Pendle Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 14/10/2004 Inspector Name Susan, Helen Spencer

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Pendle Nursery Setting Address Ouzeldale Building Fountain Street Barnoldswick Lancashire BB18 6AQ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The partnership of Hazel Nutter and Malcolm Nutter

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Hazel Nutter and Malcolm Nutter Address Pendle Nursery Fountain Street Barnoldswick Lancashire BB18 6AQ

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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

Pendle Nursery has been open in the present building for 3 years and was previously registered in another premises and has been operating for 34 years. The nursery is situated close to the centre of Barnoldswick and caters for children within the Borough of Pendle. The nursery consists of a large playroom, messy room, dining room, physical room, office and kitchen facilities. There is a large outdoor area providing opportunities for outdoor play. The under two's have their own base room. There are 134 children on roll, aged from 1 year to 8 years, of whom there are 8 funded four-year-old children and 37 funded three-year-old children. Children attend for morning or afternoon sessions with fulltime places available. Parents who work shift hours are accommodated when possible. The nursery is open from 07:30 until 18:00. There are no children attending with a special need. There are 3 children attending with English as an additional language.

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Information about the setting

There are 19 staff who work with the children, of whom most are qualified in early years, the 3 staff who are not qualified are undertaking training. Most of the staff are trained in first aid. The setting receives support from the early years teacher team. The nursery is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association. The setting has links in the community with the local childminders and the local job centre to assist those seeking work.

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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?

Pendle nursery provides high quality education where children make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas. Teaching is very good. There is strong family atmosphere. It also provides a broad and balanced programme of activities which promotes children's learning very well. Staff organise the layout of the nursery with goals for children's learning in mind. They plan activities to help children make steady progress in all six areas. There are strong links between the planning and the assessment of children's progress. Staff manage children's behaviour effectively making clear their expectations and the children respond well to this. Leadership and management are very good. They draw upon their wealth of experience and knowledge to help maintain standards and also to identify areas for improvement. The staff are encouraged in self evaluation of the educational provision. Partnership with parents carers is very good, they are given good information about

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How effective is the nursery education?

the activities provided and topics covered. They are encouraged to become involved in their child's learning through shared reading books, children's diaries and weekly newsheets. The nursery has an open door policy and parents and carers are encouraged to visit at any time.

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What is being done well?

• The nursery is organised very effectively into areas. Children's goals for learning are clearly identified at activities and their participation is carefully monitored. • Mathematical development is a strong feature of the nursery. Staff make the most of every opportunity that arises to promote mathematics. As a result children are making very good progress indeed. • The children put on some excellent performances to each other every day. Their enjoyment of drama, acting out stories, singing and playing percussion in the 'nursery band' is very good. Even quieter children are becoming very confident when participating in these impromptu performances. • The indoor adventure gym is used very well to encourage children to develop confidence in climbing and an awareness of the space needed for their movements. • Staff stimulate children using their imagination very well through role-play, creative work, building and making things and when acting out and retelling

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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

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Progress since the last inspection has been very good. Staff have worked very hard on planning which now has strong links with early learning goals. A grid has been drawn up to ensure that each aspect within every area of learning is covered on a regular basis. Staff make observations and carefully monitor children's progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas. This has resulted in a more thorough approach to the educational programme. Procedures are now in place to ensure that all children make very good progress in all six areas of learning.

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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 developing very good levels of confidence and personal independence. They find their own aprons, mix their own paints, wash up pallettes after use and freely choose materials. Staff make very clear expectations for behaviour and children respond and are very well behaved. Rewards are given for good behaviour. The children are encouraged to help each other. They are learning to work together and to take turns. They learn about each other's cultural traditions and festivals.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good There are very good opportunities for children to act out stories. They dress up and retell stories performing them to the other children. All the children enjoy this and even quieter children participate. There are plenty of opportunities for children to make marks on paper as part of role-play. The children are encouraged to label their own work. They look for their own name in the nursery's 'town of sounds'. They also suggest with what letter their name begins.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Mathematics is a very strong feature of the nursery. Staff provide opportunities for children to practise and develop mathematical skills at most activities on offer. There are endless opportunities for children to count, to work out how many cups or paintbrushes are needed. Staff often incorporate mathematical language into conversation resulting in children also now using these words spontaneously, for instance, 'I'm doing a big picture' and 'No, its small enough to fit under the bridge'.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Staff use the role play area effectively to help children understand some features in their environment, such as, post office, hospital and farm shop. There are very good opportunities for children to make things using a wide range of construction sets and boxes. Children take part in good activities which help them understand the natural world, such as painting with conkers and playing with leaves in the water trough. They learn about several festivals, such as the Chinese New Moon festival.

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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: Very Good There are very good opportunities for children to develop confidence in climbing and an awareness of the space required for their movements through the effective use of a large adventure gym. They climb over, under and through the various soft play areas. They use a wide range of small tools well and are developing good levels of hand-to-eye co-ordination. They learn about keeping healthy, discussing how they are hot and need a drink after playing in the ball pond.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Creative work is very good. Some very good activities are provided which help children to develop the use of their imagination through drama, role-play, construction work and painting. They enjoy taking part in performances, singing and playing percussion. The children have very good opportunities to freely experiment with colours, paints and textures. They use pallettes to mix their own paints. They discuss different painting techniques and have painted pictures in the style of Bridget Riley.

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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: • continue with plans to develop the outside play area. 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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