Cherry Tree Day Nursery & Kidz Club

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/02/2005 Inspector Name Judith Chinnery

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Cherry Tree Day Nursery & Kidz Club Setting Address 17 Holmwood Drive New Parks Leicester Leicestershire LE3 9LG

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Mrs Yazmin Jayne Chadwick and Mr Steven Chadwick

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Apple Tree Day Nursery Address 27 Church Drive Markfield Leicestershire LE67 9UH

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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

Cherry Tree Day Nursery and Kidz Club opened in January 2004. It operates from five rooms in a large converted house. It is situated on the edge of the New Parks area of the city close to the main Groby Road. Children attend from all over the city and county. There are currently 77 children from birth to 8 years on roll. This includes nine funded three and four-year-olds. The nursery supports children who have special educational needs and who speak English as an additional language. The group opens for five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 07:30 until 18:00. Children can attend for a variety of sessions. There are eight full-time and two part-time staff working with the children; of these, six have early years qualifications and four are currently on training programmes.

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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?

Children are making generally good progress in most areas with very good progress being made in knowledge and understanding, social, maths and communication. The quality of teaching is generally good. The system for assessing children's progress towards the early learning goals is effective and links well to the planning of activities which is based on children's interests and what they need to do next. Support for children with special educational needs is developing well. Staff are beginning to ensure that activities challenge children sufficiently by using questions which help children to think. Children's behaviour is managed really well, staff praise children's achievements and set consistent and clear boundaries. Resources are plentiful and support children's learning well across all areas. Although there are good systems in place many of the staff are uncertain in their knowledge of the Foundation Stage and in using the stepping stones. While children can choose

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How effective is the nursery education?

activities freely some art and craft activities are overly adult directed preventing children from exploring and experimenting.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Leadership and management is generally good. The team is led well and works together effectively. They are beginning to take up relevant training to enhance their skills and have a good knowledge of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are committed to improving their provision for children having recently made significant and effective changes to planning and assessment systems. However, systems for evaluating their overall educational provision are not yet in place and this leads to a lack of clear focus for future developments. Partnership with parents is very good. Useful information from the prospectus and newsletters keeps them well informed about the provision. Regular discussions and daily feedback ensure that children's progress and next steps are shared with parents. News letters and notices enable parents to become involved effectively in their child

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What is being done well?

• Children are confident and secure in the nursery, sharing good relationships with staff and others helping them to learn and develop well. • Children count willingly often beyond 10 and are keen to offer solutions to simple problems. • Children are curious and eager to explore their environment and are fascinated by how things change such as watching caterpillars change to butterflies. • Parents enjoy good relationships with staff and are well informed about their child's progress.

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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?

• knowledge of the Foundation Stage and the stepping stones • methods used to teach children • monitoring and evaluating the nursery's educational provision.

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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 well settled in the setting, confident and eager to approach activities and new experiences. They enjoy good relationships with the staff and are beginning to form attachments to their peers. Most children take care of their own needs and willingly attempt self care tasks for themselves such as pouring their own water. Children behave well and have developed a strong attachment to the group.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident speakers using sentences to explain their needs and intentions. Children are developing good mark making skills, holding pens well and drawing some recognisable images with lines and circles. Most enjoy looking at books and talking about the pictures, listening to stories and instructions well. They are, however, less able to distinguish and play with different sounds in letters and words.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Most children can count by rote willingly at least to 10, older children are beginning to recognise the total number in a group and use numbers in their play. They are developing a good knowledge of shapes and can point some of them out in the environment. Some are beginning to match groups of objects and are developing an understanding of size particularly how tall they are. Most children are willing to tackle simple problems such as completing puzzles.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are curious and enjoy exploring their environment and working out how things work and change, especially in the natural world. They join materials and build models purposefully. They show an interest in technology such as when using the roamer. A sense of time is developing well with children discussing the day of the week and recalling past events. Children have a growing interest in people and the world around them and are developing an understanding of other cultures and beliefs.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children move confidently in a variety of ways, jumping and running well. They negotiate skilful pathways around the room often at speed avoiding obstacles. They are developing a good understanding of their own needs regarding health and hygiene. Most children have good small hand movements, using tools, such as scissors competently and safely. However, more able children are less able to make progress in developing their large body skills to reach their potential.

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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 know the names of common colours and enjoy using different and textures in artwork. They really enjoy singing and are developing a good repertoire of familiar rhymes as well as recreating rhythm in time to music. They are beginning to use their imaginations well using available items to extend their play. Most children enjoy showing off their pictures and use their senses, such as touch to explore. However, they are less experienced in creating their own art work for themselves.

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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 staff's knowledge and confidence in using the Foundation Stage so that effective methods are used to teach children with an appropriate balance between adult and child led activities so that children continue to make progress across all areas of learning • develop systems to monitor and evaluate the educational programme to give a clear focus for future development.

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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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