Ashbrooke House School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 28/04/2004 Inspector Name Stacey Sangster

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Rainbow Nursery Setting Address Kings Drive Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 2UD

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Eastbourne Hospital NHS Trust Address Kings Drive Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 2UD

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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

Rainbow Crèche opened in 1991 and is owned by East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust for the sole use of its employees. The crèche has the sole use of the majority of the ground floor of a modern building in the grounds of the Eastbourne & District General Hospital. The area includes playrooms, toilets, a kitchen, sleep areas, an office and staff facilities. The crèche has a new purpose built baby unit to cater for children aged six months to two years. The baby unit is self contained and is situated next to the main crèche building. It has playrooms, a cot room, kitchen, toilet and a children's bathroom. There is also a parents room available which can be used for feeding their own children. A large secure outdoor area is available for use, part of which has been fenced off to create an area for the younger children.

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Information about the setting

The crèche has increased its registration from 52 to 58 children aged from six months to seven years. There are 80 children on the register; of these 12 are funded three years olds and 23 are funded four year olds. Children attend a variety of sessions. The setting is able to support children who are identified as having special educational needs and English as an additional language. There are nine members of staff who work at the setting and a number of bank staff. All staff have qualifications relating to child care and education and it is the policy of the Trust only to employ qualified staff. The crèche is open throughout the year on Mondays to Fridays from 7.00am to 6.00pm.

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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 is acceptable and is of high-quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of learning. Teaching is very good. Staff are secure in their knowledge of stepping stones and plan a well-balanced and effective curriculum that takes into account where each child is in their learning. Staff are skilled at providing stimulating, imaginative, well thought out and creative activities that motivate and excite children about learning. They organise children well and are very attentive. They ensure that children remain focused by quick and careful questioning that draws children back to their task. Children are very well-behaved, they are clear about adult expectations in relation to their behaviour. Staff are good role models, treating each other and children with respect and courtesy. Leadership and management is very good. Effective line management and

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How effective is the nursery education?

communication between all levels within the nursery help to support the process of continued evaluation and the identification of how practices can be improved. The setting have become skilled at assessing their strengths and weaknesses and taking positive steps to implement improvements effectively. The partnership with parents is very good. Parents are provided with good quality information about the setting and its aims. They are kept well informed about their children to progress and have given opportunities to share information about what they know about their child. Parents and extended family are encouraged to be involved with each child's learning in a variety of ways. Parents comment positively about the setting.

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What is being done well?

• The provision of a wide range of stimulating, fun, imaginative and exciting practical activities and outings to support children's development in all six areas of learning; • The caring and nurturing environment generated by the way staff interact with the children, that results in children forming positive relationships with each other and staff and ensures that they feel safe, secure and happy to take part fully in what is being offered; • The diverse use of resources by staff in an imaginative and creative way to support the activities and allow spontaneity and creativity to flourish among the children;

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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 • There are no areas for improvement identified as a result of this inspection. The following are points for consideration. • i) Consider making the end of term writing reports as clear as those provided to the parents of 4 year olds by organising the feedback under the headings of the 6 areas of learning. • ii) Consider using the written feedback from parents about what their children can do, as part of children's formal assessment record.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

There were no areas identified for improvement as a result of the last inspection. The setting were advised to " Continue to implement the established systems for monitoring, reviewing and evaluation of teaching, planning and assessment to ensure that the high standards already achieved are maintained." which they have done.

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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 demonstrate a positive disposition to learning, they enjoy problem-solving and are confident to try new activities. The children have high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem as a result of the positive staff interaction. They are independent, kind, considerate, polite and very well-behaved. Positive relationships are being formed with each other.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Most children are confident when speaking and show an awareness of the listener. They enjoy stories, songs and rhymes and handle books with care. Children's vocabulary is extended as a result of skilful questioning by staff. Children link sounds to letters and some are beginning to use their phonetic knowledge to read and write simple words. Many can write recognisable letters which are generally correctly formed.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children routinely use mathematical language such as big, small, longest, shortest in their play. They enjoy counting for a purpose and spontaneously count to identify how many items are needed e.g. cups and plates for lunch. Some are able to calculate using simple addition and subtraction to solve practical problems. Children confidently use positional language. They show interest in measuring and many can accurately identify and record numerals from one to five.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good The children demonstrate good investigative skills and make good use of their observations for example finding, drawing and attempting to write details of what they could see when exploring the garden. Children's design and making skills are well developed. They know about the uses of everyday technology and apply this in their role play. Excellent use is made of outings and short trips to find out more about their community and local environment.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children move with control and coordination in a range of imaginative ways; striding, marching and tiptoeing spontaneously, for fun as they move around the rooms. The children competently use a range of small and large equipment, handling tools, objects and construction safely and with increasing control. Children attempt difficult tasks such as manoeuvring heavy logs in the woods, and are developing an understanding of both their physical limitations and of their increasing strength.

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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: Very Good Children are creative and take pride in displays and their contribution to them. They are excited and interested by music and how sounds are made; for example 'playing' garden implements by blowing, tapping, strumming and beating watering cans, soil sieves, canes and gloves enthusiastically to well-known tunes in the garden. Children are hugely imaginative, partly as a result of the creative input from staff. Role-play reinforces stories and activities allowing children to share what they know.

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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: • i) Consider making the end of term writing reports as clear as those provided to the parents of 4 year olds by organising the feedback under the headings of the 6 areas of learning. • ii) Consider using the written feedback from parents about what their children can do, as part of children's formal assessment record.

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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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