The Heights Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 11/03/2005 Inspector Name Sue Boylan

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Adventure Pre-School Setting Address Adventure Pre-School Grove Hall, Grove Park Carshalton Surrey SM5 3AL

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REGISTERED PROVIDER 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

Adventure Pre-School is privately owned and opened in 1992. It operates from one large room which is located within Grove Hall. A maximum of 26 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each week day from 09:30 until 12:00 and from 12:45 until 15:00 during term time. During the school holidays a play scheme is open from 09:00 until 13:00. All children have use of a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The pre-school serves the local community. There are currently 50 children aged from two to under five years on roll. Of these 26 children receive funding for nursery education. The nursery currently supports children who have special educational needs and are willing to support children who have English as an additional language. The nursery employ four full time staff to work with the children. All staff including the manager have 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?

Adventure Pre-School provide high quality nursery education where children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a sound knowledge of child development and very good understanding of the foundation stage and early learning goals. They plan a stimulating and varied curriculum linked to a topic within an environment where children's independence is encouraged. However resources and opportunities for children to design and make things independently is sometimes limited. Staff know children well and monitor their progress closely. Evaluation of key group activities are used effectively to build on children's progress and adapt the weekly planning. Staff work very well with children who have special educational needs. Positive and consistent methods for managing the children's behaviour are in place. Leadership and management is very good. Staff work well as team and have a clear

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How effective is the nursery education?

understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They demonstrate a genuine commitment to their work with the children. Staff are well supported to develop their skills and knowledge through training and there is s system in place to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching. Partnership with parents is good. Time is made available to discuss their child's progress with formal meetings arranged every term and a report is written when they leave to go to school. Information about the weekly activities and curriculum are displayed and there is a parents' committee involved in fund raising and special events.

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What is being done well?

• Children benefit from taking part in well planned small key group sessions which build on their existing skills and knowledge. Good use is made of information gained from group times to guide the planning of future activities and ensuring individual needs are met. • Children's progress towards the early learning goals is well monitored and documented, particularly for children with special educational needs. The information is used to keep parents updated on progress, plan the next stage in learning and write reports when the children leave to go to school. • The staff team are experienced and have a very good understanding of the foundation stage and early learning goals. This is achieved by the commitment of the provider to ensure staff have every opportunity to attend external training and to meet together on a weekly basis to plan and discuss the curriculum.

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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 • There are very good opportunities for children to investigate the natural world. They learn about the life cycle of a vegetable, where fruits grow, what they taste like, how bread is made and where the grain comes from. • Staff encourage children to have a love of books. They look at books independently, turning pages appropriately, there is a weekly visit to the local library, a book sharing scheme and children participate enthusiastically when listening to stories.

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What needs to be improved?

• more opportunities for children to select their own tools and materials to design and make things and express their own ideas in art and craft

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. The staff have introduced a number of effective measures to improve the activities provided for younger children, information given to parents about the curriculum so they can support their child's learning and the availability and resources of the role play area. Planning has been changed enabling sessions for the younger children to meet individual needs and provide more variety in activities such as art and craft, cooking, music and movement. Parents are given information about the curriculum in the form of a weekly sheet that provides information on the activities planned and the topic. Children take home worksheets so parents can see what they are currently working on, e.g. shapes, pencil control, colours. The role play area has been completely reorganised allowing more space and resources for children to stimulate and use their imagination.

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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 co-operative and interested in the activities provided. They are encouraged to be independent and have good self help skills for example pouring drinks, wiping noses and hand washing. Children are confident and play well together, they can share and take turns. The children understand the rules and respond well to the familiar routine and structure. Behaviour is good with staff being positive in their approach providing a calm, caring environment.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children communicate confidently and are keen to use their growing vocabulary to start conversations about events happening at home and what they are doing at nursery. They show a love of books often sitting alone or with friends looking at pictures and retelling the story. The children are encouraged to use writing for a variety of purposes and are encouraged to think about letters with the sound of the week. The older children are able to write their names.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Younger children can count reliably up to 10 and the others easily up to 20. Children talk about and compare shapes, sizes and patterns through effective practical activities offered, for example, patterns on wall paper. Children's understanding of adding and subtraction is developing well through good everyday use of songs and staff's appropriate questioning during the sessions. Numerals are displayed effectively helping children to recognise numbers.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children have access to a computer and simple programmable toys. They are encouraged to learn about the natural world ,for example, how a vegetable grows from seed. There are good opportunities to learn about the local community using resources and trips to local shops such as the post office and greengrocers. Children are introduced to a variety of cultures through topic based work such as Diwali and Chinese New Year. Opportunities for children to design and create are not fully exploited.

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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 move freely with confidence and negotiate the nursery space well. They can run, crawl, jump, climb, balance and are developing their ball skills. Children participate enthusiastically in "fit and fun" sessions a weekly activity to focus on body movement and physical development. Children are able to use small and large tools effectively for example scissors, pencils, glue sticks. They are confident with construction equipment and puzzles.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good opportunities to explore creative media and materials. They can express their imagination through a variety of different role play, for example, travel agent, post office and shop. They are learning to mix colours and can use different paint techniques. Children enjoy listening to and making sound particularly with their own made instruments. Children sing and join in ring games with enthusiasm.

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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: • the resources so more opportunities are provided for children to design and make things

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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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