Thornborough Infant School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 25/03/2003 Inspector Name Catherine Hill

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Cove Pavilion Pre-School Setting Address Cove Pavilion, Prospect Road Farnborough Hampshire GU14 0DX

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of COVE PAVILLION PRE-SCHOOL

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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

Cove Pavilion Pre-school is a committee run group established in 1966. The pre-school serves an urban area, catering for the needs of children from socially and culturally diverse backgrounds between the ages of two years nine months and five years. The children are accommodated in a sports pavilion and use two rooms for a variety of activities. The building is used by other community groups at the weekends. The children benefit from an easily accessible and enclosed outdoor play area which provides opportunities for recreation, physical development and environmental activities. The pre-school is registered to provide sessional care for 23 children. There are currently 54 children on roll and they may attend for up to five sessions in a week. More structured sessions are offered in the afternoon for older children who will be transferring to main school in September. Eight of the three year olds and 25 four year olds are at present in receipt of nursery education funding.

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Information about the setting

Currently the group has four children with special educational needs and one child with English as an additional language. At present there is a team of six suitably qualified staff who are committed to ongoing professional development. Each member of staff acts as a key worker and has responsibility for a small group of children. The pre-school focus on children learning through play and the curriculum is organised using topics and themes. Support is received from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership with the pre-school taking part in the 'shared expertise' scheme with a local primary school.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Cove Pavilion Pre-school offers very good quality provision which helps make children make very good progress towards the early learning goals. Teaching is very good. Staff show a consistent interest and engagement in play and conversation. They have a clear knowledge of the foundation stage and their effective planning of an interesting and appropriate range of practical activities contributes to children's learning. Resources and the environment are effectively used to support children's progress in all areas of learning. Children behave well in response to high expectations and the sensitive support of staff. Leadership and management is very good. Staff work well as a team and are committed to ongoing professional development. Staff deployment ensures children benefit from constant support and encouragement throughout sessions. The partnership with parents and carers is very good and contributes to children's progress towards the early learning goals.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Parents are well informed about the foundation stage and the pre-school's activities and routines. They share their observations about their child with the staff and are able to daily discuss their child's progress.

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What is being done well?

Children's communication and language skills are very good. They speak clearly and fluently as a result of staff's consistent interest and engagement in play and conversation. Children's personal, social and emotional development is excellent. They are confident, interested and able to work on their own. Behaviour is very good. An excellent range of physical activities ensure that children's progress in physical development is outstanding. Staff plans ensure all children have equal opportunity to develop in this area. Children's mathematical development is excellent. They are confident in independently applying mathematical skills whilst at play. Staff's knowledge of the foundation stage is very good. Their planning and assessment records ensure that children make good progress through the stepping stones. The partnership with parents and carers is very good and contributes to children's progress. Parents are well informed about the pre-school practice and

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What is being done well?

share information about their child. Staff work very well as a team and there is good deployment of staff during sessions. Children benefit from this approach with constant support and encouragement, as appropriate, throughout sessions.

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What needs to be improved?

Recording of extension activities on planning sheets. Key words labels throughout the setting to further enhance development of communication, language and literacy skills.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The pre-school has made very good progress since the last inspection when two points for consideration were raised. These have both been addressed. Staff are competent and confident in the use of new planning and assessment records. They ensure that each element of the curriculum receives attention and consistently identify the learning objectives for each activity. New assessment records are in use and children's progression through the stepping stones to the early learning goals can be clearly followed. Play plans are regularly updated and tailored to meet individual needs.

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in personal, social and emotional development is very good. Children are happy, interested, excited and motivated to learn. They work confidently on their own and co-operatively with others. Behaviour is very good as children respond to the high expectations and positive role models of staff.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in communication, language and literacy is very good. Children are confident and fluent speakers and engage easily in conversations with each other and adults. Children practise writing for a variety of purposes and some can write their names clearly with correct letter formations. They show an interest in books, both fiction and non-fiction, and are able to predict text, discuss content and extend their knowledge by asking questions.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in mathmateccal development is very good. Children are very confident with numbers and counting. Children count easily to ten and many can count beyond 20. Good one to one activities extend children's individual understanding of, for example, addition and subtraction. A good range of activities and skilful teaching allow children to practise and develop mathematical skills.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. Children enjoy using their senses to explore objects and materials in practical activities. Children learn about the natural world and their environment through planned activities and outings. They are familiar with information and communication technology and use equipment with skill and imagination. For example, mouse control at the computer and telephone and calculator use in the role play area.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's physical development is very good. Children are extremely comfortable and confident when using both large and small scale equipment. They display very good co-ordination, body control and spatial awareness. Staff encourage them to be active and to play safely and co-operatively together. For example, on the climbing frame and with wheeled equipment.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's creative development is very good. Children experience a range of materials and activities that enable them to explore colour, texture, shape and form. They use their imagination well in role play and when retelling a story from pictures. They enthusiastically join in with songs and action rhymes and enjoy free expression with, for example, painting.

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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 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 consideration should be given to improving the following two areas. Improve planning sheets to show how activities are adapted for children of differing abilities. Increase the opportunities for children to become familiar with key words throughout the setting.

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