Grove Community Project

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 23/02/2005 Inspector Name Patricia Dawes

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Out of School Day Care Setting Name Grove Community Project Setting Address 21 Arthur Road Handsworth Birmingham West Midlands B21 9HY

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Grove Community Project 1072127

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Grove Community Project Address 21 Arthur Road Handsworth Birmingham West Midlands B21 9HY

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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

Grove Community Project Playgroup is a voluntary committee managed organisation. It opened in 1994. It operates from two rooms in a single storey building. It is situated in the community centre in Handsworth close to Birmingham. A maximum of 26 children may attend the playgroup at any one time. The playgroup is open each weekday from 09.00 to 11.30 for 36 weeks of the year. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 34 children from 2 to 5 years on roll. Of these 11 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from the local area as most of their parents travel to work in or around Birmingham. The playgroup currently supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language: there are no children attending with Special educational needs Four staffare employed and all hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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?

Grove Community Project Playgroup provides generally good -quality nursery provision overall, which helps children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provision for learning is very good in all areas. Quality of teaching is very good. The staff team have a sound knowledge of the foundation stage. They plan an interesting and exciting range of practical activities, which helps children to learn. Adult led activities are well managed: There is a good range of equipment available and resources are well organised. Staff manage children's behaviour well and have high expectations and set clear boundaries. Assessment and planning are systematic and linked to learning outcomes. Staff observe children and record progress to identify the next steps in children's learning, however records do not clearly show how these are used to inform future planning. The challenges set for children are good. All of the children attending have English

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How effective is the nursery education?

as an additional language: staff use their own linguistic skills well to offer support and guidance. There are effective systems in place for supporting children with special needs.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Leadership and management are generally good. The children benefit from a hands on manager who works in partnership with staff, who are constantly evaluating and improving their practice through daily discussions and monitoring. A teacher mentor from the EYDCP offers regular support, and access to training opportunities. Partnership with parents is generally good and contributes well towards children's progress towards the early learning goals. Limited written information is available to parents about the curriculum and their involvement in children's learning and progress. Children's progress is verbally shared with parents on a daily basis, however opportunities are limited for parents to view and discuss their child's assessment records.

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What is being done well?

• Children are developing confidence, motivation and a keenness to learn. Children are encouraged to build positive relationships with both their peers and adults and demonstrate care and consideration for others. Some children speak clearly and fluently. • Children engage in a variety of activities that challenge and extend them supported by a wide selection of equipment. They demonstrate good concentration in adult led activities. • They are interested and motivated to learn as a result of the staff's consistent interest and engagement in their play

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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 • Staff's linguistic skills are continually used as an effective additional resource to help children progress well in communication, language and literacy. They set challenges for children that develop their thinking and imaginative skills through stories, registration time and consistent questioning during activities. • Staff have high expectations of the children's behaviour and children respond to praise and encouragement for their achievements. The behaviour and attitude of the staff ensure that children have positive role models to follow. • Commitment to training is demonstrated by staff attending and keeping up to date with relevant courses.

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What needs to be improved?

• the completion of evaluation forms to inform future planning • the opportunities for parents to be involved in children's progress and learning.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

There have been very good improvements made since the last inspection. Staff have introduced new children's development records, and now allocate time during routines to observe children taking part in activities. These are used to inform future planning

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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 self-assured, and curious. They interact and work well together and independently with their peers, staff and other adults. They confidently express their needs and ideas, and show pride in their achievements. They are very interested and involved in their play, which underpins their learning in many areas. Children negotiate effectively during play and work together well in-group activities.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing skills and confidence in speaking and listening. Some children link sounds and letters and some recognise their first name. They practice making marks and writing for a purpose through variety of role-play activities Children are aware that text carries meaning. They handle books appropriately, and are able to recall familiar stories and predict what will happen.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Some children count beyond ten and some recognise numerals to nine. Children learn about patterns, shape and size through practical activities such as, sand/, water play and cooking activities Children are becomming familiar with the concepts of addition and subtraction through familiar routines and number rhymes. More able children use language to describe and compare shape, size and quantity in their everyday learning.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to explore and find out how things work, e.g. how snow sticks together and why snow melts. They are able to discuss and learn about the cultures and beliefs of others, past, present and future events relating to themselves, their families and the wider community. They are becoming skilled at using a wide variety of resources to enable them to design and construct 3D objects. More able children are competent in the use of the computer.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing an awareness of a healthy lifestyle. They are beginning to recognise the importance of healthy eating and changes that occur in their bodies through exercise. Children are competent in using the bathroom, and are able to dress and undress themselves. They are able to move confidently at different speeds, stopping, changing direction safely and negotiating obstacles.

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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 able to respond well to music and movement; they enjoy joining in with songs, and imitating actions. They develop their imagination during role-play sessions, such as home corner, travel agents and doctors surgery. They are able to explore texture through a variety of materials and activities such as sand, water and dough. Children respond spontaneously and enthusiastically to all creative opportunities

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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 good quality overall. Children are making generally 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: THE KEY ISSUES

• Complete activity evaluations consistently to clearly demonstrate how these are used to inform future planning to meet individual children's needs • Improve the opportunities for parents to be involved in children's progress and learning

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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: THE KEY ISSUES

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

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