Derby Street Nursery Unit

Derby Street Nursery Unit Inspection report

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105761 Unique Reference Number Rochdale Local Authority 324263 Inspection number 28–29 January 2009 Inspection dates Colin Smith Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The registered childcare, managed by the governing body, was inspected under section 49 of the Childcare Act 2006.

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Nursery Type of school Maintained School category 3–5 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 66 School (total) 55 Childcare provision for children aged 0 to 3 years The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs L Wileman Chair Mrs K Leigh Headteacher 8 May 2006 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Derby Street School address Heywood Lancashire OL10 4QJ 01706 369 889 Telephone number 01706 627 379 Fax number

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3–5 Age group 28–29 January 2009 Inspection dates 324263 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. 2 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Derby Street Nursery Unit is broadly average in size and caters for children aged three to five years. The nursery is also registered to provide full day care for children aged from birth to five years and this forms part of this inspection. The nursery and day care unit is situated within a children's centre, which is managed separately and provides a wide range of health and welfare services for the local community. The children's centre did not form part of this inspection. Derby Street Nursery Unit serves a largely disadvantaged community. The proportion of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above average, largely because children with learning needs are allocated special places in the nursery. Almost all of the children are of White British heritage. A very small number speak English as an additional language.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Grade: 2

Derby Street Nursery is a successful unit that provides good value for money. Dedicated, sensitive and very purposeful leadership over many years has seen continuous improvement. The nursery already has a number of outstanding features such as the quality of its day care provision, the effectiveness with which children's welfare is promoted, its partnerships with parents and outside agencies and children's personal development. Provision to promote learning is good overall but some aspects, such as the range of highly stimulating learning experiences offered, are outstanding. Safeguarding is paramount throughout the nursery. Staff are highly successful in raising children's self-esteem and igniting their enthusiasm for learning. As a result, children's behaviour, enjoyment, sense of responsibility and understanding of how to keep safe and healthy are all excellent. Parents feel privileged that their children attend and

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Grade: 2

comments such as, 'Teachers are fantastic,' 'Children love coming,' and 'The quality of care is brilliant,' typify parents' views. Children achieve well at the very least, given their below expected starting points. In some areas their skills are above those expected for their age when they leave the nursery. Their creative, physical and personal development, and their knowledge and understanding of the world, are particularly good. Some aspects of language and communication and mathematical awareness also develop quickly. However, the skills required to prepare for reading, writing and handling numbers provide more of a challenge. Although these skills are at the levels expected, they are not as high as in other areas, which is why they are clearly identified in the school improvement plan. Children who initially experience emotional or learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive first-class support, which enables them to make excellent progress.

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Grade: 2

Many strategies to raise attainment have been implemented, although setting challenging targets to raise children's performance as a whole is one that is yet to be introduced. The nursery's effectiveness in helping children to learn and develop is good, and in some instances outstanding. Its atmosphere is warm, welcoming and reassuring. Adults establish excellent relationships with children and happiness abounds. A myriad of fascinating and engaging activities is provided indoors and outside. Children's curiosity is aroused and they often learn very successfully as they explore and find out for themselves, for example, by using computers. Children are also attracted to specific activities prepared by staff, such as making greeting cards and playing matching games. Their learning on these occasions is usually good and sometimes excellent when adults engage them in conversation and ask challenging questions

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Grade: 2

to develop their language and learning further. Children's learning is meticulously assessed. Staff use the information increasingly well to plan the next stages of learning. The nursery is close to having an individual learning plan for each child, though the next steps are not made as clear as they could be to all adults to ensure that everyone knows exactly where to focus their teaching. The quality of leadership and management is good and in some respects exemplary, particularly in inspiring commitment and teamwork. The strong drive to promote children's welfare is equally matched by a determination to raise achievement. Leaders can pinpoint exactly where the strengths of the nursery lie and where improvement is needed. Self-evaluation is good. It is largely accurate, realistic and aspirational in judging all aspects of the nursery's work to be outstanding. Some areas are outstanding, but not yet all. School leaders work hard to ensure

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Grade: 2

that new staff receive high quality training and support to enable them to reach the excellent levels of performance demonstrated by senior staff. Despite the nursery's many successes, 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009 there is no complacency. The determination to make tomorrow even better than today is a measure of the nursery's outstanding capacity for further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Make children's individual learning plans clearer so that all members of staff are equally well equipped to engage children in dialogue to move their learning forward. ■ Use challenging targets to help raise standards of literacy and numeracy further.

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Grade: 2

Although children's knowledge and skills are below those expected for their age when they join the nursery, their personal development is higher and more typical because of the excellent day care provision. In the nursery, children's rapid creative and physical development and quickly expanding knowledge and understanding of the world are boosted by the excellent range of activities provided, and this stirs their curiosity and fires their imagination. Although children make good progress in listening, speaking and in recognising letters and numbers, their understanding of sounds and letter combinations, their skills in writing, calculating and solving number problems do not develop as rapidly. Sometimes opportunities are missed to extend these skills further. Children who require additional learning support make excellent progress because their speech and language needs are assessed accurately and fully met through specialist

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Grade: 2

support. Boys, girls, the more able children and the very small number who speak English as an additional language make equally good progress because their particular needs are taken into account in both planning and teaching.

