The Alphabet House Nursery Schools

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 21/02/2005 Inspector Name Moreen Johnson

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Alphabet House Nursery Setting Address The Stroud Pavillion Savage Gardens Beckton E6 5NB

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Alphabet House Nursery Address The Stroup Pavillion Savage Gardens Beckton E6

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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

Alphabet House Nursery opened in 2002. It operates from an amenity building in the New Beckton Park. The group serves the local and surrounding areas. There are currently 30 children from 0 to 5 years on roll. This includes 3 funded 3 year olds. Children attend a variety of sessions. There are no children with special needs in attendance. The group opens five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 08:00 to 18:30. There are nine full-time staff working directly with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ 2 or 3. Three staff are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. The nursery provides a curriculum that that has a strong Montessori influence in its teaching methods.

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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?

Alphabet House Nursery provides good quality early years education. Children make generally good progress toward the early learning goals. They make very good progress in five of the areas of learning and generally good progress in Communication, language and literacy. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a good understanding of the stepping stones and early learning goals and use this knowledge to plan a wide range of appropriate activities for children. Staff carry out observation and assessments on children, observations are done infrequently, assessments do not always clearly identify the next stage of children's learning and are not used effectively to inform planning. Staff promote children's self-esteem well by encouraging them to be confident and independent however, some activities are too adult directed. Staff have excellent relationships with children, they engage in meaningful conversations and children are encouraged to extend their thinking.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Children's reading skills are generally promoted well, however the book area is uninviting to children. Staff encourage children to develop a good understanding of right and wrong and they respond well to adult intervention. Leadership and management is very good. There is a very good management structure in place which is committed to staff training development. The new manager has a good awareness of the areas that required development and has an action plan in place to address these.

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How effective is the nursery education?

The partnership with parents and carers is very good. The group provide parents with good written information about the setting, the foundation stage and activities. There are good formal and informal systems in place for staff to share information with parents about their children's attainment and progress.

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What is being done well?

• Staff provide children with a wide range of activities to enable them to make good progress towards most of the six areas of learning • Staff have excellent relationships with children and promote their self-esteem well • Staff have good relationships with parents and there are effective systems in place to share information about children's attainment and progress.

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What needs to be improved?

• the systems for observation and assessment to clearly identify the next stage of children's learning and use this knowledge to inform planning

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What needs to be improved?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • opportunities for children to have access to a wider range of books • staff practice to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between adult and child led activities.

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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's self-esteem and independence is promoted well. They confidently put their coats and hats on and enjoy handing out name plates at lunch and snack periods. Children have good relationships with each other, a child who arrived late was greeted warmly by the others, an older child shared her reading book with a younger child and they co-operated well at activities. Children are encouraged to develop a good understanding of right and wrong and respond well to adult interaction.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children talk confidently in large and small groups, they share their experiences during the walk to the library and participate well in re-telling stories and singing. They have good opportunities to link letters to words by recognising and writing their names. Children enjoy story sessions and handle books confidently. There was a limited selection of books in the reading area. Overall children's writing skills are promoted well, some drawing activities are too adult directed.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children count confidently up to 5 and beyond by counting the numbers of vehicles and singing number rhymes. Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of the concept of addition and subtraction by matching the number colour blocks and adding together the numbers of worms that they dig up in the garden. They are developing an understanding of size by measuring the worms and exploring the size of the large and small owls at story time.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy exploring digging up worms in the garden and were able to confidently identify a range of mini beast. Children are encouraged to use a range of every day technology and they used the computers and talking globe confidently. They have good opportunities to develop an understanding of a wide range of community festivals and have access to resources that reflect diversity. Children enjoy sharing their experiences themselves and talking about events outside the nursery.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

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

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children moved confidently and safely indoors and outdoors, they run, peddle, pushed the buggy and whilst indoors skilfully manoeuvred their way thorough the safety gate. Children follow instruction well, when lining up for outdoor play they hold hands and walked in a controlled manner. Children understand good hygiene practice by washing their hands before eating and after using the toilet, they request adult support from adults when they want to use the toilet.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good opportunities to be creative. They are encouraged to identify a variety of colours and shapes. They explore texture by using and sand, paint and play dough. They enjoy the music session, singing a wide range of familiar songs and rhymes and using musical instruments. They engage in role playing in the home corner, serving in the restauant, feeding dolls and dressing up.

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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

• improve the systems for observation and assessment to clearly identify the next stage of children's learning and use this knowledge to inform planning • improve opportunities for children to have access to a wider range of books 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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