St Anne's RC Infants' School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 15/07/2004 Inspector Name Vanessa Wood

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Kinder Nursery-Clare Park Day Nursery Setting Address Beech Road East Malling, East Malling West Malling Kent ME19 6DH

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Kinder Groups Ltd Address Kinder House Solomon Road, Rainham Gillingham Kent ME8 8EB

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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

Kinder Nursery, Clare Park, opened in 1990. It operates from two buildings in the grounds of The Malling School. The nursery serves a wide area. There are currently 95 children aged from three months to five years on roll. This includes 24 funded three year old children and 23 funded four year old children. Children attend for a variety of sessions. No children have special needs and no children attend who speak English as an additional language. The group operates five days a week for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is open from 07:30 to 18:00. The after school club runs during school term times and the holiday club runs during school holidays. Four full time members of staff and three part time members of staff work with the funded children. three have early years qualifications. The nursery receives support from a teacher 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 provision for nursery education at Kinder Nursery (Clare Park) is acceptable and of high quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in all area of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a clear understanding of how children learn. They plan and provide a good range of practical activities. They make relevant observations and record children's progress, although time to do this is limited. The assessment system is detailed and reflects children's individual needs. Staff plan a good programme of activities and set good challenges for all children. Staff build good relationships with the children helping them feel secure. Staff listen to children and allow them to initiate games and pursue ideas. They ask open ended questions to encourage thinking. Staff are good role models and demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning by presenting activities in an enthusiastic manner.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Staff manage children's behaviour well and children respond to praise and encouragement. Leadership and management is very good. The management structure in place is very effective and gives good support to staff. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities within the setting and work well together. Organisation and deployment of staff is good to ensure children are supported in their play. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive good information about the setting and their children's progress towards the early learning goals. They are regularly invited to discuss their child's progress.

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What is being done well?

• Staff use good strategies to promote good behaviour and consideration for others. They give children clear and consistent boundaries and help them understand the impact of unacceptable behaviour on others. • The curriculum is well planned and provides challenge for all children. Staff promote children's learning by providing good practical activities. There is a good balance of adult directed and child initiated activities. • Leadership and Management is strong with a commitment to provide a high standard of education and care for all children. • Parents are welcomed into the group and are regularly informed about activities and events at the nursery. They have the opportunity to discuss their child's development with staff at any time and to take part in the final assessment of their child's development towards the early learning goals.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• the development of the assessment process for assessing children's development and ensuring the quality of teaching is fully evaluated.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good progress since the last inspection when two key issues were identified. The nursery was asked to continue to develop the ongoing assessment of mathematics skills and to continue the commitment to undertake regular training. In order to develop the ongoing assessment of mathematics skills, the nursery has set up Topic Webs to cover the early learning goals, which includes the provision for mathematical development to cover the foundation stage. To develop their commitment to regular training for staff, the nursery has increased 'in house' training and this covers training on the curriculum for the foundation stage. Regular staff appraisals are also done to identify training needs.

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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 are happy, confident and motivated. They have a positive approach to learning and show good levels of concentration. Children form good relationships with peers and adults. They learn to share resources and ideas and recognise the needs of others. Clear information is given so that children can make choices and be independent learners.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children are keen to communicate with staff and speak confidently during group sessions. They listen well to stories and enjoy sharing books with staff. Children recognise their name and more able children can write their name. Children are able to explore opportunities to write for a purpose during every day activities

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children can confidently count to ten and beyond. They are beginning to effectively use and recognise numbers during group sessions. Children show a developing understanding of shape and measuring and can use the correct language. Older children have an understanding of calculation.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are given good opportunities to learn about different environments and the world they live in. Use of the garden for nurturing plants gives children a good understanding of the natural world. Conversations with staff during activities encourage children to understand about families and the community they live in.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Physical development is well planned and organised both indoors and outdoors on a daily basis. The large and small play equipment is used imaginatively to encourage children to develop coordination, balance and a sense of space. Children are developing their fine motor skills through the use of a range of tools and construction materials.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children explore colour and texture using a range of painting and collage techniques. Children develop their imagination well within role play and learn to express and communicate their ideas. Children are given very good opportunities to experience music through planned activities with a music teacher.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

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

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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 significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to improving the following: • continue the process for assessing children's development and ensure there is a commitment to fully evaluating the quality of teaching.

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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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