Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 17/02/2004 Inspector Name Caroline Hearn

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Abacus Nursery Setting Address Westside Oxford Road Newbury Berkshire RG14 1XB

p.1

ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Kingsclere Nurseries Ltd Address Kingsclere, Forest Road Wokingham Berkshire RG40 5SA

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

Abacus Day Nursery is privately owned by Kingsclere Nurseries who run a chain of seven Nurseries. They have owned Abacus since 1998. It operates from a detached building and is set out over two floors. On the first floor is the baby room for children up to one year and the Baby Toddler room for children aged from one to two years. On the ground floor they have, the two to three years room and the Pre-School rooms for children aged from three to five years. The Nursery is close to Newbury town centre and is used by families who live outside the immediate area as well as those who live locally and in the nearby villages. There are currently 64 children on roll. This includes 13 funded three year olds and 4 funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting supports children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The Nursery opens five days a week and is open between 08:00 and 18:00 for 52

p.2

Information about the setting

weeks of the year with the exception of Bank Holidays and a week at Christmas time. Ten staff hold a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (E.Y.D.C.P).

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?

Abacus Day Nursery offers high quality pre-school education where the children make very good progress towards the stepping stones and early learning goals. They make very good progress in personal social and emotional development, communication language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development. Children are provided with a wide and varied selection of resources to support their learning. Staff use these resources appropriately during well planned sessions to ensure children gain as much as possible from them. Staff appropriately question the children about what they have learned and ensure children have time to consolidate their learning. Teaching is very good. Staff work well as a team with clearly defined roles. They have very good knowledge of the stepping stones and use this to plan a varied selection of appropriate activities. All activities are comprehensively evaluated and

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

these evaluations are taken in to consideration when undertaking future planning. They do not however consider how the range of activities can be varied to meet staffing ratio's. Staff are aware of the need to act as positive role models and are consistent in their method of behaviour management. This ensures that the children have clear boundaries. Staff complete regular observations of the children's achievements and these are clearly documented and used for planning individual development. Leadership and management is very good. The manager, deputy manager and pre-school room supervisor have clearly defined roles and work well to support each other and staff. They clearly evaluate their work and use these evaluations to further enhance their practise. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are kept well informed regarding the setting and their child's progress and achievements. Both formal and informal time is

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

made for the parents to discuss their child's on going development.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children show good concentration skills and express their ideas confidently to adults. • Children show confidence when offering solutions to mathematical problems. • Children engage confidently in imaginative role play activities. • Staff have a good understanding of the foundation stage and this is clearly evident in their planning. • Parents are kept well informed regarding their children's progress and achievements and are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning.

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 • Staff work well as a team and have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• planning; to consider how the range of activities can be varied to ensure children can be supported appropriately by staff at all times.

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

The group has made very good progress since their last inspection and have clearly implemented their action plan. Children are provided with a wide range of planned opportunities to use technology to support their learning. The nursery has enhanced it's provision for children's physical development by developing their resources and ensuring this is clearly covered during planned activities.

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 are able to confidently select, and appropriately use resources to develop their own ideas. Children are clearly aware of the needs of others and that their actions have consequences. Their independence is fully encouraged during activities and staff praise children for their efforts. This helps to build their self confidence, self esteem and promotes good behaviour.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident and engage easily in conversations with each other, staff and visitors. Children listen well and respond to stories, enjoying visual props to aid their learning. Children are keen to learn new words, sounds and extend their vocabulary. Older children are beginning to be able to break the flow of speech into words, and when being read to are able to spot different sounding letters.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children can clearly count up to ten and beyond with understanding. Children are appropriately using mathematical language such as more and less in everyday situations. They are able to use correct terms to describe and compare shape, position, size and quantity. They are also beginning to show confidence when offering solutions to mathematical problems.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are learning about the world through planned and appropriate practical experiences. They are offered a wide range of activities, both in and out of doors, which enable them to learn through first hand experiences. They have an understanding of their own culture and are learning about others. Children are able to confidently use a varied selection of programmable toys and equipment.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are offered a varied selection of activities to encourage physical development. Due to this they are able to negotiate space successfully. They are able to move confidently and freely around the environment, with an awareness of others. Children are developing good small and gross motor skills using a range of resources. Children are able to practise some appropriate safety measures without direct adult supervision.

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 engage confidently in imaginative role play using a variety of different props. They are given plenty of opportunities to explore and experiment using a variety of different textures and media in their art and play activities. There are good opportunities for children to select their own materials, resources and tools when taking part in craft activities.

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 the following: • consider how the range of activities can be varied to ensure staff can support children's learning appropriately at all times.

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