Cotton Tails Too

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 13/10/2003 Inspector Name Rebecca Trow

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name COTTON TAILS TOO Setting Address 14 Leach Green Lane Rubery, Rednal Birmingham West Midlands B45 9BP

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The partnership of David & Nicola Cotton

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name David & Nicola Cotton Address 14 Leach Green Lane Rednal Birmingham West Midlands B45 9BP

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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

Cotton Tails Too was established in April 2001. It is situated in Leach Green Lane, Rubery, off the Bristol Road South, approximately 1 mile from it's sister nursery, Cotton Tails, Northfield. The nursery is conveniently situated for bus services to and from the city, and is opposite Birmingham Great Park. Car parking is available at the front and rear of the premises. Open each weekday between 07:30 until 18:00, children may attend on either a full or part-time basis. Registration is for a total of 49 children from 3 months to 5 years, with 23 places for children under 2 years. Within the nursery the children are grouped according to age, each group has a key worker. There are 5 nursery playrooms and a fully enclosed rear garden. Care of the youngest children is on the ground floor. The staff team consists of 10 qualified Nursery Nurses, 3 staff in training, and a cook. Four staff hold current First Aid Certificates, and 5 have Food Hygiene

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Information about the setting

Certificates. Cotton Tails Too is registered for Nursery Grant Funding for 3 and 4 year old's.

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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?

Cotton Tails Too offers generally good nursery education. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Staff have a clear understanding of the early learning goals which is developing further with support from the Early Years Development Childcare Partnership (EYDCP). Staff work together to plan activities for children and plans are based on half termly topics. Children are not always challenged appropriately and differentiation for more or less able children is not detailed in the plans. Staff's management of children's behaviour is often inconsistent and use of the Sunshine Tree reward system is irregular. Staff manage time well tough the organisation of resources does not allow children to select activities or equipment easily. Staff assess children's progress regularly, making notes relating to observations. If staff are concerned about children's progress in any area it is included in future plans.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Leadership and management of the setting is generally good. The setting is committed to the improvement of the care and education provided and management encourage staff in further training, with a target of four courses every year for every member of staff. All staff have job descriptions and annual appraisals. The nursery has achieved its bronze Quality Framework award and is working towards the gold award. Partnership with parents is very good. The setting provides comprehensive written information for parents relating the care and education provided. Written information regarding the early learning goals is particularly good. Strong links between home and the setting are formed through the regular exchange of information between staff and parents and events such as workshops for parents.

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What is being done well?

• Partnership with parents is very good. The setting provides parents with comprehensive written information about the care and education provided and staff encourage links between home and nursery through a range of activities. • Children express their imagination well through a range of creative activities and role play. • Children move with increasing control and co-ordination and show an awareness of others. They use a range of large and small equipment with increasing skill. • Children enjoy books and handle them with care. They understand that print carries meaning and recognise a range of familiar words.

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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 are committed to improving the standard of care and education and are supported by the management team in accessing further training.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to select activities and equipment • consistency of behaviour management and children's awareness of the consequences of their actions on others • opportunities for children to interact as part of a large group • details of differentiation in planning.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

not applicable, as this is the first inspection.

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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 form good relationships with staff and peers and are confident to try new activities. They interact well in small groups though they do not often participate in large group activities. Children develop their independence through routine activities such as mealtimes. Children are not always aware of the consequences of their actions on others.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy books and handle them correctly. They understand that print carries meaning and identify a range of familiar words. Some children write recognisable letters though they do not link them to letter sounds.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are confident counters and often use number names in activities such as singing. They compare shape and size of everyday objects though they do not use language to compare numbers. Children copy and create patterns using a range of objects.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children have a good sense of time and talk about past and future events in detail. They identify features of their environment and talk about things they like and dislike. Children do not use information technology to support their learning.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children have good co-ordination which is developed through a range of activities both inside and outdoors. They move with control, showing awareness of others though they do not recognise the effects of exercise on their bodies. Children use a range of large and small equipment with increasing skill.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children explore shape and form through a range of creative activities and they express their imagination with confidence. They enjoy singing and know a variety of songs though they do not match their movements 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

• provide opportunities for children to select activities and equipment • ensure staff management of children's behaviour is consistent and that children learn right from wrong and the consequences of their actions on others • provide opportunities for children to interact as a large group • include differentiation for more or less able children in planning. 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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