Condicote Playgroup

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 23/03/2004 Inspector Name Hilary Elizabeth Tierney

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Condicote Playgroup Setting Address Condicote Village Hall Condicote Cheltenham Glos GL54 1EY

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Condicote Playgroup 1064785

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Condicote Playgroup Address Condicote Village Hall Condicote Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL54 1EY

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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

Condicote Playgroup has been registered in the new building since 2002. It operates from the village hall of Condicote near Stow-on-the-Wold. The nursery is open during term times on Monday to Thursday from 09.15 until 12.15. The playgroup serves the village and surrounding areas. The group is registered to provide care for 24 children from 2 years old to 5 years old. There are currently 24 children, of these 10 are funded 3-year-olds and 5 funded 4-year-olds. At present the playgroup has no children attending with special educational needs and no children who have English as an additional language. There are two members of staff with early years qualifications, one has a Batchelor of Education Degree and the other has Certificate in Childcare and Education, who work directly with the children. Parent volunteers are invited to help on a rota to work with the staff and children. The staff are supported by the Foundation Stage

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Information about the setting

Consultant and the Area Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator.

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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?

Children attending Condicote Playgroup are making generally good progress overall towards the early learning goals and very good progress in personal, social and emotional development, communication, language and literacy and creative development. Children take part in well-planned activities which develop their skills in writing with regular access to writing materials and books. They are well behaved, confident and sociable. The children show care and concern for each other as they play. Access to apparatus to support large muscle development is limited. Teaching is generally good and staff support the children effectively during free and adult-led activities. Staff have a calm approach to the children. They praise and encourage the children and the children respond with good behaviour. Staff use open-ended questions to help the children think and problem solve as they join in activities. They staff provide a warm welcome for the children, parents and carers

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How effective is the nursery education?

and they all work together constructively. Leadership and management of the group is very good. The staff work together well as a team during sessions. There are clearly defined roles for the committee and staff. The staff are well supported by the committee when dealing with any problems or writing policies and procedures. The playgroup has clear aims and objectives. The staff and committee work together to ensure these are met. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are provided with good information about the setting. There are detailed newsletters, a folder, regular meetings with staff and children's progress is discussed half-termly. They are given clear and detailed information about the planning of activities, the Foundation Stage and the stepping stones. The parents feel the staff are friendly and approachable and that they can actively contribute to their child's learning.

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What is being done well?

• Children are confident and self esteem is promoted effectively. They enjoy taking part in the activities on offer and share well. • The children encouraged to learn about the local environment. The staff regularly take them out to explore the surrounding fields and the village. • The children have good access to information technology and have fun using tape recorders, head phones and programmable toys. • The staff are good role models for the children. They use praise and encouragement effectively with the children and the children are well behaved and polite to the staff and each other.

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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?

• organisation and planning, to include time for the children to have the opportunity to practise large movements and muscle control. • planning to include opportunites to learn about shape and patterns and to identify individual children's needs.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The group had three key issues from the last inspection. These were to develop a print-rich environment as far as possible by labelling resources and displays clearly and offering more opportunities for developmental writing in the meaningful context of role play. They were also asked to develop planning and assessment records to include all learning outcomes and identify clearly in planning what the children are intended to learn from activities. Finally they were asked to date assessment records and children work consistently so that progression is clear and extend the special needs policy to include specific reference to the Code of Practice for the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs and the involvement of parents. There has been very good progress with these key issues since the last inspection. There are now pens and paper available during every session as part of the role play and there are clear labels and posters displayed at child height with

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What has improved since the last inspection?

drawers and boxes clearly labelled. The planning is accessible and detailed for parents with the areas of learning outlined clearly. The staff use assessment sheets that are dated to indicate the progression of the children. There is now a detailed special needs policy in place to help clarify the procedures taken to support individual children and include their families.

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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 self-esteem is encouraged effectively with displays of the children's work around the room. There is good interaction between the children and staff, they show care and concern for each other as they play. The staff use praise and encouragement effectively and the children respond well. The children are excited to learn from new experiences and choose freely from a wide selection of toys and equipment.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children join in stories enthusiastically during circle time. The staff encourage the children to think and use language to solve problems. Children have regular access to writing materials and most can write their names confidently. Children understand that print is read from left to right and share books regularly. Staff encourage the children to learn new vocabulary as they play in the home corner.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children have good opportunities to build on their knowledge of numbers through the session. They recognise numbers from one to ten with confidence. Staff use appropriate mathematical language effectively with the children during adult-led activities and story time. The staff do not regularly introduce patterns and shapes to children as they play.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children have a good awareness of the world around them and the diversity within the community. They have access to a wide range of experiences in the surrounding rural area and the village such as looking gardens for birds, flowers and wildlife. They recall past events well and are confident to speak in the group. They have good access to technology and enjoy using tape recorders and programmable toys.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children use small equipment confidently as they play. They roll, cut and mould the playdough with ease. There is good use of the space in the setting and the children have access to balancing beams, balls and hoops. There is limited access for the children to large physical play equipment. Children have a good awareness of their own bodies and the importance of keeping clean and healthy.

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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 have good opportunities to develop their imagination well during role-play situations. They have free access to paint and creative activities and are encouraged to discover new materials and textures as they play. They move to music during the parachute activity, hide underneath quietly, jump and dance when the music is loud and the parachute is lifted up by staff.

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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

• Provide regular opportunities through planned activities for children to use large physical-play equipment and extend their knowledge and understanding of shapes and patterns. • Develop planning to enable individual children's development and learning to be linked to assessment.

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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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