Cotswold Community Home

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 03/03/2003 Inspector Name Nikki Whinton

p.1

SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Noahs Ark Pre School Setting Address The Wooden Classroom Bristol BS39 7LW

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

Noah's Ark Pre-school, in the village of Paulton, has been established in its present location since 1976. It operates from a pre-fabricated, purposely adapted building, with access to a kitchen area, toilets and an outside play facility. The setting is permitted to care for a maximum of 26 children aged 2-4 years. There are currently 69 children on roll, including 21 funded 3-4 year olds. There is currently one child attending with an identified special educational need. There are presently no children attending with English as an additional language. The group is open from 0900-1145 and 1245-1520, including Wednesday afternoons, when needed to meet demand, throughout school term times. Afternoon "Stepping Stones" sessions are held to cater specifically for the needs of children who will be starting school in September. 10 part-time staff are employed. Six have Early Years qualifications, one is undertaking training. The setting receives assistance from the Early Years

p.2

Information about the setting

Partnership support teacher and the Pre-school Learning Alliance..

p.2

How effective is the nursery education?

Noah's Ark Pre-school offers high quality provision, which helps children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas of learning. Mathematical development, communication, language and literacy and personal, social and emotional development are particular strengths of the group. Children are confident, articulate and demonstrate a great interest in books and a very good understanding of mathematical concepts. They are enthusiastic and concentrate well. Children have good social skills, use their initiative and negotiate well with each other. Staff provide limited opportunities for children to initiate challenging design and construction activities. Teaching is very good. The enthusiastic, well motivated staff know the children well. They plan and provide an extensive range of purposeful activities. Adults listen carefully to the children and use very good questioning techniques to extend and reinforce learning through the daily routine. Staff have a

p.3

How effective is the nursery education?

very good relationship with the children and act as positive role models. They have high expectations of behaviour, building children's confidence and self esteem , whilst encouraging independence. Staff support for children with special needs is very good. Leadership and management are very good. The staff have a very good system for effectively planning and evaluating the educational provision. The committee and staff show great commitment. They work well together and have shared aims for the group. The partnership with parents is very good. The pre-school enjoys a very good relationship with the parents, who are encouraged to be actively involved with their child's learning. Staff provide regular planned and spontaneous opportunities for parents to view and contribute to assessments and discuss individual progress.

p.3

What is being done well?

. Mathematical development, personal, social and emotional development and communication, language and literacy are particular strengths of the group. . Children are very confident, articulate and show good self esteem. They are enthusiastic and concentrate well. . Staff and SENCO support for children with special needs is very good. . Children have good social skills. They use language well to organise, negotiate and extend their play. . The enthusiastic, well motivated staff know the children extremely well. They have a good relationship with the children, have high expectations of behaviour and encourage independence. . Staff plan and provide an extensive range of purposeful activities. They listen well and use skilled questioning techniques to reinforce and extend children's learning. . Children have a very good understanding of mathematical language and concepts. They have a great interest in books.

p.3

What needs to be improved?

. Opportunities for children to initiate activities where they design and construct.

p.3

What has improved since the last inspection?

. Staff plan time for children to regularly sit quietly and use the book corner, as well as supporting children who visit the book area spontaneously. . Staff discuss how activities can be extended or adapted to meet children's individual needs, at regular planning meetings.

p.4

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in personal, social and emotional development is very good. Children are confident, interested and eager to learn. They work co-operatively , show good social skills and take the initiative in extending role play. The well motivated, enthusiastic staff have a very good relationship with the children. They act as good role models, have high expectations of behaviour and set clear boundaries. They support the children well in developing their independence.

p.5

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in communication, language and literacy is very good. Children have a good range of vocabulary, which is used well to negotiate and organise their experiences and ideas. Staff use skilful questioning to reinforce and extend learning. Staff provide good practical opportunities for children to develop their writing skills. They offer meaningful planned and spontaneous opportunities for children to enjoy books. Staff support for children with special needs is very good.

p.5

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in mathematical development is very good. Staff provide very good practical everyday opportunities for children to solve simple problems and use mathematical language. They use language well to reinforce and extend learning. Children use mathematical language confidently and are able to say and use number names in familiar contexts. They accurately and enthusiastically compare and sort different groups of objects by colour, size and position.

p.5

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. Staff offer good activities for children to learn about the natural world and explore features of living things. Staff support children well when expressing events in their lives, listening carefully to their explanations. Children confidently use information and communication technology and programmable toys. Staff provide limited opportunities for children to initiate challenging design and construction activities.

p.5

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in physical development is very good. Children safely use a wide range of small and large scale equipment with developing confidence. They handle tools and materials safely, with good co-ordination and control. Staff provide regular planned opportunities for children to develop their control and co-ordination. They act as good role models and reinforce the importance of keeping healthy.

p.5

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's development in creative development is very good. Staff provide a very good range of activities for children to develop their understanding of colour, texture, form and space. They offer varied opportunities within the daily routine for children to respond to experiences and communicate their ideas. Children confidently use their imagination during role play, using equipment and props to extend their play.

p.6

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately: Y

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

Point for consideration: . Improve opportunities for children to initiate more challenging activities in design and construction.

p.7