Bright Sparks

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/05/2004 Inspector Name Catherine, Louise Sample

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Bright Sparks Nursery School Setting Address Ebbesbourne Wake Village Hall Ebbesbourne Wake SALISBURY Wiltshire SP5 5JF

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The partnership of Bright Sparks Nursery School

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Bright Sparks Nursery School Address Ebbesbourne Wake Village Hall Ebbesbourne Wake SALISBURY Wiltshire SP5 5JF

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

Bright Sparks Nursery School operates from a hall which is situated in the rural village of Ebbesbourne Wake. The nursery serves villages in the local area. The nursery is registered to accept 26 children aged 2 to 6 years. It provides care for children aged 2 to under 5 years during term time and holiday care for children aged up to 6 years. It is not registered to provide overnight care. There are currently 53 children from 2 to under 5 years on roll. This includes 25 funded 4 year olds and 13 funded 3 year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery caters for children who have special needs.

p.2

Information about the setting

The group opens five days a week during school term times and three days per week during some school holidays. Term time sessions are from 09:00 until 15:00 every weekday. There are a total of eight staff. Four have Early Years qualifications and four are currently attending Early Years training. The nursery receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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?

Bright Sparks Nursery School provides high quality care for children. The children are making very good progress in all areas of learning. The teaching is very good. The staff have a clear understanding of the Early Learning Goals. They interact well with the children and ask them questions to make them think. They manage the children's behaviour well, reminding the children of the ground rules and offering praise for desired behaviour. The nursery has a good understanding of special needs and there are effective procedures in place for caring for children with additional needs. The special needs coordinator liaises closely with staff, parents and other agencies. The staff record ongoing observations of the children's progress and use these to plan the next steps that they need to take. The planning is closely linked to the stepping stones and each age group has different planning to take account of the stage which the children are at. All planning

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

is evaluated in relation to each child. The leadership and management is very good. The partners provide good leadership and the staff have a clear understanding of their roles.There is a formal induction programme in place and there are regular staff meetings. The partners regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the provision and assess it's strengths and weaknesses. They discuss future development and are committed to improvement, such as the further professional development of the staff.

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

The partnership with parents is very good. Parents are given good quality information. Staff keep parents well informed about the progress of their children through regular verbal exchange, meetings and an annual written report. They encourage the parents to share what they know about their children through an initial profile and regular discussion. Parents are encouraged to be involved with the nursery and staff suggest ways in which they can support their children's learning.

p.3

What is being done well?

• The children are curious and keen to learn. They are good at concentrating and display high levels of involvement in activities. They relate well to one another and also work well as a group. They are well behaved and aware of the boundaries. They operate independently within the setting and have many independent skills such as pouring drinks and fetching their coats. • The children are confident speakers who initiate conversations and speak clearly at circle time. They use language well in imaginary play and to express their feelings. They enjoy listening to stories and looking at books. They have varied opportunities to recognise print and to link sounds and letters. Most are able to write their names using recognisable letters.

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 • The children are interested in numbers and at the inspection were observed to count to fourteen. They are also able to recognise numerals. They use mathematical language in their play and show an interest in number problems. They are beginning to understand basic addition and subtraction. • The assessment and planning is closely linked to the stepping stones of the foundation stage of learning. Detailed assessment of the children's progress allows staff to plan for their next steps. Planning is adapted according to the stage of development of the different groups of children and a wide variety of activities are provided to cover all the areas of learning in an imaginative way.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the availability of craft materials with which children can freely express themselves • the opportunities for children to use simple tools during free play.

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

There has been very good improvement since the last inspection. At the last inspection the nursery was required to provide training for the staff in order for them to develop their understanding of number operations and mathematical pattern. The staff have attended numeracy workshops in order to develop their understanding of mathematical development in the foundation stage of learning. The nursery's planning covers a wide range of activities designed to extend the children's mathematical skills. The staff are good at using mathematical language and concepts in all activities and provide plenty of opportunities for the children to count and to problem solve.

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 The children are curious and motivated to learn. They separate from their carers confidently and relate well to one another. They are well behaved and work well as a group. They operate independently within the setting. They self select resources and activities and have many independent skills. The children are becoming aware of other cultures and have a positive self image.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good The children are confident speakers. They initiate conversations and speak clearly.They use language in imaginary play and to explore their ideas and feelings. They enjoy listening to stories and are able to sit and listen attentively. They have varied opportunities to recognise print around the nursery and recognise their own names. They are beginning to be able to link sounds and letters. Three and four year olds are able to write their names using recognisable letters.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children are interested in numbers and counting and use mathematical language in their play. They were observed counting up to fourteen at the inspection and also to recognise numerals. They are interested in number problems and are beginning to understand basic addition and subtraction such as how many more cups are needed if a child joins the group. They are aware of shapes and use size and positional language. They have good opportunities to explore capacity, weight and size.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good The children find out about living things and investigate objects and materials. They build and construct using a variety of materials and resources. They have regular opportunities to use ICT and use the computer to research topics as well as using a variety of programmes. They discuss the past and the present and have a good awareness of their local environment,visiting local farms and going on walks. They are beginning to find out about their own and other cultures.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children move confidently and enjoy experimenting with different ways of moving. They show an awareness of space and respect the personal space of others. They have a good awareness of their bodies and are able to observe the effect of activity. They use equipment confidently and can climb, balance, swing, slide and scramble. They also use small equipment,such as balls and bean bags,to catch and kick. They use tools regularly although mainly in structured activities.

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 The children enjoy exploring a variety of media and materials and making constructions, collages, paintings and drawings. They have a wide repertoire of songs and confidently join in with them. They explore the sounds of musical instruments. They enjoy imaginative play using role play equipment and also using other resources as props. They are interested in what they see, feel and hear and have done a topic on'Our Senses'. The children have limited access to craft materials during free play.

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: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to improving the following • develop the range and accessibility of craft materials with which the children can freely experiment and express themselves • increase the availability of simple tools for the children to use during free play.

p.7

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.

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