Church Hill Nursery School

Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre Inspection report

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103028 Unique Reference Number Waltham Forest Local Authority 323728 Inspection number 13 January 2009 Inspection date Sue Vale 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 Community School category 3–4 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 70 School (total) The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Susan Peacham Chair Mrs Sandra Campbell Headteacher 24 April 2006 Date of previous school inspection Woodbury Road School address Walthamstow London E17 9SB 020 8520 4919 Telephone number 020 8520 9196 Fax number

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3–4 Age group 13 January 2009 Inspection date 323728 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 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors. The inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the Nursery and investigated the following issues: how well children progress and the standards reached, the accuracy of leaders' self-evaluation of the Nursery and the impact of its work on the children's learning and development, as well as the care, guidance and support provided for children. Evidence was gathered from records of children's progress, observations of activities in and around the Nursery, discussions with staff, governors and children, and an analysis of 46 responses to the parents' questionnaire. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail but the inspection found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included in this report.

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Description of the school

Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre is located in Waltham Forest. Approximately half of the children who attend the Nursery are learning English as an additional language. The Nursery is currently in the process of inducting a number of new children as several left to start school at the end of the autumn term. Around a tenth of the children have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, mainly difficulties in language acquisition. The school gained Investors in People status in May 2007 and Healthy School status in December 2004. At the time of the inspection there was considerable building work taking place. The Children's Centre runs breakfast, after school and holiday clubs for children attending the Nursery.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009

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Grade: 2

During their time in the Nursery at Church Hill, children receive a good start to their education. Parents and carers are genuinely happy with what the Nursery offers. As one mother commented, 'Church Hill Nursery school provides a stimulating and safe environment for its children. My daughter enjoys every day here. I think she has progressed really well.' The school's own assessments show that the children join the Nursery with skills and abilities that are broadly in line with those expected for their age. This is higher than at the time of the last inspection. Good teaching, with some outstanding elements, and good insight into individuals' interests and abilities enable the children to rapidly gain in confidence and try out new things; this helps them to make good progress and to achieve well. By the time they leave the Nursery, standards are above those expected for their age. Children have made good progress in developing spoken English (including the increasing numbers of

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Grade: 2

those who are new to learning English), in their personal, social and emotional development, and in problem-solving and mathematical development. Some very good teaching, well-planned practical activities, and an exciting and stimulating learning environment, allow children to develop their own interests and abilities independently. This was seen when a group of children were hunting for treasure outside. The teacher led this activity extremely well and good role modelling of language really supported the development of spoken language from the children's own interests. A number of parents rightly commented on the good progress their children make. As one mother said, 'When my daughter joined the Nursery she could not talk at all and she can talk now.' There is outstanding provision for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Excellent links with a good range of outside agencies, and early intervention by the Nursery, ensure that

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Grade: 2

these children make outstanding progress from their starting points. Collaboration and cooperation between learners is actively encouraged by adults at the Centre in order to help raise children's self-esteem and confidence. For example, two children were acting out the story of 'The Tiger Who Came to tea'. They played together really well without needing any adult involvement. Children's behaviour is outstanding. As a result, children achieve and progress well towards the goals expected of them in both their academic and personal development. This provides them with a strong foundation for the next stage of their education. The curriculum is broad and well planned with practical and engaging activities that allow children to learn through play. The free flow of movement between the inside and outside areas, although slightly hampered by the new building works, means that children widen their learning experiences and grow in confidence. Children really appreciate and enjoy their time

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Grade: 2

in the garden. It was a delight to see new children, some on their first day at the Nursery, settling in so quickly to their new surroundings, playing on the bikes and climbing frame. Children's personal development and well-being are outstanding. They are very happy and keen to be at the Nursery. Despite concerted efforts by the Nursery to encourage good attendance, this is not always achieved. Children understand about a healthy lifestyle and have many opportunities for physical development. Healthy snacks and juice are available for the children throughout the day. As one child new to learning English commented, 'I like melon, it is good.' 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009 The welfare of the children is outstanding, and their academic guidance is good. There are excellent links with external agencies and families to support and help those children who are

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Grade: 2

more vulnerable. Observations by staff of what children know, understand, and can do are used to feed into planning what the children need to do next. These observations are combined well with children's own individual interests to identify the next steps necessary to improve learning, and these steps are regularly shared with parents. An issue at the time of the last inspection was to ensure that data were used and interpreted to monitor the performance of different groups of children, such as those from minority ethnic groups. This analysis is still not rigorous enough, nor is it built upon year-on-year to identify and fully address any underachievement. Leadership and management are good overall. There is excellent teamwork between the headteacher and the senior teacher. They collaborate well with each other and with the keen and supportive governing body. Other staff have a clear vision for the development of the

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Grade: 2

Nursery and the Children's Centre, as they come together in the new building. The Chair of Governors has a good knowledge and understanding of the Centre's needs and governors are very supportive. The leadership team should be highly commended for the way in which they have successfully continued to run and organise the Nursery during the building works. Safety is paramount and the Nursery staff have worked closely with the builders to ensure that this is so. The new build has been a long time in the planning and there are exciting opportunities ahead as the Nursery and Children's Centre come together under one roof. The Nursery's view of itself is broadly accurate. Its vision for its development continues to progress since the last inspection, but it has yet to rigorously address the key issue identified at that time. The Nursery has good capacity to continue to improve. The Nursery runs a holiday play scheme, which is very popular and meets statutory requirements.

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Grade: 2

There are very good breakfast and after school clubs which are managed by the governing body. Good procedures and good attention to health and safety ensure that the children are well cared for, and they enjoy their time in these extended facilities.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that the progress of different groups of children is tracked, analysed and acted on more rigorously, in order to identify and support any underachieving children. ■ Encourage more regular attendance from some families. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009 .

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What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 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? 2 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 3 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 2 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? 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 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 2 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? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

26 January 2009 Dear Children Inspection of Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre,London,E17 9SB It was lovely to meet you when the inspectors came to visit your Nursery. We enjoyed sharing lunch with you and talking to some of you. Your Nursery is a good school. There are many things which you do well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are very happy and like coming to your Nursery.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ There are many interesting things for you to have a go at.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You really enjoy playing in the lovely outside learning areas.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You have good teachers who look after you and arrange many different activities for you to try. ■ You receive excellent care during your time at Nursery.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The Nursery is well led by your headteacher and the governing body.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Your headteacher manages the Nursery very well, but there is one area that could be improved. I have asked your teachers to check more closely how well you are doing so that they can help those of you who may not be doing as well as you could. You and your families can help too by making sure that you all come to the Nursery every day. I hope that you will explain to your families how much you enjoy the Nursery and try to go every day. Yours faithfully, Sue Vale Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Church Hill Nursery and Children's Centre, 13 January 2009

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