Goodway Nursery School

Goodway Nursery School Inspection report

p.1

103128 Unique Reference Number Birmingham Local Authority 323760 Inspection number 14 July 2009 Inspection date Derek Watts Reporting inspector

p.1

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

p.1

Nursery Type of school Community School category 3–4 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 52 School (total) The governing body Appropriate authority Jillian Smith Chair Mary Larkham Headteacher 27 June 2006 Date of previous school inspection 5 Goodway Road School address Great Barr Birmingham B44 8RL 0121 464 3078 Telephone number 0121 464 2080 Fax number

p.1

3–4 Age group 14 July 2009 Inspection date 323760 Inspection number .

p.1

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.

p.2

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: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.2

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two additional inspectors. The inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues:

p.3

Introduction

■ Provision and children's progress in mathematical development.

p.3

Introduction

■ How well teaching extends the most able children and provides opportunities for them to record their learning. Evidence was gathered from lesson observations and scrutiny of children's work and school documentation. Parents' questionnaires and discussions with children, governors and staff also contributed to the judgements. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors 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 where appropriate in this report.

p.3

Description of the school

About 60% of the children attending Goodway Nursery are from a White British background. The remaining proportion are from a range of other ethnic backgrounds. About 20% of children speak English as an additional language but very few of these are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of children eligible for free school meals is high. The school provides Children's Centre Services for children and their families.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.3

Grade: 1

Goodway is an outstanding nursery which has built on the excellent work identified in the previous inspection. A parent, reflecting the views of many, commented, 'Goodway nursery is an outstanding and special place.' The inspectors fully support this view. Children make exceptionally good progress from their starting points because of high quality teaching and the wide range of exciting learning activities provided. Excellent attention to welfare and a very positive atmosphere lead to outstanding personal development and well-being for the children. Outstanding leadership and management are at the heart of the school's success. The headteacher provides excellent leadership and direction. She is extremely well supported by other key staff. All staff are totally committed to doing the very best for the children and their parents. Staff commented, 'Everyone is a leader of learning here.' Self-evaluation is highly

p.4

Grade: 1

effective so the school knows what it does well and takes positive action to bring about any needed improvements. Effective systems to assess and monitor children's attainment and personal development are very well established. Governors have a very clear understanding of the school's work. They provide strong support and hold the school to account. The school demonstrates an outstanding capacity to improve. Community cohesion is promoted extremely well. There are strong partnerships with parents, the children's centre and other agencies. Through careful analysis, the school has a very good understanding of the community it serves. It is particularly successful at adapting its provision in order to meet specific needs of children and their families. For example, children with behavioural and emotional difficulties receive high quality support. Different cultures and faiths are very effectively celebrated and promoted. The school is meeting the needs of all children.

p.4

Grade: 1

Parents rightly hold the nursery in high regard. Typical comments from the parents' questionnaire were, 'Teachers are wonderful'; 'My child has made amazing progress'; 'Excellent Nursery'; 'The headteacher does a fantastic job'; and 'Very impressed with Goodway'. Children enter the school with knowledge, understanding and skills well below those expected for their age. By the end of their time in Nursery, they reach standards that are broadly in line with those expected. Opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening successfully pervade all activities. Early reading and writing skills are promoted particularly well. Activities to promote mathematical development are effectively integrated into a range of lessons. Through the process of making cakes, for example, children recognise different shapes; they use simple measures and apply their numeracy skills to solve problems. High quality teaching contributes considerably to children's exceptional progress in all areas

p.4

Grade: 1

of learning. Teachers and assistants have a very secure knowledge and understanding of how children of this age learn. Children are inspired, motivated and fully engaged in their learning because of the exciting activities offered. Staff provide an effective blend of structured adult-led activities and those which enable children to choose, explore and work independently. Assessment is used extremely well to plan the next steps of children's learning. Since the last inspection, the school has worked well on providing for the more able. As a result, activities and tasks are tailored to individual needs so children are challenged and their interest is sustained. Children have good opportunities to record their learning. Those at an early stage of learning English receive very effective support from an experienced teaching assistant. These children make rapid gains in acquiring English. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.4

Grade: 1

The curriculum is creative and exciting. It contributes exceptionally well to children's progress and makes an outstanding contribution to their personal development. All areas of learning are skilfully incorporated into appealing topics like holidays, pirates, mini beasts, growing, dinosaurs and witches. Visiting actors and a visiting musician make a valuable contribution to children's creative development. For example, the 'Butterfly Garden' performance gave children wonderful opportunities for drama, role play, singing and artwork. The quality of children's art is a real strength. Striking landscape paintings using a water colour technique decorate the corridors. Children capture the sky, trees and flowers beautifully. The school has made some old buildings an attractive and stimulating place for children to learn. The new accommodation has created additional facilities for children, staff and parents. Outdoor learning areas are used

p.5

Grade: 1

really well. Children grow a range of vegetables in the garden and the Goodway train line with its station provides plenty of opportunities for role play. Some outdoor areas and the woodland have rightly been identified for improvement in the school's plans. High quality care and the stimulating environment enable all children to thrive. A parent wrote, 'Teachers are wonderful and very caring towards children.' Procedures to protect and safeguard children are rigorous and robust. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. As a parent wrote, 'My children have always been eager and excited to go to school.' Children participate in vigorous exercise and understand the importance of healthy diets. They choose and enjoy the fresh fruits, salads and vegetables on offer. Children relate very well to adults and their peers. They share equipment and materials. Behaviour is often exemplary because of high

p.5

Grade: 1

expectations from staff and the excellent relationships between adults and children. At Goodway, children are extremely well prepared for the next steps of their education.

p.5

What the school should do to improve further

■ Improve the learning opportunities in some of the outdoor areas and in the woodland, as identified in the school's improvement planning. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009 .

p.5

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: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.6

Inspection judgements

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

p.7

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

p.7

Achievement and standards

1 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? 3 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

p.7

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

p.7

The quality of provision

1 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: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.7

Leadership and management

1 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 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 1 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: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.8

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

15 July 2009 Dear Children Inspection of Goodway Nursery School, Great Barr, Birmingham, B44 8RL. Thank you so much for welcoming us into your school and sharing the wonderful activities you do. We enjoyed our visit and would like to tell you what we found. Yours is an excellent nursery. These are the main strengths of your school.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You thoroughly enjoy your time at nursery.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The nursery is a very friendly and exciting place to learn in.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are making outstanding progress because of the wonderful teaching.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You clearly enjoy the exciting activities offered indoors and outdoors.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The landscape paintings on display are brilliant.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your behaviour is outstanding and you get on very well with others.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You have an excellent understanding of healthy eating and how to keep fit.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Staff take excellent care of you and give you outstanding support.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your headteacher leads the school extremely well. She receives very good support from other teachers. ■ Your parents are delighted with the school and give it strong support.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

There is just one point that the adults have been asked to look at to make your school even better.

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The school has plans to improve some of the outside areas and the woodland to support your learning even further. Finally, thank you once again for all your help. Keep up the great work. We wish you all the very best for the future. Yours faithfully Derek Watts Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Goodway Nursery School, 14 July 2009

p.9