Circle of Friends Day Nursery

Circle of Friends Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Circle of Friends Day Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY295271 Inspection date 27 April 2006 Inspector Teresa Marie Taylor

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Circle of Friends Day Nursery

Setting Address Lady Lane, Longford, Coventry, West Midlands, CV6 6AZ

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E-mail

Registered person Circle of Friends Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care

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E-mail

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Circle of friends Day Nursery opened in 2005. It operates from converted premises in the Longford area of Coventry. Children aged under three years old have the use of the ground floor and children aged over three have the use of the first floor. A maximum of 41 children may attend at any one time. The nursery is open all year with the exception of the Christmas holiday and Bank Holidays. Opening hours are 07:30 to 18:00. All children have access to a large outdoor play area. There are currently 19 children on roll. The nursery has just received grant funding for nursery education and it is expected that seven children will now receive funding. The nursery is able to support children with special needs and those for whom English is an

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 additional language. The nursery employs six staff. Four staff, including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. Two staff are working towards a qualification. The nursery also uses two relief staff both of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to develop their understanding of good hygiene practices as the nursery has good routines in place which are shared with the children. There are good standards of hygiene within the nursery and garden ensuring children's general good health. Staff have completed a first aid course and have appropriately stocked first aid kits, ensuring they are able to respond appropriately to any accidents children might have. Children enjoy access to a wide range of indoor and outdoor toys and activities which contribute to their physical development and independence. The staff showed a good understanding of the physical needs of young children enabling them to provide suitable and appropriate activities, both indoors and out, to support children's development and co-ordination. Children's individual feeding and sleeping routines are agreed with parents, recorded,

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Helping children to be healthy

and supported by the staff enabling children to rest or sleep when they are tired. Children can help themselves to drinks which are easily accessible to them, ensuring they remain hydrated at all times. The nursery provides freshly prepared and cooked meals and snacks for the children ensuring it meets their religious, cultural and dietary needs. Parents provide milk for the babies and this is appropriately stored in the fridge ensuring health and safety standards are met and children's milk and food are safe. Staff deployment is not effective during meal times and children do not receive sufficient attention or help during lunch time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, very welcoming and child-centred environment where risks are identified and minimised. This means they can move around freely, safely and independently. Children are beginning to understand about safety and risks as the staff always gives explanations regarding the possible results of their actions. There are good routines in place to ensure children's health and general welfare. Children choose their own activities from a wide range of toys and equipment that the staff ensure are safe, in good condition and appropriate for the children's ages and stages of development. A risk assessment and regular cleaning schedule are completed and daily checks on toys are carried out. This ensures that children are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 safe and well protected. The nursery has all of the required procedures and documentation in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. All staff are provided with first aid training. The nursery has clear plans for fire evacuation and these are recorded, shared and practised with the children, ensuring they understand the routine and could safely exit the nursery if the alarms sounded. Outings are planned to ensure the children's safety and all consents from the parents regarding outings and transport are recorded. The nursery staff have a good understanding of child protection issues and a policy on keeping children safe is shared with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle very well at the nursery. Their emotional well-being is fostered well. The staff display their knowledge and understanding of children's development with careful and consistent management. This enables children to develop appropriate strategies for sharing and playing together as they are clear on what is expected of them and what the boundaries are regarding behaviour. To further develop experiences for the children the nursery provide additional activities that specialist staff deliver. These activities include, music, dance, language support and sports. The nursery also has an outdoor classroom and children have been growing their own plants. The staff encourage children to fully express themselves and they responds very well to children's requests for interactive play, attention or changes of toys. This enables children to develop independence and self-esteem. The nursery has a good storage system which allows children to see

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and easily access the majority of toys and equipment both independently and safely. Children's work is displayed and children are given regular praise and encouragement. This encourages the children's self-esteem and willingness to try new activities. Staff interaction and use of language with the children is very good. They take time to ensure all children are active, happy and fully involved in all aspects of the nursery day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are made very welcome at the nursery and their behaviour is good. The staff set consistent boundaries which help the children learn to co-operate, share and begin to take responsibility for their actions. The staff discuss behaviour issues with both parents and children ensuring everyone hears the same message and consistency is maintained. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are met well as they follow their normal daily routines, as discussed and agreed with parents. There are very good partnerships with parents which contribute significantly to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 children's well-being. Parents are provided with daily conversations and home/nursery diaries detailing children's activities ensuring they are aware of their child's day and reassured about their care. All agreements with parents are recorded and acted upon. Children's independence is encouraged enabling them to develop a sense of self-esteem and belonging. The staff are aware of individual needs and ensure these are met enabling children to develop at their own rate, whilst ensuring activities include some degree of challenge. Staff have experience of caring for children with special needs and are able to adapt activities to ensure that all children can participate in all activities. As a result all children are progressing well. Staff have a good understanding of equal opportunities and the nursery provides toys

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and equipment and discusses most festivals from around the world with the children. This enables children to begin to understand the wider world around them and see everyone in a positive light. There is an extensive portfolio of information and policies for parents ensuring they are fully informed of how the nursery operates and the activities their children are offered.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are happy and settled in this very welcoming and child-centred environment. They have good access to resources and are provided with a wide range of experiences which keep them motivated and interested in what is available. Children are provided with additional activities which gives them a wide range of experiences and opportunities. Space is well organised enabling the children to move freely as their play develops and they become more confident in accessing toys and equipment for themselves and requesting attention. Staff are experienced and committed. They are encouraged to undertake training and are provided with a clear staff policy detailing the nursery's expectations of them. They are encouraged to assess their own practice and discuss their findings at regular staff meetings. They are provided with a comprehensive induction procedure and there is a staff reference library. Relationships between staff, the provider,

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Organisation

children and parents is very good. This provides a relaxed but busy nursery where children progress well. All documentation, consents and daily activities are shared with parents and this help parents gain a good insight into the type of service provided for their children. Agreements with parents are all recorded and acted upon. This provides consistency for children and reassurance for parents. Parents are welcome at any time and, as staff ratios exceed the requirements set out in the Standards, there is always a member of staff available to talk to parents. However, not all of the children present had been entered on the register on the day of the inspection. The provision meets the needs of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints received by Ofsted since registration. The provider is required to keep a copy of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure staff are deployed effectively during meal times to ensure the safety and welfare of the children • ensure the daily register is completed accurately

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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