Hurst Farm

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 21/02/2005 Inspector Name Mauvene Burke

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name The Angel Nursery Community Childcare Centre Setting Address Churchill Gardens London SW1V 3AG

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Westminster Children's Society 2228978 299686

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Westminster Children's Society Address 121 Marsham Street London SW1P 4LX

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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

The Angel Nursery is one of 12 funded and supervised by the Westminster Children's Society serving the local community. It opened in 1992 an operates from one large room plus a smaller one. It is situated in St Gabriel's' School in the semi-basement. A maximum of 24 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08:15 to 17:45 51 weeks of the year. Morning sessions run until 12:00 and afternoon sessions start from 13:00hrs, a number of children stay all day. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 37 children in total receiving funding for nursery education. The nursery currently supports a number of children with special educational needs, and also supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs seven staff one of whom works part-time. Four of the staff, including the manager and deputy hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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 Angel Nursery Community Childcare Centre provides very good nursery education. Children are making very good progress towards the Early Learning Goals in the six areas of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. The well resourced environment ensures children are able to make very good progress. Staff have a very good understanding of how children learn. They manage the children well and have good relationships with them. The key worker system ensures that the adults know the children well. Observations and assessments are used to create developmental plans for individual children and monitor their progress. This knowledge is also used to effectively plan a broad and balanced curriculum which interests the children. Resources are organised to promote independent access, encourage children to pursue their own ideas and conduct their own experiments. Children receive ample attention and support in their

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How effective is the nursery education?

play from adults who employ good questioning techniques to extend children's language, imagination and thinking skills. Staff give good support to children with special educational needs and to those who has English as an additional language. The leadership and management of the nursery are very good. Well-articulated aims are achieved in practice because the staff team are positive and motivated, they work well together to ensure that children receive high quality care and education which is constantly being monitored and evaluated. There is a strong commitment to professional development, this ensures staff have good access to regular training. The partnership between parents/carers is very good. Parents are provided with excellent information about the setting. There is an effective key Worker system and parents are encouraged to discuss their children's achievements and progress with the key worker. Parents are kept up-to-date with nursery events via the White Board

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What is being done well?

• Children with special educational needs are included in all activities. Staff find out all they can about children's specific needs. They work in partnership with parents, carers and outside agencies to ensure children gain as much as possible from activities. • Staff recognise that self-evaluation is the key to continuous improvement and rigorously monitor and assess their provision, practice and children's progress. They act on their evaluations to make improvements. • Staff are deployed well in the nursery, they use their time effectively to support children in their learning. They observe and assess aspects of

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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 children's development and learning regularly. They draw on the detailed assessments in planning what children need to learn next. • The children show very good behaviour and self-control. They share and take turns with and without adult support. They have good self care skills where there is a high level of independence. • Activities are very well planned. Children's interest is captured because staff ensure activities are exciting. Staff explain things clearly and use questions that encourage children to think.

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What needs to be improved?

• There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to the following: • further opportunities to challenge the more able four year olds.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Good progress has been made in addressing the three Key Issues identified in the previous inspection report. There has been a new manager appointed since the previous inspection. The first was for the nursery to review the planning systems to ensure that the programme for physical development is sufficiently challenged. Since the last inspection, the nursery has moved to new premises and have a new outdoor play area. There is sufficient room for children to engage in outdoor pursuits including a garden area. The nursery is planning to further improve the outdoor are by developing a vegetable garden. Secondly. the nursery was asked to allow more time in the programme for language and literacy for children to talk about and share their experiences. The nursery have included in Circle Time - "Show and Tell" where children bring in an item from home to share and talk about with the other children. The nursery have also developed the

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Story Sack which enables children to make up their own stories using props from the sack. The third was to ensure that staff complete the Record of Achievement (ROA) regularly and consistently. Since the last inspection a whole new staff team have been employed as well as a new manager. The manager has put systems in place to ensure that staff are aware of when their key children's ROC are done every three months. As a result, all records checked were found to be up-to-date.

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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 very interested and involved in their play. Children behave well and display a high level of involvement in activities. They are developing their personal independence through selecting resources; working independently and helping themselves to a drink of water. The children are very happy and confident, they are learning to share and take turns. They have good relationships with adults and relate well to one another.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are at ease when speaking in familiar groups and are able to express their thoughts and feelings. The children hear lots of new language and are heard using this during their play. Children's interest in early reading is well stimulated through story sacks and good use of labelling. They handle books competently, enjoy listening to and making stories up themselves. Children can recognise their own and friends names and learn about writing in practical activities.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Planned activities and everyday situations are used very well to explore mathematical concepts. Children use mathematical language to accurately describe colour, size, shape and quantity. Children count and recognise numbers in familiar context. Good group activities extend children's understanding of addition and subtraction.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children have lots of opportunities to find out about the world they live in through using natural materials, living things and when celebrating festivals. There are excellent opportunities for learning about information technology. Children are very confident when using the mouse and enjoy the programmes provided on the computer. Well planned activities encourage children to investigate simple science experiments for example, the raisins, lemonade and water experiment.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills. They have daily access to an outdoor play are. They practice their finer motor skills when painting, writing and cutting with scissors. They move confidently, accessing activities and equipment well, they show a good awareness of space around them. Children learn about the importance of keeping healthy through topic work and as part of their daily routine for example when washing their hands before eating.

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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 enjoy and make good use of imaginary provision to role play familiar situations and stories such as "The Gruffilo" and "The Three Little Pigs". Children have good opportunities to explore colour, texture and form in two and three dimensions. They are encouraged to use their senses through various activities. Children know familiar songs can use different musical instruments. Some children are able to draw recognisable pictures such as the Campbell Soup Tin and the Birthday cakes.

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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 significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to the following: • further opportunities to challenge the more able four year olds. 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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