Busy Bees Day Nursery at Edgbaston

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 05/01/2005 Inspector Name Jennifer Turner

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Leapfrog Day Nursery (Edgbaston 2) Setting Address 54 St. James Road Edgbaston Birmingham West Midlands B15 1JL

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Leapfrog Day Nurseries (Trading) Ltd 3229362

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Leapfrog Day Nurseries (Trading) Ltd Address Central Office 2nd Avenue Burton on Trent Staffordshire DE14 2WF

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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

Leapfrog Day Nursery opened in September 2002 and is one of the chain of nurseries owned by the company. It operates from 10 play rooms within a large grade 2 listed building in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham. The Leapfrog Day Nursery serves the local and surrounding areas. There are currently 140 children from 3 months of age to 5 years on roll. This includes 14 funded 3-year-olds and 8 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language.

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Information about the setting

The group opens 5 days a week all year round. Sessions are from 07:30 until 19:00. 38 staff are employed to work with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. Five staff are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP).

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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?

Leapfrog Day Nursery provides very good nursery education overall which enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas. The quality of the teaching is very good. Staff have a good understanding of the foundation stage and clear, educational plans are in place to ensure coverage of all the early learning goals over specific periods. Most activities are well planned, stimulating and generally presented thoughtfully, although the use of learning through daily routines and informal situations is not always maximised to aide children's skills in solving practical number problems. The organisation of the environment fosters children's independence as they choose, investigate and explore. Staff listen to what children say and extend children's learning by encouraging them to think and express their ideas and feelings. Staff manage children's behaviour appropriately setting clear boundaries understood by most

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How effective is the nursery education?

children. There are good systems in place to ensure children with special needs and children from other cultures are supported. The leadership and management is very good. Staff work well as a team and there are effective systems for communication and a commitment to further training. The manager has a good knowledge of the staffs strengths and weaknesses. A well planned programme of staff development is in place, aimed at evaluating and improving teaching. The partnership with parents is very good. Parents spend time communicating with staff both formally and informally about their children and are well informed about the provision. There are also good opportunities for parents to receive and discuss information about their children's development. Parents are encouraged to participate and be involved in their children's learning, ensuring good links between home and nursery is maintained.

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What is being done well?

• Children are developing their creative skills and are encouraged to investigate, explore and use their imagination. This is particularly encouraged by the organisation of the room to reflect the different areas of learning. • Children access a wide variety of resources which are used effectively to keep them stimulated and interested. • Staff work well as a team. They are very enthusiastic and are always looking to try out new ideas and different activities. • Children are motivated to learn, they access very well planned activities in an imaginative manner, which fosters children independence as they select resources and activities for themselves.

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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?

• the opportunities for children to solve practical number problems through informal activities and daily routines.

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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 involved in a stimulating range of activities that help them progress and motivate them to learn. All are able to sit and concentrate for appropriate periods of time and are confident to try new activities. Children are encouraged to be independent and are able to choose between activities, selecting resources for themselves and taking care of their own personal needs. Children behave well and are able to take turns and share, they are learning to show respect for each other.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to confidently communicate ideas and feelings and use speech to explore real and imagined experiences. Children are developing an enjoyment of books and demonstrate an understanding of how to use them correctly. Children are able to recognise their names and most attempt to write their own names and write for a variety of purposes. Children are beginning to develop an understanding of the elements of stories and can retell what has been read to them.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to learn about number through a range of well planned activities. Children count confidently to ten with meaning and are able to recognise numbers up to ten and beyond. Children are developing some understanding of calculation through planned activities, although they are not always able to fully explore number problems in practical situations or through daily routines. Children are able to recognise different sizes and name shapes.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to discuss their families past and future events with confidence. They are able to investigate and explore a range of man-made and natural materials, both inside and outside. Children are able to observe the natural world and the community in which they live. They grow plants from seed and investigate bugs and insects. Children are learning about people in their community who help them as part of their planned play.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are involved in well planned physical play sessions daily, both indoors and outdoors. They are developing a sense of space, and are able to use both small and large equipment with confidence and control. All children are developing a good awareness of their own bodies and enjoy music and movement. A wide range of tools are freely accessible to develop hand and eye co-ordination.

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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 are able to explore colour, texture, shape, form and space. They respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear, smell, taste touch and feel and to use their imagination. Children can express their ideas thoughts and feelings through role play situations and art work. All children are confident in recite nursery rhymes from memory in small group situations and explore music and movement.

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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 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.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • There are no key issues to report, however consideration should be given to increasing the opportunities for children to explore practical number solving problems through informal activities and daily routines.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

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

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

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