Drake Lower School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 11/03/2004 Inspector Name Margaret Travers

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Groombridge Pre-School Setting Address King Edward VII Memorial Hall Station Road Groombridge East Sussex TN3 9QY

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name The Management Committee Address Groombridge Pre-School King Edward VII Memorial Hall,Station Road Groombridge East Sussex TN3 9QY

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

Registered charity number: 1027624. Groombridge Pre-school operates from a hall in a large new community centre in a rural village. It is open during term-time from 9:00 until 12:00, Monday to Friday. Children attend from age two and a half until they start school. The group receives nursery education funding and there are 21 three year olds and one four year old in receipt of funding attending at the time of the inspection. There is a pool of eight staff, usually the supervisor, deputy and two others attend each day ensuring that fifty percent are qualified. They provide care for children with special needs.

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?

The provision for nursery education at Groombridge Pre-School is acceptable and of high quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. Children have very good relationships with each other and the adults in the pre-school. There behaviour is very good. They benefit from a variety of well-planned, interesting activities. The children are learning to concentrate well, to enjoy writing and to recognise numbers. They enjoy weekly yoga and music sessions and take part in structured daily outdoor play. Staff incorporate problem solving and simple addition and subtraction into planned and group activities although sometimes more able children are not fully challenged during their everyday activities. Children enjoy using their imaginations and use a variety of interesting resources to increase their cutting and designing skills but lack

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

some opportunities to fully developing their knowledge of technology. Good systems and careful observations ensure children with special educational needs and who have English as an additional language are well supported and their learning extended. The leadership and management is very good. The manager and staff meet daily to exchange information. There is a new appraisal system in place and the quality of the teaching is monitored regularly and training needs are identified and addressed. Individual observations of children effectively inform future planning which ensures the children’s individual and special needs are met. The partnership with the parents is very good. Parents are well informed about their children's progress through information sessions and regular meetings. They have good opportunities to find out about the group's activities through regular newsletters.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children enjoy very good relationships with staff and interact well with their peers. • Children work confidently and show high levels of concentration in everyday tasks. • The behaviour within the group is very good and children are positively encouraged to consider the needs of others. • Children's spoken language is developing well and they are encouraged to use new vocabulary and express themselves during imaginative experiences • Children are learning to recognise numbers, to count and increase their

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 awareness of shape and size. • Through their senses the children explore objects and enjoy cutting, sticking and creating a variety of models and pictures.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• challenge for more able children in problem solving and simple addition and subtraction during everyday activities • children's knowledge of technology

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 concentrate well and are well behaved and interested to learn. They enjoy showing their objects during circle time and are developing confidence in speaking in front of the group. They are growing in self esteem and are polite and considerate. They respect their own cultures and those of others and respond well to praise and encouragement. Relationships within the group are very good and children are encouraged to develop independence especially at snack time.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children's spoken language is progressing well. They listen and are developing new vocabulary. They enjoy stories and songs and are beginning to write letters and their names with confidence. The children enjoy taking part in creative experiences which are helping them to develop conversation and express their ideas. The children enjoy reading and listening to stories and enjoy reference books about the current topic.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children competently count in all situations including cups at snack time and are learning to recognise numbers to ten. They are developing a very good understanding of shapes and size and compare measurements such as the height of their growing hyacinths. They problem solve and learn about simple addition and subtraction in group situations although more able children are not always fully challenged during everyday activities.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Using their senses the children enjoy a variety of interesting experiences such as playing with jelly and making spring flowers as part of their developing knowledge of the natural world. They create models and use scissors and tape well to stick and join these. The children enjoy learning about other cultures and beliefs as well as events in their own lives and immediate community. Their understanding of technology is limited.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy a wide range of structured physical activities such as an indoor obstacle course, weekly yoga sessions and music and movement to the piano. They play regularly outside on large wheeled toys and are developing good control and coordination and a sense of space. They are developing fine manipulative skills when using scissors, pens and pencils and enjoy using equipment such a the trampoline.

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 are developing their imaginations through role play, movement to music and mediums such as paint and jelly. They are learning to play musical percussion instruments and respond well to musical rhythms. They enjoy stories and singing to the piano, as well as tapes and CDs. They make up stories when using farm animals and cars and respond well to activities such as the making of their own representational models of spring flowers.

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 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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • Points for Consideration: • develop problem solving and simple addition and subtraction challenges for more able children during everyday activities • improve children's knowledge of technology 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

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

p.7