Ysgol Gynradd Carno

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 09/01/2003 Inspector Name Cynthia Walker

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Sunflowers Day Nursery Setting Address Nidderdale High School Pately Bridge North Yorkshire HG3 5HL

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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

Sunflowers Day Nursery opened in March 2001. It operates from a purpose built unit adjacent to the local senior school on the edge of the town. The nursery serves the wider community. There are currently 49 children from 0 to 11 years, this includes a holiday and after school provision. There are 9 funded 3 year olds and 3 funded 4 year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. 1 child has special needs and there are no children attending who speak English as an additional language. The group opens 5 days a week all year round. Sessions are from 7-30 until 6-00pm. 11 full/part time staff work with the children. 7 have early years qualifications. 1 staff member is currently on a training programme. The setting have the support from an advisor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Sunflowers Day Nursery provides children with a supportive and stimulating atmosphere which helps them make generally good progress to the Early Learning Goals. They make very good progress in Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication, Language and Literacy. The quality of teaching is generally good. Planning is good and includes a wide range of activities across all the areas of the curriculum with the exception of the use of accomadation and the availability of good resources which are not used to the best effect to support the physical and creative learning of the more able children. Staffs skillful interaction encourages children to be independent and develop their early reading skills by successfully exploring words and texts although they do not always develop the mathematical understanding of the more able children. Children's ability to express themselves with confidence is developed through staff's enthusiastic questioning

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How effective is the nursery education?

and supportive responses. Children manage their behaviour well and have developed a good understanding of the codes of behaviour with effective staff support who have high expectations and act as good role models. There is an effective system in place to provide support for children with Special Educational Needs. Assessments are regularly done and are now being linked to the Stepping Stones , through evaluation these are being linked to more effective future planning. Leadership and Management are generally good. Through a well structured management system the managers have worked hard to develop an effective staff team,giving clear guidelines and support. The staffs progress is closely monitored and actively linked to ongoing development. Partnership with parents is generally good. Parents are actively welcomed into the nursery and are well informed about the nursery and the activities provided .

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What is being done well?

Children can express themselves clearly and confidently as a result of effective questioning and support from staff. Children are confident, sociable and have good relationships with each other and staff. Staff provide effective opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the written word and develop their early reading skills. Staff act as good role models and children respond to their high expectations and sensitive support leading to an harmonious learning environment. A committed management structure ensures continual development and improvement of the staff.

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What needs to be improved?

The challenge extended to the older or more able children so that they learn about simple addition and subtraction through practical activities. The organisation of resources and accommodation to ensure that the older children develop their learning in the areas of physical and creative development.

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in personal, social and emotional development. Relationships to each other and adults have developed and children are confident in their awareness and use of behaviour codes. Children are interested in activities and are able to work independently and make choices confidently.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in communication, language and literacy, they express themselves with confidence individually or in group discussions. Children develop their reading skills as they regularly access books and see familiar words in activities and within the nursery. Opportunities to experiment with writing are effectively provided across the nursery.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good progress in mathematical development. Through a range of practical activities children's counting skills and numeral recognition is effectively developed. Children learn about shape and measure through planned activities and resources within the nursery. The more able children are not sufficiently challenged to learn about early addition and subtraction.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good progress in knowledge and understanding of the world. Children are confident in their use of technological equipment provided in the nursery. Through a range of activities and materials children are given time to investigate and opportunities to question and seek explanations.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good development in physical development. Children have an awareness of space and negotiate its use successfully. Hand eye co ordination is developed through the effective use of resources. A wide range of equipment is available but the older children do not have opportunities to access this on a regular basis.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children make generally good progress in in creative development. Children have opportunities to express themselves individually through a good range of activities within the nursery such as role play, painting and collage. Limited access to the creative area restricts the older children's development in creative development.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately: Y

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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

Evaluate and improve the organisation of resources and accommodation to ensure the older children gain the most from the activities and learning materials. Reinforce and extend the older and more able children's understanding of early addition and subtraction through the use of more practical activities and within daily routines

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