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Grade: 1

High quality day care provision makes a vital contribution to children's personal development so that by the time they move into the nursery their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development blossoms. Children often show amazement and total absorption in learning and their good attendance reflects their immense enjoyment of nursery life. They gain a very clear understanding of right and wrong through excellent relationships with staff and children. Their behaviour is exemplary. Much is done to promote equality by raising children's awareness of different lifestyles through special events and carefully selected toys, books and costumes. Consequently, they develop respect for and insights into cultural diversity. By discussing and sampling tasty fruit and vegetables, practising hygiene and engaging in exciting and fulfilling physical play, children acquire an excellent understanding of what it means to keep safe and

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Grade: 1

stay healthy. They show maturity beyond their years by acting responsibly, looking after their friends and joining in the tidying-up sessions with great enthusiasm. During their time in the nursery, children acquire secure literacy and numeracy skills; become confident users of information and communication technology (ICT) and independent learners. These factors ensure their good preparation for the future. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Grade: 2

The diverse range of high quality learning experiences is meticulously planned and frequently changed to ensure children's continual stimulus in learning. They have rich opportunities to observe, explore and investigate both inside and outdoors. Some of the most effective learning takes place when children select their own activities, for example, in making a bed to match the size of a doll. Highly effective management of children is evident in the happy and eager way they concentrate and apply themselves. Adults are very adept in observing, assessing and recording children's learning so that a clear picture emerges of how each child is developing. They use the assessments in the planning of future activities, taking account of children's different needs and interests. The nursery is moving towards 'personalised learning' by identifying the next steps each child needs to take to move forward. While these steps are

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Grade: 2

evident in children's records, they are not readily to hand. This sometimes makes it more difficult to focus precisely on the key areas. There are many examples of excellent teaching where adults use suggestion and questioning very skillfully to challenge and extend children's learning. However, questioning is sometimes too narrow, for example, when a one-word answer is all that is required, and opportunities are missed to extend children's language and learning further. Learning and development in the day care setting is outstanding. Children are engaged in safe, challenging and highly rewarding learning experiences that lay very secure foundations for the next stage in their education.

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Grade: 1

Parents' high regard for the work of the nursery stems from a certainty that their children could not be left in better hands. Induction processes are excellent. Everything possible is done, from home visits to 'stay and play' sessions for parents, to ensure that children settle quickly, confidently and happily. Relationships between staff, parents and health professionals are exemplary. Much is known about each individual child's background and specific needs. Initial screening is carried out promptly to ensure that any potential emotional, social or learning needs are identified. No time is wasted in involving specialists in providing support. Consequently, children who might otherwise have had a difficult start, make rapid progress, particularly in speech and language. Staff maintain a particularly watchful eye over vulnerable children, meet their parents or carers frequently and liaise closely with outside agencies. These

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Grade: 1

measures ensure that children are safeguarded and many of the barriers to learning are successfully removed. All of the required measures to supervise and keep children safe are fully established. Even the smallest risks are identified and minimised. Children's progress is tracked carefully. Parents are fully informed and able to support their children's learning and development. The promotion of children's welfare in the day care provision is outstanding. High levels of staff commitment, very sensitive care and very good attention given to children's health and well-being ensure that children develop into happy, independent and secure learners. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Grade: 2

The headteacher, assistant headteacher and senior teacher form a strong and dedicated team. Their caring, sensitive and determined approach to do their best for the children is highly valued by staff and parents. Although checking on the effectiveness of the nursery is often informal, the work of teachers and assistants is observed and assessments of children's learning are meticulously examined. Along with taking the views of parents and children into account, this gives the nursery a realistic and largely accurate understanding of where provision is the most successful and where improvements can be made. A real strength of the nursery is the way equality is promoted. The achievements of children from different backgrounds and aptitudes, along with their choices of activities, are checked carefully to ensure that all are included and their diverse learning needs are fully met. However, the leadership does not yet use the data

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Grade: 2

sufficiently to set challenging targets for the whole school, for example, to raise attainment in the elements of literacy and numeracy that are not as strong. The nursery has made a very positive response to developing community cohesion. A policy is in place, much is known about the community and creative ways of involving the school's neighbours in the life of the nursery are underway. Governors provide good support. They visit to observe the work of the nursery for themselves and are trying to build on this by setting their own agenda to help them to hold the nursery to account. Leadership and management of day care provision are outstanding. Leaders ensure that children's learning and development, and the contributions of adults, are evaluated accurately to enable them to plan the next round of activities and training. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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EYFS?

Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well being? 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? 2 The standards[1] reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make progress

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children?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 The extent to which learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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The quality of provision

2 How effectively are children in the EYFS helped to learn and develop? 1 How effectively is the welfare of the children in the EYFS promoted? 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Leadership and management

2 How effectively is provision in the EYFS led and managed? How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 2 How well does the school contribute to community cohesion? How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I really enjoyed my visit. Thank you for being so friendly and talking to me. I want to tell you what I found out and what I have told your parents in my report. Your nursery is good. Some things are excellent. Your teachers and key workers give you lots of attention. They take very good care of you and keep you very safe. They also help your parents by talking about you every day. You try your very best and behave wonderfully. You listen very carefully and always join in well. When you listened to the story of Little Red Riding Hood, you remembered not to talk to strangers like Mr Wolf. Then you played card games with pictures of different foods and gave all of the junk food to George the gorilla. I think this is why you know a lot about staying safe and keeping healthy. You really enjoy your time in the nursery and are very happy there. Your teachers and key workers try very hard to make your time at nursery special. There is so

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

much to do, inside and outdoors. You have such good teaching. This is why you learn more and get better every day. Some things are harder to learn, like beginning to read, write and use numbers. Teachers in charge of the nursery are always trying to find better ways to help you. They do a good job to make sure that you learn new skills every day. I want your nursery to carry on getting better and I have asked your teachers and key workers to do two more things.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Give the key workers a special plan which tells them how they can help you to learn as much as you can. ■ Find out which things you find difficult to learn in letters and numbers and then give you the help that you need. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Derby Street Nursery Unit, 28–29 January 2009

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