Bluestone Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 10/02/2003 Inspector Name Sue Russell

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Sydenham Road Under Fives Setting Address Jarman Hall Sydenham Road, Knowle Bristol Avon BS4 3DF

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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

Sydenham Road Under Fives Preschool is a registered charity which is managed by a voluntary committee made up of parents and interested local people. The preschool was first established in 1957 and serves the local community of Totterdown and Knowle in Bristol. The group is situated in a large church hall with a spacious side room, known as the parlour, cellar rooms are used as storage. The group also have access to a kitchen used by adults only and occasional use of the lower hall used by toddler group, when they are not in session. Outside play takes place in the local infant school playground whicn is about two minutes' walk away. The group are registered for 24 children aged from 3 to 5 years. They are open Monday to Friday mornings from 9:00 to 11:45 and Tuesday afternoons 12:30 to 2:30 during term time only. Sydenham Road have 31 children on the roll. The group supports children with identified special needs and children for whom English is an additional language.

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Information about the setting

Staffing consists of a teacher trained leader, a qualified deputy, an assistant who has nearly completed NVQ level 3 and parent helpers

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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?

Children are making generally good progress towards the learning goals. They are provided with a well organised imaginative programme of activities. Progress in personal social and emotional development is very good; this is the result of the skilful methods staff use to engage children's interest and foster their independence and self esteem. As the group do not have direct access to outside play space and use the local schools play ground more attention needs to be given to supporting children's physical development. Progress in communication language and literacy is very good. Throughout all activities opportunities are created for the development of the written and spoken word. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a sound understanding of the foundation stage and plan and provide a wide range of stimulating practical activities to assist children to learn. Planning and assessment systems provide a suitable

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How effective is the nursery education?

framework to evaluate and progress children's learning. However there is little formal opportunity for parents to contribute to the process. The leadership and management of the group is strong. The leader has a. commitment to improving and reviewing practice and this is supported by the staff team and management committee. The committee are active and have an good understanding of their roles and responsibilities to wards the staff and the management of the group. Policies , procedures and practice are reviewed annually and a staff appraisal system is in place. Sydenham Road preschool is a parent managed committee run provision. It Is viewed by parents, as a valuable resource to the area. Parents undertake rota duty and are heavily involved in fun raising. The parents notice board and regular news letters are used to keep parents in formed and up to date with the themes , topics and planning that takes place within the group.

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What is being done well?

• Children are making very good progress in personal social and emotional and communication language and literacy. • Staff provide a varied imaginative program of toys, games and activities to assist children in their learning enabling children to become confident and independent learners. •• A well organised daily routine provides opportunities for individual, large and small group work to take place.

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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 • Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of the children in their key groups and are available to give children appropriate individual help. • Staff provide good role models, behaviour is of a high standard and children respond well in response to the high expectations and support of staff.

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What needs to be improved?

• The opportunities for children to learn and understand mathematical concepts such as length, breath, heavier and lighter. •• The opportunities provided for large movement spontaneous physical play to occur. • The opportunities provided for children to participate in 3 dimensional creative exportation.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The last inspection took place in 1998, since then there has been several different committees and many changes in staff. The recent staff team have been together for under 6 months. The issues raised in 1998 included; Planning Since then a new system of observation recording and planning has been devised and implemented. The planning now high lights the short and long term and identifies the areas of learning under the desirable out comes. It is regularly reviewed and changed. Increasing children access to technological equipment. Calculators, toy tills, cameras, cassette recorders were purchased and a resource box developed to provide opportunities for children to explore, question and experiment with programmable equipment. Increasing opportunities for literacy and numeracy A writing corner has been developed it contains a range of papers, pens pencils and crayons. Small group and individual activities that promote literacy and numeracy

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What has improved since the last inspection?

have been increased. Children are making very good progress in personal social and emotional and communication language and literacy.

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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: Generally Good Children are making very good progress in personal, social and emotional development. Children are actively involved in their own learning. Choosing, reviewing and recording their own play activities during key group sessions. They are confident and work well with adults and other children. They are learning to take turns and share. They participate well in circle and story time. Adults set high clear expectations for children behaviour which is good.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children are making very good progress in communication, language and literacy. Children confidently communicate their ideas, ask questions and share information with other children and adults. They enjoy listening to stories and pretend to read to each other. They understand that print has meaning and are provided with many opportunities for practicing writing. Children can recognise their own name and older children are able to write their names clearly.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are making generally good progress in mathematical development. Children are able to count accurately to ten and beyond. Older children during small group time are developing the concept of addition and subtraction. There are limited activities provided which promote an understanding of comparisons of length, breadth and weight. Children's shape recognition is developing well and they are able to copy simple patterns and sequences.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children are making generally good progress in knowledge and understanding of the world. Children talk about their families and significant life events. They are developing an understanding of the past and present and how other people live. Staff use topics such as weather and activities such as creating a weather station to give children first hand knowledge and understanding of technology and the world around them.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are making generally good progress in physical development. Children confidently use the balancing beam and trampoline and enthusiastically swarm over the climbing frame. Limited opportunities are provided for more able children to develop and refine existing large motor skills and for large movement spontaneous play to take place. Staff encourage the use of jig-saws and threading to foster hand and eye co-ordination. Children are developing good fine 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: Generally Good Children are making generally good progress in creative development. Children enjoy making and using musical instrument and listening to music. They sing complex songs and rhymes from memory. They explore colour and shape and are encouraged to experiment. Few opportunities are provided for children to participate in three dimensional creative activities. Children enjoy imaginative play and make up and act out stories and events in the home corner and fantasy role play area.

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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

• Increase opportunities that promote the understanding of mathematical concepts such as length and breadth. • Create more opportunities for more able children to refine and develop large motor skills; provide more opportunities for all children to take part in large movement spontaneous play. • Increase opportunities that promote three dimensional creative exploration. 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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