Ashby Fields Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 14/03/2005 Inspector Name Catherine Greene

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Bowlers Community Nursery Setting Address 81 Crouch Hill London N8 9EG

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Bowlers Community Nursery Address 81 Crouch Hill London N8 9EG

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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

Bowlers Community Nursery opened in 1985. They operate from a purpose built building. There is an open plan group room divided into sections and a separate room for babies. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The nursery is within the grounds of Crouch Hill Reaction Centre. There are currently 21 children from 3 months - 5 years on roll. This includes 4 funded 3 year olds and 4 funded 4 year olds. The setting supports children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The nursery opens Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5.30 for 48 weeks of the year. Seven Staff work with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 3. 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?

The children at Bowlers are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of the foundation stage. The quality of teaching is very good, staff are very caring and supportive of the children. Behaviour is well managed and the children are enthusiastic about the activities on offer. Staff work well as a team and utilise their individual skills and knowledge of good quality childcare to provide a well rounded curriculum. The children particularly benefit from one to one activities with staff they know very well. Staff demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of the stepping stones and plan a varied and stimulating programme of learning which is integral to children's play. Well written plans together with effective questioning is used to stretch the children's potential in each learning area. They regularly observe the children and use this information well to provide suitable challenge and support for children's

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How effective is the nursery education?

individual ability and interest. The leadership and management of the nursery is very good. Managers provide regular supervision and meetings and encourage staff to utilise ongoing training initiatives. The manager and staff are consistent in their implementation of the curriculum and managers regularly monitor and evaluate the provision and children's progress to address any weaknesses identified. The nursery works well with parents and carers and regularly informs them of their children's progress. Information about the nursery is clearly written and includes notices and newsletters to keep them informed of daily activities. Parents and carers are welcomed in to the nursery and often attend social events and cultural celebrations.

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What is being done well?

• Children's independence and decision making is actively encouraged and as a result the children demonstrate increasing confidence and ownership of their environment. • Staffs' individual skills and knowledge is utilised well to support children's progress through the stepping stones. • Staff use observation and assessment information well to provide a varied and balanced curriculum which meets the needs and interests of individual children.

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What needs to be improved?

• maintenance of current good standards.

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What needs to be improved?

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

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the nursery was required to address four key issues. The first issue was to provide more opportunities for all children to record numbers and to become familiar with simple number operations, such as addition and subtraction. (2) Extend the skills and understanding of able and older children by encouraging them to solve more challenging mathematical problems. Staff have addressed this issue effectively by improving planning of activities that encourage children to write their findings through numbers and other numeral symbols, improve number recognition and solve mathematical problems and for staff to attned specific training in this area. The second issue was to ensure staff develop consistently effective questioning techniques. Staff have made very good progress in this by planning activities that extend children's logical thinking and problem solving skills. to raise staff awareness

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What has improved since the last inspection?

of planned learning activity and learning outcomes. The importance of consistent questioning as an extension of the child's learning and as a tool to assess the level of understanding that the child has shown in the activity. The third issue was to promote the programme for physical development by providing climbing and balancing equipment that is suitable for three year olds. The setting has made very good progress on this issue. A challenging physical education programme has been implemented. Funding has been raised to buy new equipment that is age appropriate and developmentally appropriate. The outdoor area is used to its full potential to provide a stimulating environment that provides children with opportunties to develop their physical skills.

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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's show increasing independence in selecting and carrying out activities and initiating their own learning and interests. They talk freely and have an increasing awareness of their own and others needs. Children behave well and concentration levels are very good. They form good relationships with adults and peers and respond well to significant experiences.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children frequently have very good opportunities such as circle time to develop skills in speaking and listening. They use language in imaginary situations and increasingly to clarify their ideas, particularly through role play. Children demonstrate a growing enjoyment of books. They are learning to recognise rhymes and beginning to understand that print carries meaning. They are becoming confident using tools and early writing skills.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children benefit from very good opportunities to count and recognise numbers. For example, they are confident in their efforts to identify the properties of shape and balance. They enjoy rhymes and the sequence of stories and events and are increasingly able to match and make patterns in relation to colour and form. Children show curiosity about numbers and often count. They are beginning to record and calculate in relation to height and weight.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children show interest in the world in which they live and are beginning to ask worthwhile questions and identify features which are important to them. Through planned and spontaneous activities, they are becoming increasingly aware of other cultures and religions. Children explore and investigate objects and materials, often building interesting models and pictures which explain their new found knowledge. They make good use of technology to support their learning.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's are using increasing hand control with the use of tools in activities such as drawing and cutting and have good opportunities to manipulate small objects with growing precision, for example, model-making activities. They move freely with increasing confidence during outdoor play and demonstrate good levels of coordination in manoeuvring themselves about challenging apparatus.

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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 The children respond well to a varied and sensory environment. They join in with creative music and movement, play out imaginative stories through role play and enjoy listening to a range of music. Children paint and create models to express their feelings and ideas and have good opportunities to explore colour and sound making equipment, taste and texture.

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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 but the setting should consider the following points for improvement: Maintain current good standards.

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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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