Little Owls Nursery Bramley

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/03/2005 Inspector Name Ann Dockerty

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Bramley Children's Centre Setting Address Fairfield Street Fairfield Estate Leeds West Yorkshire LS13 3DT

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Leeds City Council Address Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre Leeds West Yorkshire LS2 8DT

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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

Bramley Children's Centre opened in 2003 and operates from three main playrooms, in a new purpose built nursery setting, located in Bramley, Leeds. It serves families in the local area. The nursery is registered for 52 children aged up to five years. This includes 20 funded 3 year olds and 2 funded 4 year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions, and there are systems in place to support children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The nursery is open five days a week from 08:00 to 18:00 hours, all year round. Nine part/full-time staff work with the children, most staff have early years qualifications, to NVQ level 2 or 3, one member of staff is working towards an early years qualification. There is also a part time early years teacher. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. Teaching methods are based on learning through play.

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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?

Bramley Children's Centre provides very good education for children. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six area's of learning. The quality of teaching is very good, the staff manage the children's behaviour very well. They give clear guidance and reinforce good behaviour consistently. Their interaction with the children is excellent. They are interested in what the children have to say and support the children's learning through skilful questioning techniques. The staff have a very good understanding of the foundation stage. This enables them to plan a comprehensive range of activities and experiences in all six area's of learning. More opportunities could be provided to encourage older children to solve simple mathematical problems in everyday activities. Resources are well presented. They are easily accessible and attractively arranged, engaging the children's

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How effective is the nursery education?

interest. Leadership and management is very good. There is a strong commitment to training which enables the staff to keep up to date with current child care practice. Support for staff at all levels is maintained through the very good management structure in place. A well developed system for evaluating and monitoring the educational provision is used to inform plans for further development. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive good information regarding all aspects of the nursery and the progress that their children make. The nursery have developed a variety of ways for parents to be involved in their children's learning through practical activities and events.

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What is being done well?

• The staff's interaction with the children is excellent, they take time to listen to what the children are saying, and are skilful at enabling the children to express themselves. Children are given the time and the means to talk about events and people that are familiar to them. • There are many opportunities for the children to mark make. Children are familiar and used to making marks during their play and often have a pencil and paper at hand whilst talking on telephones, making notes about their conversation to the repair man. • Children are used to handling books, they pick up books to read independently during quiet moments and also are familiar with referring to reference books to check out information. On the interest table a child considers a diagram of a plant and closely examines seeds growing nearby.

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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 • Children's behaviour is well managed. The staff pay particular attention to ensuring that children know when they are being good and reinforce this message consistently. They ensure that children are able to understand their boundaries and what is expected of them. • The children have developed good skills for handling tools and equipment, a child perseveres with a cutting activity, he holds the scissors carefully and manipulates the paper until he is successful. He proudly shows his achievement to others and returns the scissors safely to their box.

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What needs to be improved?

• more opportunities to encourage older children to attempt to solve simple mathematical problems more frequently.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the nursery were asked to provide more technological resources and to use the outdoor area more effectively to promote knowledge and understanding of the world and to stimulate physical and imaginative play. There are many opportunities for the children to access equipment for information technology and children frequently access outdoor play, they are involved in large physical construction, climbing, balancing and games played together with their peers.

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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 All children are highly involved in all activities. They are eager to participate and can independently select and carry out activities. Children are very confident. They are settled in their environment and are able to make their needs and wants known. They behave well and listen to what adults say, they are beginning to understand what is expected of them.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Many children are able to give meaning to marks. They use mark making to record what they are doing during practical and everyday activities. Children are developing their communication skills. They are able to ask questions and can describe events which are familiar to them. They enjoy looking at books and listening to stories. They handle books carefully and use reference books to gather information

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Most children are beginning to count familiar objects during singing and rhyming activities. They use number names accurately and the older children are able to count beyond 10. Children are interested in shape and size and use language to describe and talk about every day items. Older children do not always attempt to solve simple mathematical problems.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children show an interest in the natural world. They are able to talk about and describe features of growing things and are beginning to understand how things change. Children talk freely about where they live and places they have visited. They are interested in the world around them and ask questions about their environment. They are able to construct and design. They join pieces together with a purpose trying out new idea's and techniques.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to move indoors and outdoors with increasing control. They are developing skills for climbing and balancing and experiment with different bodily movements. Most of the children demonstrate good skills for handling tools and equipment and understand how to handle them safely. Children are developing an understanding of how to keep healthy. They are able to independently contribute towards their own well being.

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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 The children enjoy experimenting with colour and with texture during painting activities. They are able to use a variety of techniques to change the effect of the paint on paper and explore pattern making. They use their imaginations well particularly during role play when they will assume roles and bring in props to support their play.

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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 the following: • provide more opportunities to encourage older children to make more frequent attempts to solve simple mathematical problems.

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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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