New City Nursery Group (Hackney)

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 24/02/2005 Inspector Name Pamela Bailey

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Creche Day Care Setting Name One World Nursery Setting Address Falkirk Street London N1 6HQ

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name One World Nursery Address Falkirk Street London N1 6HQ

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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

One World Nursery is one of two nurseries run by The Community College Hackney. It opened in 2002 and operates from four rooms in a purpose built building situated within the college campus. A maximum of 131 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each week day from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round, excluding bank holidays. All children share access to two secure enclosed outdoor play areas. There are currently 183 children under 5 years on roll. Of these 71 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from a wide catchment area as many of their parents are students at the community college. 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 31 staff. Twenty eight of the staff, including the 4 supervisors 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?

One World Nursery provides good-quality nursery education overall which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provisions for their personal, social and emotional, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development are particularly well planned and children are making very good progress in these areas. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff understand how three and four year olds learn and are familiar with the stepping stones and early learning goals. They plan a variety of practical activities and organise the indoor space and resources well to create an interesting learning environment in which children increase their independence. Group activities are presented in an enthusiastic and lively manner but are not always extended to provide sufficient challenge particularly in aspects of mathematics and literacy. Staff have good relationships with the children and children are generally well

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How effective is the nursery education?

behaved however there are inconsistencies in the management of children's behaviour. Staff regularly observe the children and the information is used to inform future planning however assessments are not sufficiently evaluated against the stepping stones and early learning goals. As a result they do not have a secure basis on which to plan the next steps in children's learning, or provide a clear picture of progress to share with parents. The leadership and management of the nursery are generally good. The supervisors have been particularly effective in developing a committed staff team who work well together. They have implemented a programme of staff development aimed at improving teaching. There is not yet a rigorous system to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching. The partnership with parents is generally good. A combination of formal and informal methods enables parents and staff to share information about children's

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What is being done well?

• Staff work well as a team, are well deployed and use their time effectively to support children's learning. Children are motivated to learn through activities that are practical and build on their interests. • Many children arrive at the nursery with English as an additional language. Children are making good progress in their spoken language. Staff are good at developing their language as many staff speak the same language as the children. They value what they say and introduce them to new vocabulary.

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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 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 that children gain as much from activities.

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What needs to be improved?

• the attention given to increasing children's awareness of the sounds of letters and different purposes for writing • the use of practical activities and routine to extend children's learning and understanding of the use of numbers • the use of assessments to provide a clearer link with the stepping stones and move children on in their next steps in learning • the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of teaching.

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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 confidence and self esteem are built up by staff who are sensitive to their needs and know them well. Children generally behave well and display a high level of involvement in activities. They are taught to share and take turns, and be polite and considerate to others. Children have good opportunities to develop their independence through practical experiences such as selecting activities. They are able to take care of their personal needs such as washing their hands.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Staff skilfully plan and support activities to extend children's language through asking questions, using signs, gestures and giving new information. Small group work encourages the children to speak confidently, whilst sharing their own experiences and ideas. Several children recognise and write their names, but children are not encouraged to label their work and activities are not extended to include opportunities for sounding letters. They enjoy story time and participate enthusiastically.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children confidently count beyond 10, many children recognise numerals up to ten. However opportunities were missed to extend more able children's learning in number. Children have opportunities to sort, such as how they travel to nursery, but are not encouraged to record their findings. Children learn to add and subtract as they sing nursery rhymes and group girls and boys during dance sessions. Their awareness of weight and capacity is exploited during cooking activities and water play.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to build and construct using a variety of materials such as sand, bricks, arts and craft. They enjoy making vegetable pasta and baking their transport models made of dough. They are learning about a sense of time through daily routines and discussions about past and present events. Children have access to computers, cash registers and telephones. Children have opportunity to learn about people in the community, different cultures and beliefs.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

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

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident when using a range of large and small equipment. There are lots of opportunities for children to practice their fine motor skills. They use paintbrushes, pencils, thread cotton reels and learn to cut up vegetables and use cutlery with increasing control. Outdoors they manoeuvre tricycles around obstacles, travel over, through and climb equipment. They understand that moving around energetically during dance and exercise sessions makes them feel hot and tired.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have excellent opportunities to express themselves freely during music, movement and dance. They pretend to be different animals or act out familiar stories. Children have lots of opportunities to explore colour, texture and taste during cooking activities. A good range of materials enables children to make models in two and three dimension. They make their own transport from cardboard boxes. Children know and enjoy familiar songs and rhymes and explore sounds during music sessions.

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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 good quality overall. Children are making generally 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: THE KEY ISSUES

• improve the use of practical activities and routine to extend children's learning and understanding in the use of numbers • increase children's awareness of the sounds of letters and the different purposes for writing • improve assessments to provide a clear link with the stepping stones and early learning goals in order to move children on in their next steps of learning • introduce a rigorous system for monitoring and evaluation of the quality of teaching.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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: THE KEY ISSUES

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

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