Birkenhead Sixth Form College

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 14/06/2004 Inspector Name Beth Kingsland

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Monkton Under 5's Playgroup Setting Address Monkton Men's Institute 122 Monkton Street, Monkton Ramsgate Kent CT12 4JQ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Monkton Under 5's Playgroup

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Monkton Under 5's Playgroup Address 122 Monkton Street Monkton Ramsgate Kent CT12 4JQ

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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

Monkton Under 5's Playgroup opened in 1977. It operates from the Village Hall in Monkton, near Ramsgate, Kent. The playgroup has access to a hall, toilet and an outside area. The playgroup serves the local area and surrounding villages. There are currently 22 children on roll. This includes 7 funded 4-year-olds and 7 funded 3-year-olds. Children attend a variety of sessions each week. The playgroup have experience of caring for children with special needs and children who speak English as an additional language. The playgroup opens five days a week, term time only. Sessions are from 09.00 to 12.00, Monday to Friday. Five staff work with the children on a rota basis, two of whom hold an early years qualification and have attended short courses. The group receives support from a Pre-school Learning Alliance development worker and a teacher from the Early Years Partnership.

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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?

Monkton Under 5's Playgroup provision is acceptable and is of high quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The overall quality of teaching is very good. Staff work positively and enthusiastically with all children, encouraging them to be confident, independent and very self-assured. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals. They plan a comprehensive and balanced range of activities and set very good challenges for children allowing them to make rapid progress through the stepping stones towards the early learning goals. Children are encouraged to use their imaginations throughout the session. Staff set activities and resources out for the children to select from, however, opportunities for self-selection of equipment are limited. Staff provide good support to children during the activities they complete and are very aware of their roles and responsibilities throughout the day. The

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How effective is the nursery education?

effectiveness of assessment and curriculum planning is very good. Staff have introduced a comprehensive assessment system and make detailed observations of children's progress. Staff know children well, and information from assessment is used effectively to inform the planning of activities. The overall quality of leadership and management is very good. Staff are led by two positive and enthusiastic leaders. All staff work well together to identify weaknesses within the setting. Clear procedures have been implemented in order to evaluate and review the effectiveness of the playgroup practice. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are greeted warmly when they arrive at the playgroup and receive very good opportunities to be informed about their children's attainment and progress in learning. Staff provide parents with detailed information about the setting and its provision. Parents

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How effective is the nursery education?

regularly help with the day-to-day running of the playgroup.

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What is being done well?

• Staff support children very well. Children are confident and independent, they work well together and have formed very good relationships. • Children communicate well together. They speak confidently as they play freely throughout the session. • Children receive very good opportunities to take part in a range of practical mathematical activities. They have access to a broad selection of activities and equipment that allow them to solve simple problems as part of free-play. • Staff plan the daily routine well. Children explore a wide range of imaginative and free-play activities that effectively extend children's learning through the stepping stones towards the early learning goals.

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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 • The playgroup is managed by two positive and enthusiastic leaders. Staff work effectively together as a strong team, regularly challenging and extending children through each of the areas of learning.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to independently and freely select from the broad range of activities.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The playgroup has made good progress in addressing the three key issues identified from the previous inspection. Children receive good opportunities to use writing as part of their imaginative and free play. Daily planned opportunities are provided to allow children to solve simple mathematical problems as part of practical play. The playgroup environment is adapted well to allow children to take part in vigorous physical activities.

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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 work positively and enthusiastically to complete a range of activities. They have developed good relationships together and their behaviour is very good. Children are encouraged towards personal independence, and confidently select from resources placed out by staff. However, opportunities for children to select resources for themselves are limited. Children are introduced to positive images of other cultures, traditions and beliefs through well-planned activities.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children speak confidently together in groups, communicating their ideas during free-play. Staff make very effective use of planned discussion activities to develop and extend children's language skills. Good opportunities are provided for children to write freely and imaginatively as part of free-play activities. Children enjoy reading sessions and actively use and enjoy the books displayed.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children receive very good opportunities to count and recognise shapes as part of the daily programme of activities. A good range of mathematical equipment is available within the playgroup and staff make effective use of this to encourage children to solve simple problems as part of practical and free-play activities. Staff exhibit a very good knowledge of the stepping stones within this area of learning.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children receive very good opportunities to explore the local and wider world and to discuss their home and family life. Staff provide a very good range of planned investigation activities that allow children to explore the properties of different materials. Very good use is made of the outside play area to look closely at the differences, patterns and change of materials as part of free-play. Children use a range of materials for construction.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children receive daily opportunities to move safely and freely both inside and out. Staff carefully plan the programme of activities to allow children access to activities both within the playgroup and the outside play area. Children skilfully use the large and small equipment, showing co-ordination and confidence. Good opportunities are provided for children to develop their small manipulative skills.

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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 receive good opportunities to respond to a variety of experiences as part of the daily programme of activities. Children are encouraged to use their imaginations to communicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings.

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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 improving the following: • the opportunities for children to independently select from the broad range of resources.

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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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