps children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of learning. Teaching is very good in all areas of learning. Staff consistently use open ended questions to support children's play and develop their language and thinking skills. They take time to give clear explanations to the children. Children have access to a good range of well planned activities and resources that are used effectively. Staff respect the children's ideas, value their work and display it attractively. They use their experience and knowledge to extend activities for more able children. Staff make regular observations of children's progress which are used to inform planning, however this does not accommodate children's individual strengths and weaknesses. Effective procedures are in place to support children with special needs and English as an additional language. Staff ensure children are gainfully

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

employed which has a positive effect on their behaviour. Leadership and management is very good. Staff are well supported by a committed owner and a strong management team. They work together for the benefit of the children and the improvement of the educational provision. The managers and staff work hard to develop an effective team and encourage staff development. They meet regularly to evaluate and review the effectiveness of the nursery practice. Action plans are in place to develop the provision. The partnership with parents and carers is very good and contributes to children's progress. Parents are well informed about the foundation stage and the children's activities through a parents' noticeboard, regular parents' evenings and newsletters. Open Days are held where staff explain the aims and objectives of a range of activities that parents can experience for themselves.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children's personal, social and emotional development is excellent. They are confident, interested and able to work on their own. They behave very well, make informed choices and respect their own cultures and those of others. • Staff's clear understanding of the early learning goals and the best use of the Montessori equipment, leads to well planned activities which engage and sustain children's interests. Staff recognise the cross curricula links and provide an imaginative range of resources that encourage children to be independent and creative. • Parents are given clear information about the provision and are well informed about their children's progress. They are encouraged to be involved in their child's learning and to reinforce skills at home.

p.3

What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • The nursery is well supported by a strong management team. Action plans are in place to develop the educational provision and address staff training needs.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the planning of activities in the outdoor area • the identification of children's individual strengths and weaknesses in activity evaluations and their use to inform planning.

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

Planning and recording have been developed to cover all areas of the educational provision. Well resourced role-play areas have been set up in both the Piglets and Tiggers rooms.

p.4

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

p.4

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children confidently try new activities such as finger painting with glitter glue. They attend to their personal needs such as visiting the snack table and washing their hands. Children raise questions about their own cultures and beliefs while learning about those of others. They negotiate and understand the codes of behaviour required to work as part of a group. They take turns and share fairly whilst confidently expressing their own views. Children freely select their own resources.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children's communication skills are developing well. They enjoy listening to stories and speak confidently. Children are introduced to simple words that have meaning through labelling within the learning environment and they enjoy using books and treat them with respect. Children tell stories using props such as finger puppets and ascribe meaning to their writing in role-play situations. Children recognise their first names and are beginning to write these with correctly formed letters.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children count the Montessori constructive triangles accurately and sort them by colour. They count for "Six Little Men in a Flying Saucer" and use rhymes such as this to explore the concept of subtraction. They combine two numbers and recreate simple patterns using Unifix and a wide range of Montessori materials. They explore shape using the geometric cabinet and geometric solids and investigate a range of pouring equipment. Staff take advantage of learning opportunities in the daily routine.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children explore materials such as glitter in bottles of coloured water, insects, spices and fresh herbs. They observe the weather, plant bulbs and grow cress. Children operate simple computer programs, learn keyboard skills and operate a remote control car for their "Transport" topic. Children find out about their families by constructing their family tree and compare their own cultures with those of others. They build and construct models and collage, using a variety of resources.

p.5

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

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children climb confidently on the climbing frame, galleon and castle. They balance on the stepping stones, move through the tyres and use space effectively. Children use scissors, paintbrushes and the dressing frames efficiently. They learn about their body through the "Hospital" topic. Staff make excellent use of the daily routine to talk about healthy eating at snack time and to encourage independence and manipulative skills as the children fill their own glitter glue pots with a spatula.

p.6

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children sing to themselves and choose props to sing familiar songs. They link actions to rhymes and explore the sounds of instruments. They use one object to represent another, for example, making a rainbow from Unifix bricks. Children freely model from a range of imaginative materials. Staff respond to children's interests and value their ideas, for example, when making finger puppets. Children use their senses to investigate materials such as spices, herbs and coloured rice.

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • Points for consideration: • planned activities in the outdoor area • activity evaluations to identify individual children's strengths and weaknesses and use these to inform planning.

p.7

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.

p.7

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

p.7