Birchfield Nursery School

Birchfield Nursery School Inspection report

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110958 Unique Reference Number Halton Local Authority 310466 Inspection number 12 °13 May 2008 Inspection dates Clare Henderson Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Nursery Type of school Maintained School category 3 °5 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 120 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs L Keeley Chair Ms S Duxbury Headteacher 22 September 2004 Date of previous school inspection Victoria Avenue School address Widnes Cheshire WA8 7TH 0151 4244681 Telephone number 0 Fax number

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3-5 Age group 12 °13 May 2008 Inspection dates 310466 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.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Birchfield Nursery is larger than average and a very popular school. It caters for 120 children, the majority of whom come from relatively advantaged social and economic backgrounds. Almost all are of White British heritage. An increasing proportion have social and communication difficulties or medical needs when they start school. Most children attend for three terms prior to transferring to local primary schools. They attend either morning or afternoon sessions. The school holds the Healthy Schools Gold Tooth Award.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school, which serves the local community extremely well. There are significant strengths in the excellent leadership of the headteacher and children's outstanding personal development that reflect the excellent quality of care, guidance and support they receive. This view is borne out by parents who are delighted with the school's work. They make comments such as, 'my child enjoys school so much that she counts the sleeps over the weekend until she can go back again', and, 'my children have blossomed from the attention they receive at Birchfield, it's a magical place for a child to start their early years education'. The school has continued to make excellent progress since the previous inspection, which had found all aspects to be very good. Children begin school with skills typical of their age.The careful organisation of sessions allows maximum time for all children to settle in to school routines. This, accompanied by excellent

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Grade: 1

teaching and a programme of daily activities tailored constantly to recognise and meet children's individual needs ensures they make rapid progress. Consequently, by the time children go on to the next phase of their education most surpass expectations for their age. This is particularly so in their personal, social and emotional development. Children love coming to the nursery and attend regularly. They are clear about what is expected of them, and their behaviour is excellent. Children work and play extremely safely together and are developing an excellent understanding of healthy lifestyles, and enjoy energetic outdoor play. They are encouraged to think about the needs of others less fortunate than themselves, for instance, by taking part in fund-raising. All staff are exceptionally skilled in supporting the younger and less independent children, or those with additional learning needs. Consequently, these children make excellent progress.

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Grade: 1

Exceptional partnerships are in place between the school and other agencies, for example, children whose speech is underdeveloped are supported very well and quickly make progress in their language and communication skills. Staff make learning enjoyable by ensuring that there is a broad range of activities that suit children's interests which they can work on independently. They are committed to do the best for all children and to make sure they deliver an outstanding curriculum in a secure and stimulating environment. Leadership and management of the school are outstanding. The headteacher and assistant headteacher successfully motivate staff. As a result, teamwork is exceptional. Everyone gives of their best and all staff constantly review and adapt their practice. This helps to sustain the cycle of continuous improvement. Governance is very effective and governors are fully involved in checking the outcomes for children. The nursery is in an excellent position to continue to

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Grade: 1

As a nursery school, the Foundation Stage is completely covered by the report.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ There are no areas for improvement that the school has not already identified. 4 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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Grade: 1

From broadly expected skills on entry, all children make outstanding progress in surpassing expectation at this age within all the areas of learning. This excellent progress is particularly notable for those children with more complex learning needs who make rapid progress in developing confidence and independence skills. This is because the curriculum provided is highly imaginative, lively and innovative with exciting indoor and outdoor classrooms. Most significant of all is the excellent progress all children make in their personal and social skills that creates a solid foundation for all their learning and makes an important contribution to the future education of all children.

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Grade: 1

Children's personal development and well-being, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, are outstanding. Their smiling faces, as they enthusiastically set about their activities, are testament to how much they enjoy school. 'I love everything here', is a typical comment. They say they feel safe and happy and know to go to a teacher if they feel upset. Children share their activities happily with others, ready to give someone else the chance to have a go, for example, on the computers or in the tent during a role play camping activity. Children's readiness to wash their hands before making their fruit salad or eating their heathy snack shows a rapidly expanding understanding of the importance of good hygiene and diet. A wide range of visitors, including artists, sculptors, musicans, police and road safety officers introduce the children, in a fun and exciting way, to the world of work.

