Newcastle Children's Centre

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 25/02/2004 Inspector Name Gill Pollard

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Out of School Day Care Setting Name Newcastle Childrens Centre Setting Address Mill Road Newcastle on Clun CRAVEN ARMS Shropshire SY7 8QN

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Newcastle Children's Centre 1044352

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Newcastle Children's Centre Address Mill Lane Newcastle Craven Arms Shropshire SY7 8QN

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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

Newcastle Children's Centre opened in 1996. It operates from two rooms in the Community Centre in Newcastle-on-Clun in South Shropshire. It serves the local area. There are currently 16 children from 2-8 years on roll. This includes 5 funded 3-year- olds and 7 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting supports children with special needs, and who speak English as an additional language. The group opens three days a week all year round. Sessions are from 09:30 - 15:00 Wednesday to Friday. There is also an after school club that operates from 15:30 - 18:00 Monday - Friday. Four part time staff work with the children. Half of the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 3 and the other half are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor 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?

The nursery education is very effective and children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. Children are taught very well and the staff work together with parents and other professionals to meet their needs. Staff's knowledge of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and the early learning goals is good and staff extend children's learning through interaction and skilful questioning. Staff use planned and spontaneous activities to extend the children's learning. Independence is encouraged and three and four year olds are able to take care of their own personal hygiene needs. Teaching is very good, careful planning, evaluation and frequent observations ensure all children progress. All resources are clearly labelled and are easily accessible to the children. The leadership and management of the setting is very good with the committee supporting the team leader and other members of staff. There is regular, informal

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How effective is the nursery education?

supervision for the staff with training needs identified. Staff and the team leader exchange information on a daily basis. Management is effective, helped by a stable and committed staff group and opportunities for further staff development being taken through training and attending relevant meetings. The partnership with parents is very good, the parents are kept well informed of their child's progress and they have opportunities daily to share information about their child in the nursery/home book.

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What is being done well?

• Children's personal social and emotional development is very good. They are keen and interested to learn, are becoming independent and most children are able to carry out their own personal hygiene needs. • Progress in communication, language and literacy is very good. All children are confident to share their news at registration/circle times, they are beginning to use sounds and recognise letters. They listen and respond well. All three and four year olds can recognise their name and some can recognise the names of their friends. • Mathematical development is encouraged with well planned sessions where children have opportunities to count, calculate and become aware of shape, space and measure in both planned and spontaneous situations. There are many attractive displays to encourage the children to count and measure. • Knowledge and understanding of the world is very good with staff

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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 encouraging the children to learn about features of their local environment, other peoples lives, roles and homes. • Physical development is very good with three and four year olds moving confidently and safely, adjusting speed to avoid obstacles. Regular use of scissors, pens, pencils and felt tips encourage the children's manipulative skills. A minor point for consideration could be to provide more opportunities for the children to recognise the importance of staying healthy and recognising the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active. • Imaginative play is very good and a favourite with the children, they use the role play to act out situations they have observed. Children work creatively both in adult-led and child-initiated situations using a wide range of materials.

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What needs to be improved?

• A minor point for consideration may be to provide more opportunities for the children to recognise the importance of staying healthy and to recognise the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The assessment system, it is now used to inform planning and parents are now able to contribute to the planning. Planning is now displayed on the notice board and regular newsletters are sent to parents explaining what is planned.

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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 Three and four year olds are keen and interested to learn. There is an interesting and stimulating programme of activities which enable the children to progress in all areas of their development. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and they respond well when being asked to share and take turns. Children are able to select resources for themselves and work independently.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children sing simple songs with obvious enjoyment. They are confident and fluent speakers and engage easily in conversation with other children and adults. Children listen attentively to stories and anticipate what will happen next. They enjoy looking at books in a group and individually, handling the books correctly and carefully. Children are confident to talk at circle time and they are enthusiastic when completing the date and weather board.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Staff use both planned and spontaneous opportunities to count with the children in everyday practical activities such as at circle/registration time. They are beginning to understand in a practical way the concepts of simple addition and subtraction. Children have many opportunities to recognise shapes, match, sequence and recreate simple patterns and they play games to reinforce these concepts.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children talk about the weather and record their observations. They have opportunities to find out about their local environment and they talk about the features they like and dislike. Activities are planned to ensure the children know about their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people. Children ask questions about why things happen and how things work. The children have opportunities to use everyday technology in free play.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children move confidently, imaginatively and safely in the pre-school room and in the garden, they adjust their speed and avoid obstacles. They are able to use the large selection of tools and materials which are freely available. A minor point for consideration may be to provide opportunities for the children to recognise the importance of staying healthy and the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active.

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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 There are lots of planned and spontaneous opportunities to explore colour, texture and music. Children have many opportunities to respond to what they see, hear or smell within the planned themes and spontaneously at meal time. Children sing familiar rhymes with obvious enjoyment. They play imaginatively in the home corner where staff join in to extend the children's understanding, children convincingly take on different characters and names.

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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 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 considerations should be given to improving the following: • There are no key issues identified at the inspection but a minor point for consideration is to provide more opportunities for the children to recognise the importance of staying healthy and the changes that happen to their bodies when they are active.

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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.

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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

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