Setting

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404045 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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and numeracy

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation during my visit on 11 July 2008 to look at work in literacy and numeracy.

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and numeracy

As outlined in the initial letter, the visit had a particular focus on how well you meet the needs of all children in relation to their literacy and numeracy, with particular consideration to those at risk of not reaching their full potential. The visit also evaluated the level of expertise to support children learning English as an additional language (EAL).

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and numeracy

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing settings but these will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website.

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and numeracy

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included interviews with you, scrutiny of relevant documentation, analysis of children’s work and observation of children’s play.

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and numeracy

The overall effectiveness of provision for literacy and numeracy was judged to be outstanding.

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Learning and development

The quality of learning and development is outstanding.

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Learning and development

• Children make rapid progress and many achieve some of the early learning goals for literacy and numeracy by the time they move to the next setting. • Children’s verbal skills develop extremely well because you are a first class role model for them by speaking clearly, using correct grammar and a wide vocabulary. • An exceptional range of outings and excursions, enrich children’s experiences and extends their vocabularies further. • Children develop an early love of books and stories and begin to read for themselves, owing to the lively and varied ways in which these are presented. • Each topic specifically linked to several stipulated nursery rhymes and books, for example, ‘The Three Little Pigs’, which children learn about in various ways, such as through drama, listening to tapes or re- creating them using miniature figures. • You make effective use of information and communications technology to create many homemade resources aimed at learning in literacy and

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Learning and development

numeracy particularly. • Children receive exceptional levels of individual attention; your lively, animated approach and excellent use of pertinent questioning, takes their learning forward quickly, particularly their ability to reason and learn phonics. • You make sure children are well nourished and ready for learning.

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Leadership and management of literacy and numeracy

The quality of leadership and management is outstanding.

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Leadership and management of literacy and numeracy

• You reflect on your practice and continually seek to improve what you offer the children, having high expectations of what they might achieve. • You take note of advice from outside professionals and contribute to their evaluation of your practice; however, there is no use of formal on-going self-evaluation to help you pinpoint any weaknesses in your skills. • You attend specific training courses for literacy and numeracy, putting into practice what you have learnt, such as making resources to develop pre-reading skills. • Effective two-way communications with parents, link children’s learning at home with your provision and you discuss their literacy progress specifically. • Effective communications with the next setting children attend, maintains continuity of learning.

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English as an additional language

• There are no children attending currently who speak English as an additional language. • You have not undertaken any training in supporting children learning English as an additional language.

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How well does the provision promote inclusive practice?

Inclusion in literacy and numeracy is good. • Individual children’s needs, including the very able, are picked up quickly, owing to the high levels of individual attention given and close observation of children’s play. • Activities provided are closely matched to children’s individual needs. • You question children according to their individual abilities to take their learning forward. • You provide effective support for school aged children with lower than expected levels of literacy.

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Areas for development, which we discussed, included:

• possible use of a self-evaluation system, such as the Ofsted self- evaluation form • seeking training to support children learning English as an additional language, if required.

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Areas for development, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop literacy and numeracy in your setting.

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Areas for development, which we discussed, included:

As was explained in the previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the inspector for your next inspection.

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