Child's Play Day Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 01/01/2003 Inspector Name Sue Pepper

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Childsplay Private Day Nursery Setting Address 21 Thornhill Road Dewsbury WF13 2SN

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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

Child's Play Private Day Nursery opened in 2001. It operates in premises which were originally a church hall. The accommodation for the children is situated on two levels with the funded children cared for on the ground floor. The children's play room has access to toilet facilities, a wet room and secure outdoor play areas. The nursery serves families of mixed social and economic backgrounds who live or work locally. The nursery is open between 7.45 am and 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday for 51 weeks per year. There are 39 children on the register aged between nought to five years. Thirteen are aged three and three aged four. Funding is received for eleven of the three year olds and two of the four year olds. This includes three children who speak English as an additional language. There are ten members of staff, six of whom have appropriate child care qualifications. The nursery are members of the Private Day Nursery Association and they receive qualified teacher support from the

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Information about the setting

Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Child's Play Nursery provides a welcoming atmosphere where children settle well so that overall they make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. They make very good progress in communication, language and literacy, knowledge and understanding of the world and also physical and creative development. In their personal, social and emotional development and mathematical development they make generally good progress. The quality of teaching is generally good, the new staff team appear to work well together. Plans ensure that children have the opportunity to access a wide range of worthwhile and stimulating activities. Staff have good knowledge of children however, assessments are not used to identify the next step in each child's learning. All staff need to be clear regarding the purpose of activities and the intended learning for children. More opportunities need to be provided for more able children which support their independence, promote good

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How effective is the nursery education?

social skills and develop early mathematical understanding. The leadership and management of the nursery is generally good. Staff have worked extremely hard to improve the presentation of resources, providing more self selection opportunities and choice for children. Staff are enthusiastic and well motivated and this has a positive impact on the children's learning. They are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of child care through working alongside qualified experienced staff and attending training. The partnership with parents is generally good. Staff show respect and understanding of their role in their child's learning and they are encouraged to share what they know about their child. Parents are provided with good information about the nursery. Staff use a variety of ways to keep parents fully informed such has regular verbal exchanges and newsletters. However, they receive insufficient information about the learning activities provided.

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What is being done well?

Children relate very well to one another and adults and their behaviour is extremely good Children are given regular opportunities to practice their writing skills and develop their knowledge of letter sounds Children are effectively motivated to learn and the curriculum is enriched through extensive local outings and visits from interesting people to the nursery Fun activities are used to challenge children to use their knowledge of numbers to solve simple mathematical problems Children have excellent opportunities to move to music

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What needs to be improved?

Short term planning system to ensure all staff are clear regarding the purpose of activities and intended learning Opportunities for more able children to develop their skills and knowledge to ensure that they are satisfactorily challenged

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good progress. They are extremely enthusiastic and eager to take part in activities provided, working well independently or as part of a group. Children are secure, happy and confident and eager to learn. They are interested and involved in their play. Children respond well to each other and adults, confidently expressing their ideas, learning to share and take turns. However, more able children have insufficient opportunities to develop their independence.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in communication, language and literacy through effective staff interaction. Many children are confident and fluent speakers and engage easily in conversation with each other and adults. Children listen carefully to enthusiastically delivered stories which encourages them to enjoy looking at books. Children have regular opportunities to practise their writing skills.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good progress. Children are able to count from one to ten confidently and they can recognise some basic numerals. Good small group activities support children's ability to count and then match groups of objects to numbers appropriately. Through a variety of practical activities children are encouraged to develop their understanding about shape and number. However, there are limited opportunities to use every day routines to reinforce and extend mathematical ideas.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good The children's learning in knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. Visitors to the nursery support themes and children also regularly go out on local outings. Children show interest and curiosity in investigating objects and living things. They have regular opportunities to carry out simple experiments and investigate how things work. Children learn about their own traditions and those of others, fostering positive attitudes towards other cultures and lifestyles.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in physical development. A good range of activities and experiences offer children physical challenges and promote discussions about keeping healthy. Children move confidently with control and agility and they have regular opportunities to exercise and move imaginatively to develop their large physical skills. They also have good access to a range of one handed tools which they use to refine their developing fine motor skills.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children are making very good progress in the area of creative development. Children are encouraged to explore media and materials through the good range of self selection opportunities provided at their level. They learn different techniques for using mediums and they can follow instructions or express their own ideas. Children confidently engage in role play, use instruments to explore sounds, join in with action rhymes and move confidently to music.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately: Y

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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

Ensure all staff are clear regarding the purpose of activities, the intended learning and how activities can be made simpler or more challenging for more able children Increase opportunities for more able children to develop their independence and social skills Provide parents with information about the learning activities provided

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