Fairfield Community Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 27/10/2004 Inspector Name Christine Clint

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Caring Daycare Setting Address Pitfold House, Woolmer Hill Road Haslemere Surrey GU27 1QA

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Caring Daycare Limited Address Pitfold House, Woolmer Hill Road Haslemere Surrey GU27 1QA

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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

Caring Daycare Nursery opened in 1989 and now provides a 'family' of 7 nurseries across 3 counties. The nursery operates from 14 rooms in a large Edwardian house in Haslemere. A maximum of 88 children may attend the nursery. Children are accommodated in age related base rooms on two floors of the house. There are appropriate nappy change, toilet and kitchen facilities and a large, fully enclosed, natural garden. The nursery serves families from the local community and surrounding area. There are currently 149 children, aged from three months to five years, on roll. This includes 32 funded three year olds and 13 funded four years olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting supports a number of children with special needs and/or children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery opens five days a week, fifty-one weeks of the year. Sessions are available between 08.00 and 18.30 all year round excluding Christmas and Bank

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Information about the setting

Holidays. There are 25 members of staff who work with the children and 12 staff have a recognised early years qualification. Currently 10 members of staff are on training programmes and 15 staff hold current first aid certificates. The setting receives support from the Early Years and Childcare Service (EYCS). Caring Daycare embraces the Montessori philosophy in parallel with traditional foundation stage teaching.

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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?

Caring Day Care Day Nursery offers very good provision for nursery education, children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff know and use the early learning goals thoroughly, they plan activities and understand what children are expected to learn. They adapt activities spontaneously to encourage children's involvement and record their progress. Staff are aware of children's individual development, they offer challenges and have excellent skills of supporting children with additional needs. Children behave and respond well to staff, their time is well organised and staff are conscientious with regard to routines, they prepare children for what will happen next. Plans are in place for developing more structured play in the garden. Partnership with parents is very good. Once parents have entered the nursery they are free to find their children and to liaise with staff. Parents have ample information

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How effective is the nursery education?

about the nursery and the curriculum. They regularly attend parent link meetings and have two annual consultations to discuss children's development profiles. Parents are also encouraged to take part in a lesson to help them understand how children learn through activities. The nursery encourages staff and parents to liaise at delivery and collection time, parents are free to discuss their child's individual needs with a key worker. Leadership and management is very good. There is a high level of effectively organised management within the nursery. Management training is provided for senior staff and liaison across all nurseries within the group is ongoing. Thorough systems of self-evaluation have recently been completed. The nursery is committed to continually improving daily practice and nursery education. Staff have opportunities for further training and can progress through the company. There are

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How effective is the nursery education?

good links with local schools and the early years network.

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What is being done well?

• Children are happy and comfortable in their surroundings, they move between areas confidently and respect the nursery boundaries. Younger children are able to follow the actions of older children and staff use praise to reinforce routines. Children are encouraged to listen to each other at group time and to show concern for each other if they fall asleep after lunch. • The support and guidance of senior staff who are based in this nursery and manage the 'family' group of nurseries across three counties. They liaise with staff to offer in-house and external training, they are available to talk to parents and assist in maintaining effective levels of staffing to provide continuous care and education. • The planning for activities, which includes challenges for children of all

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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 abilities. Staff are able to offer many different levels of challenge, simultaneously. They are very aware of children's development and include individual encouragement during activities in the sand and water and spontaneous, imaginary whole group activities on the 'magic' carpet. They show interest and involvement at all times and encourage children to enjoy diversity. • Parents are welcomed into the nursery at any time, they are encouraged to develop relationships with staff to support their children in settling them into different areas of the nursery. They can attend parent link meetings to raise any concerns or influence practice.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to be involved in structured play outside.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good progress since the last inspection. The provider was asked to ensure that children's assessments reflected the early learning goals. An action plan is in place to cover all children's assessments. These are continuously reviewed by teaching staff with support from the day manager and the staff development manager. The provider was also asked to ensure that information for parents relating to the educational programme reflects the early learning goals. Parents have full information displayed, they attend meetings regularly and have specific information on the curriculum once their children are in funded places. Opportunities for children to apply everyday mathematical ideas were also requested. Children have many opportunities to develop mathematical ideas and problem solve during activities and everyday routines.

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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 motivated, keen and enthusiastic, they show confidence and positive levels of self esteem. They respond well to staff and each other, showing care and affection. Older children know and respect the boundaries and younger children follow the clear explanations of staff. Children are developing responsibility and independence, they listen to instructions and reasons and can make decisions. Children show awareness of themselves, their families and the wider community.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good There is excellent use of language for communication, children are encouraged to describe their experiences, thoughts and feelings. They link sounds with letters and use descriptive words during activities. Children know and sing the alphabet with enthusiasm. They listen attentively at story time and enjoy participating through pictures. Children are encouraged to develop skills of letter formation and progress to writing, there is ample work displayed. Children know that print carries meaning.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children can count with confidence and recognise numbers, they have opportunities during activities and routines to solve practical problems. Children learn skills of simple addition and subtraction, they are encouraged to use their fingers to reach a conclusion. Children recognise mathematical language and learn to compare size and quantity during activities. They talk about position and shape and respond to questions from staff. They are developing a natural concept of mathematical ideas.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children investigate and ask questions, they are keen to resolve difficulties by experimenting with different methods. They are observant and initiate action, they can analyse simple results and talk about solutions. Children are able to follow their own designs during all craft activities. They have access to everyday technology. Children can explain their own understanding of past and present events, they learn about the wider world through everyday activities, songs, stories and festivals.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move confidently and safely around the different levels of the nursery, they are well co-ordinated. They have daily outside play and ample space to enjoy running and chasing, they can also climb and balance on indoor apparatus. Children are encouraged to learn how their bodies feel after physical exercise. They can readily access tools and materials including Montessori equipment. New planning is in place to include more structured play in the garden.

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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 use a variety of different materials, they make choices and follow their own creative ideas, they negotiate with each other to use all available materials. Children respond happily to spontaneous singing, they include songs from memory and have learned their own words to original songs. Children are encouraged to use their imaginations, especially during whole group activities, they follow with enthusiasm and excitement. Children respond well and express and communicate their own ideas.

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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 the structured play opportunities in the garden. 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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