The Rocking Horse Club

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 14/03/2005 Inspector Name Stephanie Joy Bennett

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name The Rocking Horse Club Pendle Ltd Setting Address Walton Lane Child Care Walton Lane Nelson Lancashire BB9 8BP

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Rocking Horse Club Pendle Ltd 04564910

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name The Rocking Horse Club Pendle Ltd Address Walton Lane Child Care Walton Lane Nelson Lancashire BB9 8BP

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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

Rocking Horse Club Pendle LTD opened in 2000. It operates from a children’s centre, where children attending nursery education is integrated with full day care provision. It operates from a new purpose built building, close to local primary schools in the area of Nelson, near Colne. The setting serves the local area. A maximum of 122 children aged from birth to eight years may attend at any one time. Forty children receive funding for nursery education. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and who speak English as an additional language. The nursery is open each weekday from 07:45 to 18:00 hours, all year round, except for Bank Holidays. The Children’s Centre employs 34 staff, of whom all hold relevant childcare qualifications, and teaching qualifications. Of these, thirteen staff work with funded three and four year olds, and one full time Senco staff member is employed. The setting receives support from the Early Years Childcare development

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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?

The Rocking Horse Club Pendle LTD provides high quality nursery education overall, where children make very good progress towards the early learning goals. Quality of teaching is very good. Staff manage the children very well, and have good relationships with them. They have a strong knowledge of the foundation stage, which enables them to plan and assess children's progress towards the early learning goals effectively. The provision for communication language and literacy, and maths is excellent. It is supported by a wealth of print and resources which are easily available for children. Indoor and outdoor space is effectively organised to create an interesting learning environment, where children can be creative, use their imagination, and explore the natural world around them. Skilled interaction encourages children to think, ask questions and talk activities through. Group activities are well planned and interesting, which motivates children

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How effective is the nursery education?

to learn and develop their confidence in participating in groups. Staff give excellent support to those with special needs. They are encouraged to participate in all nursery activities, and planning takes into account their individual progress. Assessment records clearly track children's progress along the stepping stones, and most observations help them plan their next steps in learning. Leadership and management is very strong. Good support systems are in place at all levels to ensure that the education provided is carefully monitored and evaluated. Staff are highly motivated to further develop their own professional skills and are valued for their contributions to the team. Partnership with parents is very good. They are very well informed of the provision and all aspects of nursery life. Training for parents is available which helps them to support their children's learning at home. They are encouraged to contribute their

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How effective is the nursery education?

own knowledge and skills to enhance children's experience of families and those of others.

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What is being done well?

• The environment is very well organised and interesting to promote children's learning effectively in all areas. Imaginative areas are very well equipped, and children can freely access creative, maths and mark making activities. Good short term plans helps staff provide exciting objects and projects for children to explore, such as building light and dark caves, and experimenting with melting ice.

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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 give excellent support to those with special educational needs. A full time SENCO worker is employed to work with both staff and parents, in ensuring that individual needs are planned for, and that all can participate in all activities. Regular links with other professionals and parents ensure that the children reach their maximum potential. • Staff work hard to help children be independent, and develop their own self care skills. They are able to select their own drinks and food at snack time, and grow competent at personal tasks such as hand washing, and putting on their own coats and shoes. Staff organise resources so children can choose them independently and develop their own ideas. • The programme for teaching children maths and communication language and literacy is excellent. A wealth of letter and number print is available

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What is being done well?

around the rooms indoors and out. Outdoors children can roll wooden bricks down tubes, organise size and sequence numbers. • Excellent reading and writing areas encourage children to recognise their names and familiar words. Clipboards and notebooks in role play areas help them to make attempts to write for a purpose. • Partnership with parents is strong and very well established. Parents are well informed of the provision through clearly presented booklets which cover all aspects of nursery life. They have their own room where they are encouraged to talk to staff, or look at their child's profile. Staff value their contributions. They encourage parents to participate in events, and continue their child's learning at home.

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What needs to be improved?

• There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to the following: • the consistency of recording and planning the next steps in children's learning and progress.

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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 very interested and highly motivated to learn. They are encouraged to be independent and select their own activities. They are developing very good self care skills, such as when putting on their own coats and hand washing. Children behave very well and are taught to be polite, share, and take turns. Most work very well together in groups, such as when they are building together with large construction equipment.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Most children communicate clearly with staff and each other. They are confident at talking activities through and communicating their needs.The provision of lots of print and writing materials to enable children to develop good early reading skills. They all have an active interest in books and handle them well. Clip boards and notepads enable children to make many attempts to write for purpose.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Most children are confident counters.They count reliably to ten, and some older children recognise and write random numerals. Staff encourage children to develop early calculation skills in both planned activities and daily routines. They are developing good concepts of shape, size and position. Older children use programmable toys with confidence, and staff support younger children well. Most children are growing skilled at using mathematical concepts to solve practical problems.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Planned activities help children notice when changes occur, for example when ice is brought to room temperature, or when they make caves using light and dark materials. Children construct using large boxes and smaller resources. They are given plenty of opportunities to , join and assemble in the well equipped technology areas. Children use a range of communication and information technology to support their learning, including, a digital camera, audio equipment and programmable toys.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Staff create opportunities for children to balance and climb both indoors and out. They are becoming skilled at walking on planks up and down and climbing steps. Children are taught to handle and control small objects, such as hole punches, pegs, and scissors. They use cutlery, paint brushes and pencils with increasing control. Staff plan effective ways to develop their awareness of their bodies and staying healthy, for example, visits from dentists encourage them to look after their teeth.

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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 Staff's excellent provision of role play equipment and planned activities feeds the children's imaginations well. They enjoy reliving real and imagined experiences, and aspects of their favourite stories. Children explore a variety of textures and sensory experiences, such as play dough and corn flour. They are keen to express their ideas, for example, when they see and feel shiny materials, and sit in a self made dark cave.

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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: • develop further consistency in evaluating and planning individual children's next steps in learning.

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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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