Heaton Nursery and Out of School Club

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 19/05/2003 Inspector Name Lynne Pope

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Out of School Day Care Setting Name Heaton Nursery and Out of School Club Setting Address 38 Heaton Grove Heaton Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear NE6 5NP

p.1

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

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

p.1

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.

p.2

Information about the setting

Heaton Nursery and Out of School Club opened in 1970. It operates from a converted mid-terrace house in a residential area of Newcastle. The Nursery and Out of school Club serve the local area. Registration is for 38 children aged 0 - 5 years in the Nursery and 10 children aged 3 - 8 years in the Out of School Club. There are currently 57 children in the Nursery from 0 - 4 years on roll and 18 children from 3 - 8 years in the Out of School Club. This includes 11 funded 3 year olds and 7 funded 4 year olds. Children attend a variety of sessions. No children have special needs and the group supports no children with English as a second language. The group opens 5 days a week all year round from 07.45 until 17.45. Twenty part time/full time staff work with the children. Eighteen have early year's qualifications. Two staff are currently on training programmes. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Child Care

p.2

Information about the setting

Partnership (EYDCP). The High Scope method of teaching is used.

p.2

Information about the setting

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

p.2

How effective is the nursery education?

Heaton Nursery provides a welcoming atmosphere where overall children make very good progress towards the early learning goals. They make very good progress in personal, social and emotional, communication, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a very good knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals which is reflected in their planning and the activities that are carried out with the children. There are excellent evaluations daily for each child for each early learning goal which inform future planning. Very good daily plans give scope for adult led activities and child initiated activities, however they do not reflect learning objectives for 3 and 4 year olds. Behaviour is very good. There is excellent provision for children to benefit from further learning through

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

qualified teachers taking them for English, Mathematics, French and dance.

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

The leadership and management is very good. The manager has trained all staff in the early learning goals. Staff have worked together as a team to ensure that planning covers all stepping stones. The nursery is very good at assessing its own strengths and weaknesses. The manager holds annual appraisals with staff where training needs are identified.

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

Partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive a written report once a year. They attend a parents evening where thay can discuss their child's progress. There point of view is sought through a questionaire twice a year. Staff encourage parents in a positive way to be involved in their children's learning, they share a home, nursery file. Parents have a positive attitude about the care that the nursery offers. Limited written information is provided to parents about the nursery provision as it does not include details about the educational provision.

p.3

What is being done well?

• Children are very confident. They show good persistence, concentration at self chosen tasks. The adoption of 'High Scope' method of teaching enables children to make their own choices. • Children's development in communication language and literacy is very good. The attendance of an English teacher has enhanced their learning experience. • Planning that covers the early learning goals is very good. Staff have worked together as a team led by the manager to develop a annual plan that covers all the stepping stones. • The management structure ensures continual improvement through its

p.3

What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 commitment to staff's involvement and development.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

• the organisation of children visiting the bathroom before lunch. • the children's independence at mealtimes. • the plans to reflect learning objectives for 3 and 4 year olds. • the information about the setting for parents to include details about the educational provision.

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

Staff have received very good in house training from the manager. They have worked as a team to develop a programme of activities based on the early learning goals. The High Scope method of teaching has been adopted enabling children to learn through practical active learning. Plans reflect activities that encourage children's co-ordination and balance. New equipment has been purchased to enable children to practise their skills. New computer software has been purchased, the computers are switched on at all times and children show dexterity in operating simple programmes. The science and nature table has been extended which children have the freedom to explore. The rooms have been re-organised enabling children to make choices. Staff have received training from the manager in the curriculum which they have developed as a team. Plans reflect practical learning. Very good progress has been made in implementing the action plan from the last

p.4

What has improved since the last inspection?

inspection. As a result significant improvements have been made to the educational programme which has a beneficial effect on children's learning.

p.4

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

p.4

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in personal. social and emotional development. They show very good persistence and concentration at self chosen tasks. They speak confidently in front of a familiar group showing very good self esteem. Their behaviour and relationships are very good and they consistently respond to the boundaries set. They use multi cultural resources appropriately and effectively.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in communication, language and literacy. They are confident speakers, interacting and talking with each other and adults. Children's imagination is very good and they talk through their past experiences. Children's development is excellent in linking sounds to letters. They are enthusiastic about writing and reading in different situations with some children beginning to write or writing their names effectively.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in mathematical development. They are very good at recognising and counting numbers 1-9. They say and use number in familiar contexts. Children effectively compare numbers of objects and group objects in twos and threes. They confidently say the number that is one more than a given number. They are beginning to use mathematical names for solid 3D and flat 2D shapes. Their awareness of space is developing through imaginative play.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in knowledge and understanding of the world. Children effectively take part in activities that give them first hand experience of exploration, observation, problem solving, prediction, decision making and discussion. They are excellent at building and constructing from a wide range of objects. Children are very good at completing a simple programme on the computer, they use it to support their learning showing good concentration and perseverance.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in physical development. They are very good at moving confidently and imaginatively, with control and co-ordination, showing an awareness of space, themselves and others. They show an awareness of their own needs with regards to eating, sleeping and hygiene. They show good control when pushing, throwing, catching and kicking. They use a range of large and small equipment effectively, building houses with large and small blocks.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

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

p.5

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in creative development. They work effectively on a large and small scale. Their confidence is very good when moving their bodies in time to music. They use their imagination particularly well when role playing or making models playing alongside other children involved in the same theme. Children use representation as a means of communication during role play.

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.7

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to the following: • the organisation of children visiting the bathroom before lunch. • the children's independence at mealtimes. • the plans to reflect learning objectives for 3 and 4 year olds. • the information about the setting for parents to include details about the educational provision.

p.7

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.

p.7

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

p.7