Tynemouth Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 03/03/2005 Inspector Name Sharon Greener

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Tynemouth Nursery Setting Address 2 Preston Avenue North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 2BS

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Tynemouth Nursery Group Ltd 3706298

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Tynemouth Nursery Group Ltd Address 2 Preston Avenue North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 2BS

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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

Tynemouth Nursery is one of two nurseries run by the provider. It opened in August 1999 and operates from six rooms within a converted, self contained, residential premises. It is situated in the North Shields area of Tynemouth. A maximum of 67 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30 to 18.00, for 52 weeks of the year. All children share access to an enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 98 children aged from six weeks to under five years on roll. Of these 16 children receive funding for nursery education. The nursery serves the local community and wider area. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery employs 14 full time staff. Twelve of the staff, including the manager, 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?

Tynemouth Nursery provides very good quality nursery education, which enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals. High priority is given to developing children's personal, social and emotional, communication, language, literacy and mathematical skills. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a clear understanding of the early learning goals, and children benefit from very effective teaching methods. A broad range of well planned activities are provided, along with quality resources. Staff work creatively to provide a stimulating learning environment both indoors and outdoors. Children are encouraged to experiment, explore, and develop independence. Staff regularly assess children's individual learning and progress against the stepping stones. Effective use is made of this information to shape and inform future plans, to ensure children receive sufficient support and challenge. Support for

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How effective is the nursery education?

children with special needs or those who speak English as an additional language is sufficient. Staff are highly motivated, enthusiastic, and work competently as a team, moral is good. They present as positive role models and have high expectations of the children. Management of children's behaviour is very good, and children respond extremely well to staff and are very well behaved. The leadership and management of the setting is strong. The managers have a clear ethos, which has a positive impact upon the operation of the nursery and quality of teaching. Staff receive ongoing support, regular appraisals and access to training.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Partnership with parents is very good. Staff work effectively with parents, who are actively involved in their children's learning, via home-link activities and tasks. They are kept well informed of their children's progress and are encouraged to contribute information. They have access to good written information about the nursery.

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What is being done well?

• Children have access to a wide variety of good quality resources, and a broad and balanced range of staff led and child led activities and learning experiences. Staff make very effective use of time, space and resources. • High priority is given to developing children's communication, language and literacy and mathematical skills, through a variety of well planned, practical activities and learning experiences. • Children have a great enthusiasm for books, which they handle very well. They understand that text carries meaning and books contain information. • Personal, social and emotional development is a strength of the nursery. Staff present as very good role models for the children. They use positive

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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 strategies to promote good behaviour and set clear and consistent boundaries for the children. Children understand right from wrong, show consideration for others and are very well behaved. • Parents and carers are kept very well informed of their child's progress and encouraged to have an input towards developmental records and assessments. They are kept well informed of events through a variety of methods (daily verbal feedback from staff, written information, photographs displayed throughout the nursery and regular newsletters). They are also encouraged to work with staff to develop and extend their learning, for example, language and literacy skills, by carrying out activities at home, with resources supplied by the nursery. • Management and organisation of the setting is strong, staff benefit from

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What is being done well?

ongoing monitoring and support. Staff are given clear directives, and show a clear understanding of policies and procedures, as well as their individual roles and responsibilities. Staff are very enthusiastic, highly motivated, work very well together as a team, and moral is high. They show a commitment to the ongoing development and improvement of the education and care of children, as well as their own personal development.

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What needs to be improved?

• There were no significant weaknesses noted at the time of the inspection, however, the following points for consideration was raised: • the resources and opportunities for children to further develop their knowledge and understanding of weight and measure. • the method of assessing group activities, so as to clearly identify individual children's progress and attainment.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. Teaching methods have been reviewed and staff plan a programme of activities for the children, which ensure children have ample opportunities to take part in practical learning experiences. Effective planning systems are in place, which identify key staff, resources and the learning intentions. A policy and procedure to support children with special educational needs is in place, to enable staff to adapt the environment and planned activities, so as to accommodate individual children's specific needs. The developmental assessment of children links directly to the stepping stones and early learning goals, contained within each of the six areas of learning. Staff use this information to plan an effective programme of activities for the children, to ensure that where necessary children receive sufficient support or challenge.

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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 confident and separate readily from their parents and carers. They are very eager and enthusiastic learners, they select and use resources independently with growing confidence. They interact very well in groups, willingly share, take turns and show regard for others. They are very well behaved and respond extremely well to staff with whom they have built strong relationships. Children have very high self esteem and show great pride in their own achievements and ability.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children express their needs, are effective and very confident communicators, with very good listening skills. They are competent when following simple instructions and are developing a sense of recall. Children handle books particularly well and show a great interest in written words and letter sounds. They have regular opportunities to practice reading and writing skills, are able to link letters to sounds and recognise simple words, form recognisable letters and some write their first name.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children use simple mathematical language such as big, little, heavy, more, and compare groups of objects. They count confidently from 1 to 10 and some beyond. Some children can do simple addition and subtraction tasks, using visual prompts such as fingers and other objects. Children can recognise and name shapes, colours and patterns within their environment and make comparisons. They use three dimensional shapes to successfully build models and show increasing spatial awareness.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing an awareness of their own culture as well as those of others around the world. They operate computers and programmable toys independently with ease. They show a very keen interest in the world in which they live, how items work, how plants and creatures live and grow. They are eager to increase their knowledge and understanding through well planned activities and spontaneous events. They select and use resources confidently and build and construct imaginatively.

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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 confidently, with increasing skill and imagination. They show a growing awareness and regard for their own personal space and safety, and that of others, both when indoors and outdoors. Children have very good hand and eye co-ordination, they use mark making materials and tools very competently. They show an awareness of good hygiene practices, for example hand washing after visiting the toilet, handling the nursery pet snails, and before meals.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children express themselves enthusiastically and imaginatively through a wide range of media, such as role play, music, movement and art and craft activities. They show pride in their work, selecting materials and techniques with care. They work with purpose to achieve a desired outcome, for example when drawing, and building three dimensional models. Children are able to sing familiar songs, they know the difference between loud and quiet sounds, and are developing a sense of rhythm.

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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 improving the following: • the opportunities for children to further develop their knowledge and understanding of weight and measure • the method of assessing group activities, so as to clearly identify individual children's progress and attainment.

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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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