The Olive School, Bolton

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 08/11/2004 Inspector Name Rachael Williams

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Sessional Day Care Setting Name Kids & Co Dragons Playgroup Setting Address St. Georges Hall, Kendale Road Bridgwater Somerset TA6 3QE

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Kids & Co Dragons Playgroup Address St. Georges Hall Kendale Road Bridgwater Somerset TA6 3QE

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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

Kids & Co Dragons Playgroup opened in 1992. It is a committee run group held in a Council owned single storey building on a housing estate in Newtown, Bridgwater in Somerset. It is a sessional provision opening 5 mornings and 4 afternoons when required by the community it serves. It operates from 09.30 to 12.00 Monday to Friday and 12.15 to 14.45 each afternoon. It shares accommodation with other users in the community. There are currently 52 on the register, which includes 37 funded children. Eight qualified staff, who are trained in early years to level 2 or 3, work directly with the children and a well supported parent rota is in operation. The group receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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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?

Kids and Co Dragons Playgroup provides good quality education for the funded children. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals ( E.L.G's). High priority is given to personal, social and emotional development and in knowledge and understanding of the world. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff support and manage the children well and have established good relationships. Various teaching methods are used effectively to help children to progress for example, good questioning and explanations, modelling of appropriate vocabulary and effective resourcing. Behaviour is managed well with appropriate and consistent strategies. Staff have clear understanding of what children will learn from the various, practical activities and show good knowledge of how to channel and extend children's learning. Planning clearly links with progression towards the E.L.G's and effectively

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How effective is the nursery education?

covers most of the areas of learning. However, there are few opportunities to support all aspects of mathematical development. Assessments are supported well with annotated, photographic evidence but they do not consistently show how children are progressing. Some children have been assessed as achieving the E.L.G's but assessments and evaluations do not support how these children are extended. Leadership and management is generally good. Experienced and well-qualified staff work collaboratively to ensure the provision is of a good standard. However, systems are not sufficient to effectively and consistently monitor and fully develop the provision. The group has clear aims and there is good communication between staff for example, in order to complete evaluations. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are well informed about the setting through daily communication. Effective use is made of the parent rota to ensure

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How effective is the nursery education?

parents have regular access to key workers to share children's achievements.

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What is being done well?

• Well qualified and experienced staff provide good support for the children. Staff have good knowledge of the foundation stage curriculum and through interesting activities help children to progress towards the early learning goals in most areas of learning. Appropriate teaching methods are used effectively. • The interesting activities provided encourage learning in knowledge and understanding of the world. Children's natural curiosity is developed well through the provision of opportunities to explore and investigate both independently and through staff support. Children's vocabulary is extended through good modelling by staff and children are able to describe their

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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 experiences well. • The friendly and approachable staff have established good relationships with the children. Clear routines and boundaries ensure that children's behaviour is excellent and effectively managed. • Children are confident to use the environment independently and to seek support from staff when required. • Parents are encouraged to be involved with the group and a well supported parent rota is in use. Achievements and progression are readily shared during this time.

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What needs to be improved?

• monitoring of provision to ensure consistency for example, when completing assessment records to clearly identify children's progression • planning for mathematical development to ensure there are regular opportunities for children to use numbers as labels and for counting and to calculate • evaluations of activities to clearly identify how more able children are being extended and their assessments to show progression in all areas of learning.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Kids and Co Dragons Playgroup have made generally good progress since the last inspection. At the last inspection key issues were raised relating to communication, language and literacy where links between sounds and letters were not effectively promoted, the use of the code of practice for the identification and assessment of special needs children and the influence assessments played in future planning. Children are encouraged to observe sounds and letters through the use of name cards, flashcards, sound boards and appropriate stories which support rhyme and alliteration. Staff are confident to support children in this area. Since the last inspection a new special needs coordinator has been appointed. She has attended appropriate training which is ongoing. She has good knowledge of the code of practice and disseminates information to staff regularly. All staff are confident to identify and assess children with special needs. Good relationships

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What has improved since the last inspection?

have been established with parents to ensure there is a good exchange of information. Assessments are regularly completed and supported by annotated, photographic evidence but do not consistantly show how children progress. Daily evaluations support assessments which are used to influence future planning. Staff have good knowledge of their children and most are extended appropriately. However, children assessed as achieving the E.L.G's are not effectively challenged.

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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 use the well organised room independently selecting activities that interest them. Children show interest in the activities and remain focused on self chosen activities. Children will seek adult support when needed for example, in the role-play hospital. Children are confident to enter the setting without adult support. Clear routines and boundaries ensures that children's behaviour is excellent. Care and concern are shown when handling the African snails.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children use simple statements well to describe experiences. For example, children recall and relive the carnival with enthusiasm. Children choose favourite books to take home and handle them appropriately for example, lifting the flaps and turning the pages from right to left. Stories are listened to attentively especially when brought to life by staff. Instructions are responded to well for example, when asked to tidy away or select resources for the witch apples.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are learning to recite numbers and starting to count, however there are too few planned opportunities for children to use numbers in everyday experiences and to calculate. Children match shapes well for example, when dressing a teddy on a computer program. Size language is used well and children are beginning to make comparisons between mass, length and size.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children explore and investigate the interesting opportunities provided with enthusiasm. They are curious to learn and keen to be involved for example, in the rearing of baby African snails. Children describe their experiences well explaining what may happen next for example, the melting and solidifying of chocolate. Children use tools purposefully for example, the mouse to complete a computer program. Children design and make confidently when creating a carnival cart.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The wooden climbing frame is used well. Children mount the steps with ease and travel in a variety of ways across it. Large equipment is used well for example, bouncing on the trampoline. Children show good coordination when using a variety of tools for example, when manipulating the play dough. Children are familiar with a range of fastenings and make good attempts to secure them. Children show good spatial awareness when finding a space for story showing respect for others personal space.

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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 recognise colours and select appropriate ones for the task for example, pink lights for the carnival cart. Children use various media well and are able to combine them for different effects for example, when creating a thunder and lightning collage. Children respond enthusiastically to the music and costumes of the carnival. Children engage in imaginative games, which are well supported by staff for example, negotiating roles in the cafe.

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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 a rigorous system to monitor and evaluate the provision to ensure consistency • develop planning to ensure there are sufficient mathematical opportunities to support using numbers as labels, counting and calculation and to provide a balance of activities to extend the more able children.

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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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