Ysgol Cylch Y Garn

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 23/02/2004 Inspector Name Jean Evans

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name The Kinder Set Early Years School & Nursery Setting Address Uplands House Castle Howard Road Malton North Yorkshire YO17 6NJ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of The Kinder Set Early Years School & Nursery

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name The Kinder Set Early Years School & Nursery Address Uplands House Castle Howard Road Malton North Yorkshire YO17 6NJ

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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

The Kinder-Set Early Years School and Nursery is a nursery school which is managed by the proprietor. It is located on the outskirts of the North Yorkshire market town of Malton, and the children attending are drawn from the local farming community and from a wider catchment area. Older children are accommodated in the main house, whilst younger children have their own purpose built building within the grounds. The children benefit from direct access to the outdoor play area. Of the children attending, 20 three-year-olds and nine four-year-olds receive nursery funding. Appropriate provision is made for those children who have special educational needs. There are no children attending for whom English is an additional language, although effective procedures are in place for such children. A maximum of ten sessions are offered to the children each week, with the nursery operating from 7.30am until 6pm weekdays, for 50 weeks of the year. Six staff work with the

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Information about the setting

funded children and all have, or are working towards, appropriate qualifications in the care and education of young children. In addition, the proprietor has Montessori qualifications. The nursery is a member of the North Yorkshire Early Years Partnership and, as such, has support from a qualified teacher. Since the last inspection the nursery has adopted the Montessori approach to education in the early years.

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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?

The Kinder-Set Early Years School and Nursery provision is of high quality. Children are making excellent progress towards the early learning goals for personal, social and emotional development; communication, language and literacy and mathematical development, with many children already achieving some of these goals. They are making very good progress in the remaining areas of learning. The Montessori approach supports children's learning with a range of appropriate resources, and encourages them to work at their own pace and pursue their own interests. The quality of teaching is very good, with some excellent aspects. Staff present children with excellent challenges to develop their communication, language and literacy skills, their understanding of mathematics and their knowledge of the world around them. They use a variety of appropriate methods, particularly those of Montessori, to meet the needs of all children, including those with special

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How effective is the nursery education?

educational needs, and place strong emphasis on good behaviour and personal independence. They make very good use of time and resources to present children with stimulating learning experiences. The leadership and management of the setting is very good. Clear aims and objectives are articulated in documentation for staff and parents, and staff are very committed to improving the care and education of the children. There are plans to continue with the present training to extend staff understanding of the Montessori approach and the Foundation Stage curriculum so that they can ensure that these are linked appropriately to enhance learning opportunities for children. There is a strong partnership with parents. They are given very good information about the Montessori approach and the Foundation Stage curriculum in order to enhance their understanding of how these are linked in practice and how their children learn. There are very good opportunities for parents to find out about their

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What is being done well?

• The effective leadership and management ensures that high quality provision is maintained. • The strong emphasis on children's personal, social and emotional development results in happy, sensitive, confident and caring children. • The emphasis on developing speaking and listening and early reading skills results in children who are articulate, with a love of books and a positive approach towards reading. • The effective practical approach to the development of mathematical skills, and the use of a wide range of appropriate resources, ensures that children

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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 are achieving well in all aspects of mathematics. • The children are developing a keen awareness of environmental features and the natural world through effective access to a range of appropriate resources and opportunities to explore and investigate objects and materials.

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What needs to be improved?

• Opportunities for children to develop their use of information and communication technology, and in particular, their computer skills. • The continuation of the staff training programme as planned.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Since the last inspection children have been encouraged to explore a wider variety of creative materials, and enjoy an increasing range of creative experiences, to ensure that they are able to express their individual ideas and develop their imaginations. Staff training has continued so that all staff now have a good knowledge of working with three and four year old children. The Montessori approach has recently been implemented and this has resulted in a point for consideration to continue with plans to extend the present staff training to enhance their understanding of the Montessori approach and the Foundation Stage curriculum.

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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 This area of learning is excellent and a strength of the setting. Children are interested, excited and motivated by the stimulating activities provided. They are self-confident, with high self-esteem, and are forming good relationships with one another and with adults. Their behaviour is very good and they work together harmoniously. They are very confident in their personal independence, caring for their own needs, selecting resources for themselves and working well independently.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good This area of learning is exemplary. Many of the children have already achieved some of the early learning goals. They speak confidently and express their ideas fluently, using a widening vocabulary, and use language well to organise and express their ideas and feelings. They are able to link sounds with letters and many four-year-olds hear, say and write sounds in spoken words. They demonstrate a love of books and a positive approach towards reading. Many four-year-olds read simple words.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good This area of learning is excellent and a strength of the setting. Many children have already achieved some of the early learning goals. They say and use number names in familiar contexts and are developing a very good understanding of addition and subtraction through practical activities and by exploring Montessori equipment. Their understanding of shape, space and measure is very good, enhanced by a range of appropriate resources and experiences. They use mathematical language effectively.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good There are some excellent aspects in this very good area of learning. Children use their natural curiosity eagerly to investigate the world around them. They learn about the place they live and the natural world using a range of exciting resources and have an excellent awareness of environmental features. They are developing a good understanding of their own culture and those of other people. There is insufficient use of technology overall, particularly computer skills, to support learning.

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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 The children move confidently and imaginatively, both indoors and outdoors. They enjoy dancing and moving dramatically, for example, as they re-create the movements of a growing flower. They use a range of small and large equipment with increasing skill, and handle tools and materials confidently. They particularly enjoy working together with their parachute. The Montessori approach encourages skilled manipulation of small objects and implements such as tweezers, pegs, clips and tongs.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good There are improved opportunities since the last inspection for children to express their individual creativity, for example, as they paint, produce collage, sing, dance and play instruments. They confidently respond through their senses in their own ways and explore colour, texture, shape, form and space in both two and three dimensions using the stimulating resources on offer in their practical life room. There is good emphasis on colour and exciting exploration of the work of famous artists.

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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 to develop children's skills in information and communication technology, particularly in using a computer, in order to support their learning. • Continue with the staff 'Career Development Plan' to ensure detailed understanding of the Montessori approach and the Foundation Stage curriculum, and how these can be effectively linked in practice.

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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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