Setting

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov. uk www.ofsted.gov.uk 3 February 2009 Mrs C Cross Fordfield House Fordfield Road, Millbrook Bedford Bedfordshire MK45 2HZ

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and Numeracy - 219075

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation during my visit on 27 January 2009 to look at work in literacy and numeracy.

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and Numeracy - 219075

As outlined, 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 - 219075

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 - 219075

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 - 219075

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

• Your staff know each child’s individual needs and offer a stimulating and challenging environment in which children make excellent progress, in numeracy and literacy. • You enable the children to develop a love of the written word and understand how both fact and fiction texts are valuable. • Your planning, observations and assessments work exceptionally well, helping staff to offer each child an individual curriculum that develops them at their individual rate. • Children enjoy a healthy nutritious diet, made from fresh ingredients cooked daily ensuring they 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 and your staff evaluate the provision very effectively enabling procedures to be implemented that constantly raise standards in literacy and numeracy. • The training your staff receive internally, especially in literacy and numeracy, complements that which is externally available and enables them to offer children the highest quality of education until they enter school. • Your senior management team continually looks for ways of raising standards in literacy and numeracy throughout the nursery and supports the staff exceptionally well. • The curriculum manager monitors provision in literacy and numeracy exceptionally well, which contributes to children achieving high standards

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English as an additional language

• You have developed a very clear procedure for assisting children learning English as an additional language, which includes support and assistance for staff to enable them to care effectively for the child. • Your staff go to great lengths to establish a close bond with the child and family, working closely together to help the children learn English, whilst acknowledging their home languages and customs. • As no courses specifically regarding English as an additional language are available through the local authority, you have been proactive by offering in-house training to all your staff.

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How well does the provision promote inclusive practice?

Inclusion in literacy and numeracy is outstanding.

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How well does the provision promote inclusive practice?

• You fully integrate all children effectively into the nursery, enabling each to work with their individual development plan and make outstanding progress in literacy and numeracy. • Your staff know all the children exceptionally well and adapt the learning environment to meet their varied needs.

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Areas for development, which we discussed, included:

• continuing to work to achieve and maintain the highest possible standards of literacy and numeracy throughout the nursery.

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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:

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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