Childcare on Domestic Premises, Full day care in LambethOfsted inspection, 16 Jun 2005

Happy Days

Inspection report for early years provision

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Happy Days

Unique Reference Number EY289422 Inspection date 16 June 2005 Inspector Rebecca Elizabeth Khabbazi

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Happy Days

Setting Address 'Karibu', 88 Ashburton Avenue, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 7JF

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E-mail

Registered person Roger Green & Tanja Naldini 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 satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Happy Days Nursery has been registered since 2004. The nursery operates from the ground floor of a semi detached house in a residential area of Croydon, and serves the local area. There are two playrooms, a kitchen and bathroom facilities. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The nursery is registered to care for 10 children at any one time and there are currently a total of 13 children from 3 months to 5 years on roll. There are no children in receipt of nursery education provision. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 18:00, all year round.

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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 There are six members of full and part time staff who work with the children, including the manager and the provider. All staff have recognised early years qualifications or are working towards them. The nursery receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through familiar daily routines. For example they know that they need to wash their hands after using the toilet or stroking the cat because 'there might be germs'. They are protected from cross-infection because staff follow clear routines for changing nappies and maintaining good hygiene in the bathroom. Children begin to understand the benefits of a healthy diet. They are offered healthy options such as fruit at snack time and have access to drinking water throughout the day. However, children are not fully protected from the risk of tummy upset, because not all Environmental Health recommendations are followed in the kitchen. Children enjoy taking part in regular physical activity both indoors and outside in the garden. They practice skills such as throwing and catching during their daily 'lesson time', and run freely, climb and slide in the garden each day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment with space to play, rest and eat. They have access to a good variety of play materials and equipment. Resources are safe, in good condition, and suitable for the children's age and stage of development, although children are not always able to choose activities independently. Children are protected by safety measures such as the gate that restricts access to the stairs and by staff's vigilance in making sure that the front door is secure. However, they may be at risk from other potential hazards because staff do not regularly make and record risk assessments of the premises. Children's welfare is adequately safeguarded because staff have an understanding of what they should do if they are worried about a child, and further training is planned in this area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are confident and settled within the nursery. They have good relationships with staff, who respond to them warmly. They enjoy it when staff join in with their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 play, for instance when they 'go shopping' or 'make tea' together. Children take part in a variety of activities and experiences throughout the day. They show excitement when it is 'lesson time', enthusiastically joining in with the familiar songs, rhymes and activities. They demonstrate what they have learned when they can say what sound their name starts with, or work out how many two and two make when they are added together. Children are proud of their achievements, such as the flowers they have planted in the garden, and are keen to fill their watering can to care for them and help them grow. Although children enjoy the activities that staff set out for them, they do not always have enough choice because they are only offered one or two options at a time. In addition, at present staff decide what to do day by day, rather than using their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

knowledge of what children already know and can do to plan activities for them in advance. This means that children's experiences may not always be varied enough or build on their existing skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children know each other and the staff team well due to the small size of the setting. They are familiar with the nursery's everyday routines which helps them feel secure. Children are encouraged to share, take turns and think about how others feel, which helps them learn right from wrong and consider the effects of their behaviour. Children benefit from friendly relationships between their parents and staff at the nursery. Parents are able to talk to staff on a daily basis, and this means relevant day to day information is shared and consistent care can be provided. However, the information that can be shared about children's progress is restricted because staff have not yet implemented the system for keeping records of children's progress. Children are encouraged to develop a positive view of the wider world, for instance by playing with suitable resources and sharing their experiences. All children are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

warmly welcomed into the nursery but staff have not yet completed the training required to make sure they are familiar with the guidance for supporting children with special needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for by a consistent staff team who have been vetted and have a sound understanding of child development. There is an effective daily routine that ensures children can play, rest and eat according to their needs. The premises are generally well organised although the space available is not always fully used. For instance, activities are not always set up in both the available playrooms. Most policies and procedures are generally effective in contributing to the welfare of

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 the children and all records required by law are in place. However, not enough attention has been given to making sure some written records are available, for instance, evidence of risk assessments and activity planning. There is a strong commitment to continual development and improvement of the provision, and plans are in place to address many of the areas for improvement. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • make sure that all Environmental Health recommendations are met in the kitchen • make sure that regular risk assessments of the premises are conducted and action taken to minimise any identified hazards. • provide children with a wider choice of activities and experiences and ensure that children are sufficiently challenged throughout the day, for example by reviewing the use of space and organisation of resources and by introducing a more rigorous system for planning and making assessments of children's progress.

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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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