Mawgan-In-Pydar Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 18/01/2005 Inspector Name Dorcas Elizabeth Forgan

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name The Willows Day Nursery Setting Address Mandeville Road Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 8AL

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Child Base Limited Address Kingston House, Northampton Road Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire MK16 8NJ

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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 Willows Day Nursery is owned and run by Child Base Limited, who have a chain of nurseries in the South of England. The Willows is a purpose built nursery situated in the grounds of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and was opened in 1994. A maximum of 82 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 throughout the year. These hours are extended in certain circumstances to meet the needs of hospital staff and by exception for other parents. All children share access to a secure enclosed outside play area. There are currently 125 children aged from 6 weeks to under 5 years on the roll. Of these 42 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from a wide catchment area. The nursery currently supports children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs 23 staff. The manager and 12 staff hold appropriate early

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Information about the setting

years qualifications. There are 5 staff working towards 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?

The Willows Day Nursery provides high quality nursery education overall, which enables the children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. The senior staff have sound knowledge of the early learning goals. The planning covers all areas of learning and shows how adaptations are made for children of different abilities. Some areas, such as calculation in mathematics are not frequently included in the planning. Staff give individual children a good level of support and guidance. Relationships with the children are good. Staff assess the children's learning regularly. They know the individual children's needs. The staff organise the indoor and outdoor space and resources imaginatively to create an interesting environment where children can increase their independence. The staff use positive strategies to manage the children's behaviour. The children are learning to respect each other, take turns and

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How effective is the nursery education?

share. Leadership and management are very good. The nursery chain has clear aims and objectives, which they pass onto the staff through training. The staff are led proficiently by the management team. They have regular support through meetings and twice yearly appraisals. The company provides training and also uses outside agencies. The company’s educational co-ordinator monitors the nursery provision. They also ask the parents for their evaluations. Partnership with parents is very good and contributes to the children's learning. Parents have clear written information about the nursery. There is no written information about the curriculum. Staff invite parents to become involved in nursery activities. The nursery holds two evenings each year for parents to discuss their child's development. These are also information sessions. The parents receive a written report when their child leaves the nursery.

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What is being done well?

• Children's self esteem is promoted well through different strategies. The staff listen to the individual children attentively and understand their needs. Displays of the children’s work are attractive and have clear labels. The Staff promote a 'helping hand' strategy. The staff write the children's achievements onto a ‘hand’, which is displayed on a board. • Children have opportunities to use a wide range of resources in the role-play area. They initiate their own games drawing on their imagination and own experiences. Staff change the area in line with the current topic. • Children learn about knowledge and understanding of the world through imaginative resources, which the staff present well. Children are encouraged to investigate and explore themed subjects using 'finding boxes'. The boxes

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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 freely available to the children so that they can explore items related to specific topics such as an opticians or patterns. • The rooms that the children use are light, bright and welcoming. The layout of the rooms is designed so that designated areas have a specific purpose. The children are well settled and move around confidently having easy access to the activity of their choice.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to practise calculation skills • information for parents about the curriculum • opportunities for children to practise their climbing skills

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. The company has introduced a new planning and assessment system. Topics have been introduced to make children more aware of the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active. These were raised as key issues at the previous inspection. Development folders are kept for all the funded children. Staff assess children’s learning against the stepping stones and use these to plan what the children need to learn next. This is not recorded, but staff know their own key worker children’s needs and ensure that activities are adapted to suit them. The majority of the planning is developed by head office for all the nurseries in the chain. The individual nurseries are able to plan their own activities along side these. This ensures that individual children's needs are met. Topics have been introduced such as ‘ourself’ when staff have discussed what changes happen to our bodies

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What has improved since the last inspection?

after activity. There is also a regular ‘sound and activity time’ when this is featured. The children are becoming aware of their own personal needs.

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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 confident and have positive attitudes. They are inquisitive and keen to participate in activities. They make good relations with the adults and other children. Children are encouraged to be independent and to make choices, such as washing their hands and deciding when to have their snack. Children's confidence and self-esteem are nurtured by staff, who are sensitive to their needs and know them well. Staff encourage children to take turns, negotiate and share. Children behave well.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children chat confidently with adults and peers. They enjoy listening to stories and are able to participate and predict what might happen. They have many opportunities to handle books and do so well. The children make good use of the comfortable book corner. Children are beginning to recognise letters, especially those in their names and the letters of the week. Some are able to write their names, the more able write words confidently. Writing materials are easily accessible.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are encouraged to practice counting skills through daily routines, such as counting the children, and whilst playing games such as 'What is the time Mr wolf?'. They confidently join in the number songs, subtracting their fingers as they count down. They are beginning to use mathematical language such as 'longer than' and 'shorter than'. Children enjoy patterns and making their own symmetrical shapes with the wooden bricks. They name the shapes confidently.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are gaining knowledge of nature and the world around them through first hand experiences such as growing and caring for plants in their own garden. They enjoy the topics that inform them of insects, bugs and animals, including life cycles and habits. They are gaining confidence in using technology and queue up eagerly waiting their turn at the computer. Children celebrate their own festivals and learn about other people's cultures and traditions. They have weekly French lessons.

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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 Staff provide daily opportunities for the children to use the outside play area. They move confidently and safely with good co-ordination and spatial awareness. The plans show that children regularly have physical education lessons. They are confident in their personal care and show an awareness of healthy eating and good hygiene. Children show good control and dexterity whilst using a wide range of small tools such as scissors, screwdrivers and cutlery.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have access to many kinds of materials and media on a regular basis to enable them to explore and experiment. They enjoy hunting for insects in the sand and playing with ducks in the water. They express themselves through paint, chalks and making collages that sometimes reflect the story. Musical sessions are planned into the routine, as are opportunities to explore instruments. Imaginative role play is well planned and resourced.

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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: • the provision of more opportunities for the children to practise calculation • the development of information for parents about the curriculum 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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