Hundred Acre Pre-School Playgroup

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/03/2004 Inspector Name Michelle Smith

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Hundred Acre Pre-School Playgroup Setting Address 1 Goodwood Drive Streetly Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B74 2JG

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Hundred Acre Pre-School Playgroup Committee 531792

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Hundred Acre Pre-School Playgroup Committee Address Goodwood Drive Streetley Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B74 2JG

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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

Hundred Acre Playgroup opened in 1988. It operates from a converted building in Streetly. The Playgroup serves the local area. There are currently twenty four children from two to three years on roll. This includes five funded three-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting is able to support children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The group opens three days a week during school term times. Sessions are from 09:15 until 11:45. Three staff work with the children. All staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development Partnership (EYDCP).

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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?

Hundred Acre Playgroup offers good quality provision which helps children to make generally good progress towards the Early Learning Goals. Children are making very good progress in personal, social and emotional development and knowledge and understanding of the world. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have adequate knowledge of the Foundation Stage and use this information well to ensure plans provide opportunities for children to make progress in the majority of areas within the curriculum. Each child is assessed and individual learning objectives are recorded, implemented and monitored. Staff build warm and trusting relationships with children, encouraging them to learn. They offer appropriate support within activities and manage behaviour well. Staff make good use of time and resources for most of the session, although following snack time resources are less well organised and children's concentration

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How effective is the nursery education?

is lost resulting in not all children participating in activities. The leadership and management of the playgroup is generally good. Staff are aware of their role and work well as a team. The strengths and weaknesses of the setting have been largely identified through self-assessment, but gaps within some areas of learning show that the evaluation of nursery education is not completely effective. The person in charge is committed to improving the quality of teaching through working closely with staff and the Early Years Unit. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are provided with good quality information about the setting and it's provision. They are encouraged to work closely with staff to share what they know about their child and to keep up to date with their child's progress. Opportunities are available for parents to offer support within the running of the playgroup.

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What is being done well?

• Children explore and investigate materials with all their senses and are able to identify similarities and differences within living things. They use their imagination well within a range of practical activities. • Staff build warm and trusting relationships with children. They support children's learning well resulting in children being very interested and involved in their play. • Good written plans are produced and individual learning outcomes are identified for each child. • An effective partnership with parents exists. Parents are kept well informed about the provision and their child's achievements. They are encouraged to be involved in the running of the playgroup.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to recognise numerals and link sounds and letters within everyday situations • the planned use of large equipment to progress children's learning in relation to climbing and balancing skills and the use of music for dance and free expression • the organisation of time and resources to provide a smooth transition between snack time and subsequent activities, maintaining children's interest and providing all children with opportunities to participate.

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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 involved in their play, showing high levels of concentration when at an activity of their choosing. They manage their self-care well and are good at supporting each other during practical activities. Children are developing an awareness of different cultures. Children sit quietly and concentrate for the majority of the time and are beginning to understand what is right and wrong.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children demonstrate good book handling skills and listen with enjoyment to stories. They are learning new words through stories and themes. Children are able to recognise their own name cards. However, children are not learning to link sounds to letters and do not sound letters of the alphabet within activities. They are beginning to understand that print carries meaning through labelled items. Children are able to write for a variety of purposes and give meanings to marks.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are developing confidence with counting skills but are not learning to recognise numerals. Practical activities enable children to develop their understanding of addition and subtraction. They are beginning to show an awareness of and use appropriate language in relation to weight and capacity. They have a generally good understanding of shape and are starting to understand sequencing.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy talking about significant events in their own lives and are learning about the world in which they live. They investigate and explore materials with all their senses. They are able to identify features of living things, looking closely at any similarities or differences. Children are developing an understanding of Information and Communication technology and are able to use a computer to support their learning.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are able to move confidently and safely, stopping and changing direction when pushing equipment. They are confident in using small equipment and tools. However, children are not developing confidence or skills in the use of large equipment, climbing or balancing. Children show a sense of space in relation to themselves and others. They are beginning to recognise the benefits of staying healthy.

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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 enjoy experimenting with texture and their understanding of colour is progressing. They show an interest in what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch. They use their imagination well within both art and role-play experiences. Most children know and join in with favourite songs, but their experience of music with dance and free expression is limited.

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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 but has some significant areas for improvement. Children progress towards the early learning goals is limited by some significant weaknesses. The next inspection will take place in one to two years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• Key Issues • Provide children with regular opportunities to recognise numerals and link sounds and letters. • Enable children to have the use of music for dance and free expression and plan the effective use of large equipment incorporating opportunities to develop children's balance and climbing skills. • Make effective use of time and resources to maintain children's interest at all times.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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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