Smethwick Hall Girls' School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 15/06/2004 Inspector Name Margaret Travers

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Egerton Pre-School Playgroup Setting Address Millennium Village Hall Egerton Ashford Kent TN27 9DR

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Egerton Pre-School Playgroup

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Egerton Pre-School Playgroup Address Millenium Village Hall Egerton Ashford Kent TN27 9DS

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.1

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.

p.2

Information about the setting

Egerton Pre-school Playgroup moved into the brand new millennium hall in Egerton in 1999. The large hall is divided effectively using dividers. The pre-school open each day from 09:20 - 12:05, but this will change from September 2004. An extra session at Egerton School is held for the older children for less than two hours. Children start the group at aged 2yrs 6 mths and generally leave for school at 4 years of age. The Pre-school is in receipt of nursery education funding for children aged 3 and 4 years old. There are 6 members of staff available, all are qualified, with one taking additional qualifications.

p.2

Information about the setting

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.2

How effective is the nursery education?

Egerton pre-school playgroup provides good-quality nursery education which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provision for personal, social and emotional development, creative and physical development is very good. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have good relationships with children and parents. They organise a wide range of practical and enjoyable activities. They organise both the indoor and outdoor space well and use resources to create an interesting learning environment in which children are motivated to extend their learning. Staff observe children's learning and development regularly although the next steps needed to take learning further are not included in formal planning. Staff work well together although do not meet regularly to share in the formal planning of activities. At present there are no formal activity plans showing intended learning

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

outcomes to meet the needs of all children, and activities are not formally evaluated. The keyworker system works well resulting in staff monitoring and supporting children with special educational needs children's effectively. The leadership and management are generally good. The supervisor and deputy are particularly effective in organising the environment well and motivating a good working team of staff. They are committed to the improvement of the care and education of the children and assess the provision's strengths and weaknesses well. The parent committee is very supportive and raises funds for the group enabling them to purchase new equipment. There is not yet a system to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents spend time talking informally with staff about their children and are well informed about their children's learning and development through sharing observations termly. Parents receive

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

regular newsletters and take part in group activities such as sports day.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children are happy and motivated to extend their learning as they take part in a wide range of interesting activities. • Children have good relationships with adults and their peers. They are becoming increasingly independent and are encouraged to develop their own thoughts and imaginations through role play and well organised craft activities. • Children are gaining in confidence as they take part in group discussions; they have good opportunities to express their own ideas which further motivates their learning.

p.3

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 learn about the world around them as they take part in topics such as "Divali" and "Chinese New Year". They are learning about their local community and visit the local post office to post their letters.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the attention given to the organisation of regular staff meetings to enable all staff to share in both the planning of topics and for individual children's next steps. • activity plans to show intended learning outcomes, how all children's needs will be met, vocabulary extensions and evaluations • the development of an effective monitoring system to evaluate the quality of teaching

p.4

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

p.4

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good relationships with adults and peers and understand the need to take turns and share. They are interested and motivated to develop their own learning and confident to speak during group discussions and to try new ideas. Children work well independently and in small groups and sit well and concentrate during story times. They are learning to become independent when they pour their own drinks. They learn about the needs of others such as guide dogs for the blind.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy stories and share books in the well organised book corner. They are encouraged to take part in story times and interact, talk and show good listening skills. Children are developing good language skills as they take orders for food and discuss ideas in varied role play themes such as a Chinese take away and pizza café. They are learning to read and write their names. Some missed opportunities exist to develop new vocabulary and letter sounds.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children count boys and girls and add the numbers together. They use mathematical concepts well in their everyday play for example by dividing pizzas into halves and quarters and discussing the cost. They sing number songs and develop skills well using number puzzles and games. They learn about quantities when using sand and water. Htwre are some missed opportunities to develop children's number concepts during activities as plans do not showing intended learning outcomes.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children grow their own seeds and plants, they visit the countryside and watch badgers. They learn about their families and pets and take part in cooking. The children respond well and are extending their learning through topics although plans do not show learning intentions for all children resulting in some missed opportunities for staff be teach consistently to an aim. The children enjoy taking part in big box days when they design and make models.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children take part in sports day activities and practice races regularly. They show good control and coordination and an awareness of space and others as they race with an egg and spoon. They climb and balance on outdoor equipment and use a range of large and small equipment well such as pegs and puzzles to develop their skills. Children take part in healthy and fit topics and discuss the food they eat.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

p.5

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children create their own models and pictures and express their ideas well through a wide range of mediums. They develop their own stories through role play with great enjoyment. They play musical instruments and take part in dance and movement. Children sing songs well from memory and respond eagerly with actions. They create and make their own models well using recycled materials and construction toys.

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• develop regular staff planning meetings to address children's next steps and share in the planning • develop activity plans and show intended learning outcomes, how different needs will be met, vocabulary extensions and evaluations • monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching to ensure it is consistently effective

p.7

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.

p.7

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

p.7