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Grade: 1

Excellent teaching and learning are characterised by a constant focus on encouraging children's social skills and independence. Children respond extremely well to this approach so that, with or without direct adult supervision, they are always motivated and busy. If something, such as the jungle or travel agency role play areas, particularly captures children's imagination, then staff extend their use to maximise learning. The opportunities for inside and outdoor learning ensure that many different learning preferences are addressed and that equal opportunities for all children are covered very effectively. Children have ample time to complete tasks to their satisfaction. There is a very effective family key worker system in operation. The key workers plan for and deliver adult and child led sessions, which are tailored very well to the needs of their group. They also monitor the progress of their group by making timely observations and

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Grade: 1

continually assessing individual needs. As a result, staff are very knowledgeable about each child's next learning steps and prepare effectively for this. The depth of questioning and opportunities for children to talk about their own ideas are very good and have raised the achievement of potential high attainers. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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Grade: 1

The curriculum is outstanding. Parents agree and a typical view is, 'activities continually spark my child's imagination and desire to learn'. Children enjoy the highly stimulating activities and acquire self-confidence and a strong desire to learn. Children are continually provided with opportunities to develop their language for thinking, early reading, writing and mathematical skills in everyday situations. They make very good progress in their use of information and communication technology (ICT). This is evident in their confidence in using computers independently. In planned and spontaneous activities outside, children's enjoyment is high. All staff have successfully addressed the issue of raising boys' achievement, providing role play and writing activities that appeal to them so they make similar progress to other groups. Staff constantly review and plan the curriculum to ensure that learning is child led but with adult

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Grade: 1

input where appropriate. Adults support and help children's learning and personal development by providing an excellent range of visits and visitors. For example, a recent park trip enabled children to learn to be young palaeontologists investigating and making models of dinosaur fossils. These experiences give children many opportunities to explore and extend their skills. This is particularly evident in the opportunity for all children to learn to speak French which they do with confidence and enjoyment.

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Grade: 1

Children benefit extremely well from the excellent quality of care, guidance and support they receive. Promoting children's welfare and personal development lies at the heart of the school's work. Such is its success that children quickly become confident and happy learners. Arrangements to safeguard children and to assess risks are in place. Comprehensive observations and assessments of children's achievements help adults to match activities precisely to individuals needs. There is skilful support for children with additional needs from the school's highly qualified staff. This includes small group or individual support and enables children to make excellent progress. Extremely strong links with outside agencies and formal checks with parents on the quality of provision ensure that children's needs are met very well. Parents speak highly of the excellent support the school provides which, 'makes every child feel special and treated

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Grade: 1

Leadership and management are outstanding. All staff, led exceptionally well by the dynamic headteacher are always looking for ways to improve the school. This includes, for example, preparations to adapt current practice to incorporate the revised Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. Management of resources and the school building by administration and caretaking staff are excellent. All staff are equally committed and enthusiastic and make a significant contribution to the leadership and management of the school and, in particular, the management of the curriculum. Checks on children's progress are ongoing and effective. Consequently, the school has an accurate view of its effectiveness. Self-evaluation is very rigorous and has been used to great effect to set priorities for improvement. The governors are an important element of the effective team approach by providing excellent support and challenge.

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Grade: 1

6 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008 .

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Grade: 1

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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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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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? 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 effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

1 How well do learners achieve? 1 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 disabilities make progress

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learners?

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 How well 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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and interests of learners?

1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can 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? 9 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of Birchfield Nursery School, Widnes, WA8 7TH Thank you very much for welcoming me to your Nursery. I really enjoyed chatting with you. Thank you especially to those children who told me how much they enjoyed making their dinosaur fossils when visiting the local park. This and other things you told me helped me to learn a lot about how much you like coming to school. Your mums and dads think that you go to a fantastic school, and I agree with them. Your Nursery is an outstanding place to learn. I liked seeing how well you all get along with each other. You are really good at being friendly and sharing your games. You do very well in helping to keep yourselves fit by eating healthy snacks each day and having lots of exercise when you play outside. All of the grown-ups work really well together to make sure you have lots of interesting things to do indoors and outside. They look after you extremely well and make sure that you are safe

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and happy. Everyone works really hard to make sure you all learn as well as you can. This is why they make sure you have lots of chances to learn your letters and numbers, to learn to speak French and to find out things on your own. It is really good that you are all doing so well and I hope you carry on enjoying school and learning lots of interesting things. 10 of 10 Inspection Report: Birchfield Nursery School, 12 °13 May 2008

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