Coston Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 02/12/2004 Inspector Name Pamela Edna Friling

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Bright Eyes Day Nursery - Cheltenham Setting Address Knapp Villa 6 Knapp Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3QQ

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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

Bright Eyes Day Nursery is a privately run nursery situated on the outskirts of Cheltenham. The nursery is registered to provide care for 48 children aged under five years. It shares a car park with a local business and is easily accessible by foot from the town centre. The nursery has been registered since August 2000 and has recently increased in size to incorporate a new baby unit. Bright Eyes Day Nursery is open from 08.00 to 18.00 on Monday to Friday. They do not provide overnight care. The owner, deputy and several of the staff hold a certificate in Nursery Nursing. The children are cared for in four groups depending on age and ability. The 'Twinkles' children aged under one year; 'Stars' children aged between one year to two years; 'Sunshine's' children aged two years to three years and the 'Rainbows' who are the pre-school children. The nursery is in receipt of funding for nursery education.

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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?

Bright Eyes Day Nursery provides good-quality nursery education overall which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff show a satisfactory understanding of the Foundation Stage of learning. They know individual children well and recognise their attainment level on the stepping stones. However, the system for observation, assessment and evaluation of children's progress is not used effectively to inform future planning or provide sufficient individual challenge for more able children. Staff use open-ended questioning effectively to encourage children to think and solve problems. Children are motivated and interested and communicate confidently. Staff plan activities and utilise spontaneous opportunities very well to extend children's understanding of the world around them. Children's creativity is encouraged through art-and-craft and imaginative play but opportunities to explore

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How effective is the nursery education?

music independently are more limited. Resources are well organised to encourage children's independent choice but play and learning time is lost each day with frequent movement around the building. Partnership with parents is generally good. They are given good information about activities and events. Parents are offered clear information on the Foundation Stage of learning to promote their understanding of their child's education but they do not systematically contribute to ongoing assessment. Leadership and management of the nursery is generally good. Staff take part in the nursery appraisal system to determine ongoing training and personal development needs. Present systems for monitoring nursery education are not effective in evaluating the provision of nursery education or highlighting any weaknesses within the programme. However, the nursery is committed to future improvement.

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What is being done well?

• Children investigate and explore through both planned and spontaneous opportunities. The children observe snails collected from the garden and investigate and discuss how the new compact disc player and remote control work. • Children use information technology effectively and independently to support their learning. • The children communicate confidently using language to explain, discuss and organise their play. Children's language and thinking is extended through careful questioning by staff. • Resources are well organised to promote children's independent choice.

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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?

• assessment, observation and evaluation systems • time management to allow children maximum play and learning opportunities and give them a sense of achievement for tasks completed • opportunities for children to explore music independently.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This is not applicable as this is the first education inspection for the nursery.

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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 confident, enthusiastic and curious. They form good relationships with adults who use praise effectively to encourage children's self esteem. Children show care for each other and for younger children and are developing close friendship groups. Children are encouraged to make decisions and choices regarding their activities. They are mostly self-reliant in their personal care and helpful during daily routines. However, staff miss opportunities to further extend independent skills.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Staff question effectively to encourage children to communicate and express themselves as they discuss and describe what they are doing. Children speak confidently using their language skills to solve problems, negotiate and take part in imagiantive scenarios such as play with the farm animals. Children use books independently for stories. Consolidation of name writing and mark-making skills is not consistently encouraged during play and routine although resources are easily available.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Staff utilise spontaneous opportunities in the daily routine well for the group of children to count and calculate through play activities and snack routines. The children join in enthusiastically as a group but there is more limited challenge for the more able children to extend their individual knowledge and understanding. Children show good understanding of mathematical language and use it well as they take part in free play and staff directed activities. Children sort and match confidently.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy many opportunities to explore, investigate and observe through planned topics and spontaneous opportunities, such as observing snails and exploring how the new compact disc player works. Staff question effectively to encourage thinking and problem solving. Children are confident designers as they select and join easily accessible resources. Children control the computer confidently and independently as they open, run and close appropriate programmes to support their learning.

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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: Generally Good Children move carefully around the nursery, negotiating the stairs confidently. Access to a range of large and small equipment in the play areas encourages physical development as children climb and slide. Some children manoeuvre wheeled toys with enthusiasm but show little control of speed or respect for other users of the space. Use of tools and small equipment is developing well with easily available resources that encourage practise of skills like cutting, construction and pencil control.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children have access to a wide range of both independent and staff-led creative activities. Children use their imagination well as they play in the home corner and with farm animals. Children have daily independent access to recycled and collage materials to allow them to explore and create using their imagination. Children have less opportunity to explore musical instruments independently although staff encourage children to express themselves through dance and movement to music.

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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

• develop systematic assessment, observation and evaluation methods that are linked to the stepping stones, effective in informing planning to maximise children's individual learning and used to monitor the provision of nursery education • ensure time within the day is managed effectively to allow children maximum play and learning opportunities and give them a sense of achievement for tasks completed • provide opportunities for children to explore music independently. 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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