John Baskeyfield VC CofE Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 02/10/2003 Inspector Name Elaine Douglas

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name KINGSTON KINDERGARTEN Setting Address ST JOHN'S PARISH HALL GROVE LANE KINGSTON UPON THAMES SURREY

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Angela Brooks & Patricia Sargent Address 79 Villiers Avenue Surbiton Surrey KT5 8BE

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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

Kingston Kindergarten is situated in a church hall in a residential area of Kingston upon Thames, within a short drive of the town centre and mainline station. The group have use of a large hall, a kitchen area, toilets, entrance hall, cloakroom area and a small outside play area. They have sole use of the premises during their opening times. The group operates Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm, term time only. they are registered for 35 children aged two to five years. The group are in receipt of government funding for four year olds, and are supported by the EYDCP. There are six staff, five are qualified and one is working towards a qualification.

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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?

Kingston Kindergarten is providing high quality nursery education where children learn through effective planning and the provision of a wide range of activities. High standards of teaching ensure the children are making very good progress towards the Early Learning Goals (E.L.G.'s). Teaching is very good with some generally good aspects. The key strengths in creative development are due to the staffs ability to encourage children to explore and investigate, and to express their own ideas. Staff display a good knowledge of the E.L.G's and how children learn. Staff build good relationships with the children and have high expectations of behaviour, which underpins their development in all areas. The key strengths in Knowledge and Understanding of the World are due to the staff providing good opportunities for children to investigate the natural world. Staff make good use of the space and resources available, which support children's

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How effective is the nursery education?

learning. Observation and assessment has been an ongoing development and recently a new system has been implemented. Leadership and management is very good. The managers are committed to ongoing development and are clear about their aims and objectives. Managers have a strong vision of the quality of childcare and education they want to provide, and steer the work of the setting. Managers make very good role models and are directly responsible for planning, providing, and supervising the activities. Managers complete all planning and managerial tasks outside of the groups opening times, and are available daily for the children, staff and parents. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are kept well informed about the nursery and their child's development. Parents receive a newsletter providing information on the curriculum. Parents are actively encouraged to be involved with the group and are made welcome. Staff and managers are available

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How effective is the nursery education?

daily to discuss individual children with parents.

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What is being done well?

• Children are keen and motivated to learn due to the interesting resources and activities provided. • Children are confident and good communicators due to the good relationships built with staff and each other. • Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is very good due to the opportunities provided for them to explore and investigate the natural world. • Good leadership provides clear aims. A strong commitment to assessing and developing practise, ensures staff are supported in their roles and are

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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 provided with good role models. • Parents are kept well informed about the curriculum, the provision and their child's development, and find staff approachable and knowledgeable about their individual children. • Staff work well as a team, they understand their roles and support each other through good communication. • Managers effective planning ensures children are progressing equally well towards all of the E.L.G's. • Children are encouraged to explore and investigate, and to develop their own ideas and imagination through role-play, stories and design.

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What needs to be improved?

• The use of snack and meal times to provide a learning opportunity to develop maths.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The setting has made very good progress since the last inspection. The group have found ways of recording children's scientific experiments, such as; using displays and providing clip boards for the more able children to use tick charts, graphs and pictures. The group have purchased a climbing frame which is set up in the hall, to provide more opportunities for children to extend their climbing skills. The planning system has been changed to ensure staff link the needs of individual children to the activities. Staff evaluate the activities and monitor the children's progress, to assist with future planning; inform parents of their child's development and to help identify any children with special educational needs.

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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 making very good progress in this area. Children are provided with good opportunities to try new experiences and are motivated and interested to learn. They build good relationships with staff and each other; they take turns and share, and work together harmoniously. Children's behaviour is good, they are confident but display concern and respect for each other. Children develop independence through the daily routines and activities provided.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in this area is very good. Children enjoy books both individually and as a whole group, and are provided with good opportunities to develop their reading skills. The children are good communicators, they speak clearly and listen and respond appropriately. Children have good opportunities to use 'writing' in a variety of ways and so are able to write recognisable letters and words. Children can link sounds to letters and can name and sound letters of the alphabet.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are making very good progress in this area. Children can count reliably and recognise numbers. They have good opportunities to relate addition and subtraction to adding and taking away. Children know their shapes and can recognise and recreate patterns. Staff use activities and daily routines to develop maths, however this could be developed further during snack and meal times.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in this area. Children are given very good opportunities to investigate objects and materials using all their senses, by exploring the well resourced interest table and to find out about features in their own environment and the natural world. Children confidently use information technology, and construct and design using a variety of resources. There are close links with the local church but children also learn about other cultures and religions.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children s progress in this area is very good. Children show a good awareness of space for themselves and others and move with control and coordination. They have good opportunities to use a range of tools and materials, and demonstrate using them with safety and control. They learn about keeping healthy through daily routines and activities and staff question children appropriately to make them aware of the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active.

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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 Children are making very good progress in this area. Children have good opportunities to develop their imagination in role-play and stories. They respond to experiences and have good opportunities to express their own ideas. Good resources provide the children with opportunities to explore a range of media and materials. Music and movement is used daily so children are able to repeat sounds, match movement to music and sing songs.

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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: • Point for consideration: Develop the use of meals and snack time as a learning opportunity for maths.

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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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