Fosse Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 02/03/2004 Inspector Name Helen Hudd

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Laleham Church Playgroup Setting Address The Broadway Laleham Staines Middlesex TW18 1RZ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Parochial Church Council of All Saints, Laleham

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Parochial Church Council of All Saints, Laleham Address All Saints Church The Broadway, Laleham Staines Middlesex TW18 1RZ

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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

Laleham Playgroup opened in 1976. It operates from two rooms within the Church Youth Centre in Laleham, and children attend mainly from the local area. The group has access to kitchen, toilet and enclosed outdoor play facilities. The playgroup is registered to provide sessional care for 46 children aged from two to under five years. There are currently 42 children on roll, and this includes 28 who are in receipt of nursery education grant funding. The setting has experience of caring for children who have special needs, or for whom English is an additional language. Opening hours are 09:00 to 12:00 Monday to Friday during term time only. Nine part time staff work with the children, of these four have a recognised early years qualification and two are currently working towards one. Ongoing training for staff is accessed through the Early Years Childcare Service (EYCS), and the setting receives support from the Early Learning Advisor and cluster group meetings.

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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 provision for nursery education at Laleham Playgroup is acceptable and of good quality overall which enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Children's progress in physical development is very good; their progress in all other areas is generally good. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff monitor and record children's development regularly and use the information to inform future planning, although plans do not include details about how activities will be made more challenging for the more able children. Staff manage behaviour well in most cases and encourage good behaviour by praising the children's achievements. Staff work well together as a team. Leadership and management is very good. Staff are supported to attend ongoing training to update and improve their knowledge and annual appraisals are provided. Staff show a commitment to improvement by completing self evaluation

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How effective is the nursery education?

documentation for the provision. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive information through newsletters and the notice board. They are invited to attend the group on a voluntary basis to help or share their skills. An annual parents’ meeting is held so that new parents are informed about the aims of the group. Parents provide positive feedback about the playgroup.

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What is being done well?

• Opportunities for physical development are good. Staff support and challenge children who move confidently and safely. • Children use developing mathematical ideas to solve simple problems. They use mathematical concepts such as sorting and matching during general play activities. • Staff support children's developing vocabulary by extending new language into play activities.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to develop their independence and self-help skills • opportunities for children to learn about the cultures and beliefs of different people • opportunities for children to use their imagination and be creative using a range of materials.

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What needs to be improved?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At last inspection the setting was asked to provide more opportunities for children to record their observations in a simple way, and to continue to evaluate all aspects of the provision. Children now use a 'weather bear' to discuss the weather and select appropriate clothing for the bear. They create charts about their favourite things and draw their family, tallest to shortest. Staff now complete the Early Years Childcare Service (EYCS) self evaluation documentation each year, and use observation monitoring sheets to inform their planning.

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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 Staff provide a secure and friendly setting which builds on children's confidence. Children learn to share and take turns at activities such as board games and the obstacle course; they interact co-operatively and relate confidently to each other and adults. Some opportunities for children to develop their independence and self-help skills are missed within general activities such as snack time. Children are motivated to learn and usually behave well.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children's communication skills are developing well. They speak confidently and enjoy looking at books independently, although story time in large groups does not always maintain their interest. Some children recognise and can write their own name. Staff support children's developing vocabulary by introducing new language during activities.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children use developing mathematical concepts such as sorting, matching and pattern making. They experiment with weight and capacity during water play. Children learn about different sizes, shapes and colours during activities such as painting, collage and stencilling. They count confidently up to ten.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children explore their senses at activities such as recognising food by smell and handling a range of malleable materials. They learn about how things change during cooking activities, and use keyboards during role-play. The setting celebrates Christian festivals only and children have limited opportunities to learn about the cultures and beliefs of different people.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move confidently and safely with good control. They have opportunities to balance and climb on the climbing frame and trampoline, and use small equipment such as scissors and pastry cutters with increasing control. Staff encourage children to develop their awareness of health by discussing what we need to grow as part of the 'ourselves' project.

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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 explore different textures at activities such as play dough, collage and corn flour. They move imaginatively to music and experiment with different sounds using musical instruments. Children have limited opportunities to use their imagination to create objects or artwork of their own design using different materials. They join in well with familiar songs and action rhymes.

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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 use their imagination and be creative using different materials • provide opportunities for children to develop their independence and self-help skills • provide opportunities for children to learn about the cultures and beliefs of other people.

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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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