Whitegate Primary and Nursery School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/03/2004 Inspector Name Gillian Cubitt

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Little Haven Nursery School Setting Address The Guide Headquarters The Drive Banstead Surrey SM7 3HG

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REGISTERED PROVIDER 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

Little Haven Nursery School opened in 1990. It operates from the Guide headquarters in Banstead and offers access to a large and a small hall, kitchen, toilet and outdoor play facilities. Children attend from the local area and some surrounding areas. The group provides sessional care for 32 and accepts children from two and a half years old. There are currently 52 children on roll and this includes 40 who are in receipt of nursery education grant funding. The group supports children who have special educational needs. Opening hours are 09:00 to 12:00 Monday to Friday and 12:30 to 15:00 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during term time only. Four full time and three part time staff work with the children. Of these, one is primary level, four have an early years qualification to level three, one is qualified to level two, and one is currently working towards a level three qualification. Ongoing training opportunities for staff are provided through the Surrey Early Years Childcare

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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 provision for nursery education at Little Haven Nursery School at Banstead is acceptable and of good quality. Children are making generally good progress overall towards the early learning goals. Very good progress is made in most areas of learning with generally good progress in mathematical and creative development. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff plan a broad range of activities indoors and outside that are linked to all six areas of the early learning goals. They plan according to the age of the children and any special needs that they may have. Staff devise purposeful activities as a basis for their teaching making effective use of the resources and space. They manage children's behaviour very well. Each member of staff is responsible for up to eight children, strong bonds are formed, and staff know their children well. They make notes of children's progress and these are successfully linked into the plans. Most aspects of the curriculum are well supported

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How effective is the nursery education?

in the programme although some areas in mathematics and creativity in free play periods are not always fully extended. Information and technology is introduced with the aid of programmable toys. The leadership and management of the nursery is very good. The manager is strongly committed to maintaining high standards in care and education in the nursery. She encourages and supports her staff in training and planning. She works by example and is very much involved in the day-to-day activities. She delegates well and is able to stand back to evaluate the effectiveness of the nursery. She ensures staff are aware of children from different cultures and customs and includes these in the planning where appropriate. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are welcomed, receive regular newsletters, and are actively encouraged to be involved in children's learning, through discussion and individual consultations.

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What is being done well?

• Children are developing good social skills. They are caring and support each other when cleaning the home corner and working on the construction toys. They listen attentively to instructions and their behaviour is exceptional. • The development of children's communication is very good. Staff interact effectively with the children when working in supervised activities. Staff express themselves well when reading and recalling stories and help children to identify new words and express themselves confidently. • Children's awareness of the world around them is consistently promoted well with maximum use made of the garden to look at nature and experience the passage of time through planting seeds and bulbs and watching them grow.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• children's ideas and imagination to be developed during supervised activities. • staff's awareness to extend children's mathematical abilities during free play activities.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good progress since the last inspection. There were no key issues, however the points for consideration were to maintain the present high quality provision by continuing to evaluate all aspects of the educational programme. The staff have addressed this by keeping abreast of the latest information from Early Years and other Government Departments. Staff have continued to update their skills through training and workshops and regular self-appraisals are in place. Policy documents are being constantly reviewed.

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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 learning to work harmoniously together. They eagerly enter the nursery and look forward to their morning. They have a strong relationship with their key member of staff and seek their support when unsure or if needing help to resolve difficulties. Children are becoming independent. They look after themselves when going to the toilet as well as dressing themselves and changing their shoes. Children want to learn and their concentration skills are developing well.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing confidence in speaking and communicate their experiences well both in small and larger groups. Children enjoy books and understand that print carries meaning. Pencil control exercises are introduced daily and all children can identify their first name and most are attempting to write their name on their work. Children are proud of their notebooks where they are able to express themselves individually creating their own stories and drawings.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Staff and children say and use numbers during story time, counting birds and items eaten by the Hungry Caterpillar. Shapes and sizes are discussed when children are doing worksheets. Children learn positional language and enjoy measuring themselves and understand the meaning of words such as enormous. Not all staff make the most of opportunities to solve simple problems and extend mathematical awareness during free play activities.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good A varied flexible programme ensures that many areas are covered with worthwhile activities that introduce children to their environment. They learn about growth through planting bulbs and seeds and children observe nature with their outside play. Children are introduced to other cultures in themed activities as they look at other countries around the world. Information and technology is introduced with the aid of programmable toys that children enjoy in free play periods.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have the use of the outdoor area to run around and they always have free playtime to exercise at the end of each morning where they have a different physical activity each day. There is a programme where they have an obstacle course where they climb and negotiate obstacles. They are gaining good manipulative skills using small world toys, scissors and glue spreaders. Staff help children to understand the importance of good hygiene and the need to rest after vigorous exercise.

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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: Generally Good Attractive displays of children's work show that they have a good range of materials and media. Musical instruments are included in planning and children have the opportunity to dance and act out stories to music. The role-play area is available on set days and is arranged on a theme where children enjoy the spring-cleaning exercise. However, some creative activities with paint are too directed.

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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

• Enhance the current skills of all staff so that they are able to develop the flow of children's imagination in painting and creative exercises.

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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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