Windmill Nursery

Windmill Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Windmill Nursery

EY102777 Unique Reference Number 27 September 2006 Inspection date Rosemary Beyer Inspector

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Windmill Nursery

Landing Lane, Riccall, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 6TJ Setting Address

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Windmill Nursery

01757 249527 Telephone number info@riccall.co.uk E-mail Riccall Regen 2000 Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

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Windmill Nursery

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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Windmill Nursery opened in January 2002 and is owned and managed by Riccall Regen 2000, which is a charity run organisation. It operates from within the Regen building, which is for community use providing sport, training facilities, and childcare for the local community and wider area. The children are cared for in two rooms, one for children under two, and older children in the other. They also have use of an enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

A maximum of 21 children under five years may attend the nursery at any one time. It is open Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 18.00, all year except for bank holidays and one week over the Christmas period.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 38 children on roll, of whom 12 are in receipt of nursery education funding.

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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 eight staff employed to work with the children, including a manager and deputy; of these six hold a relevant childcare qualification, with one working towards a qualification. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The nursery provides a clean and well-maintained environment with good hygiene practices in place to prevent the spread of infection. The children learn from an early age to wash their hands before meals and after personal care, and know germs can make them ill. The older children wash their hands without prompting. They use tissues independently and wash their hands after sneezing. They also learn to cover their mouths when coughing. Good nappy changing procedures are also in place, with children's privacy protected.

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Helping children to be healthy

The comprehensive sick child policy ensures those children who are ill do not attend the nursery, and that parents provide contact numbers in case of any illness. Information about exclusion times is made available for them to ensure infections are not spread among the children. Comprehensive recording of illness, medication and accidents keeps parents informed. Staff have a well-stocked first aid box and current first aid certificates.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a very healthy diet, with food cooked on the premises. The staff ensure they have five portions of fruit or vegetables each day. Snacks are also healthy, with fruit featuring prominently. This also gives children the opportunity to try new tastes and widen their knowledge of other cultures. They know they need to eat healthy foods if they are to stay fit and well. They independently discussed the need to drink milk to have healthy teeth and bones at snack time. All the children eat very well and are able to feed themselves if they wish to do so, with time allowed for those who eat slowly. Parents receive a copy of the menu for the coming month in the newsletter, and any special diets or requirements can be discussed and respected. Food preparation is completed in line with the Gold Food Award, and good hygiene is practised when serving.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each day children have fresh air, either in the outside play area or on the playing field, depending on the weather. There is a range of equipment available for the children to develop physical control, climb and balance, which they can do very well. If the sports hall is free when the weather is bad they have exercise inside. During good weather they have free flow in and out, with resources available both inside and on the secure playground. The children know they need coats and boots if it is wet and that they become warm when playing. They help themselves to water when they need a drink. If the children need to sleep, cots and mattresses are available with clean sheets used each time. They are all checked half way through the sleep time recommended by parents, and this is recorded for them to see.

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Helping children to be healthy

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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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for on secure premises, with access for parents and visitors through the main reception area, then admittance by staff. Children are signed in and out by parents. Visitors' books are completed by the centre and also by the setting. Children can only be collected by a named person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a good range of suitable furniture and resources safely and carefully, with toys easily accessible from shelves and boxes. Staff ensure the babies do not get knocked over or find small pieces of toys when they come to visit. The equipment is cleaned regularly and checked as it is used, any damaged items being removed for repair or disposal. Use of the computer is monitored to ensure children do not hurt their eyes or develop poor posture.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The deputy manager monitors the accident record to see whether a pattern is developing, and then takes steps to rectify or consult if need be. Staff use door jammers to prevent children trapping fingers in the sliding door between the rooms. They supervise the children and babies very well to ensure they are safe and happy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire equipment is in place and maintained by the centre, with the fire procedure posted in both rooms. Fire drills are currently managed and recorded by the centre. However, the nursery is to keep an independent record to enable the manager to monitor the staff evacuation experience, and to ensure all staff and children are familiar with the procedure. During the inspection the fire drill was completed calmly and quickly, with the children discussing why they needed to leave the building and what would happen next in a real emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected by the up to date knowledge of child protection staff have obtained through training. They have referral details to hand and know what to do if they have concerns. The child protection policy includes the procedure to follow if allegations are made against staff and includes notification of Ofsted, as does the missing child policy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Staff have used the 'Birth to three matters' framework very successfully and enthusiastically to guide the activities they provide for the babies, and also the children in the main playroom who are still two years of age. The children all settle well and are comfortable and at home with the staff. They enter the nursery happily, keen to see what is on offer for the day. Older siblings can visit their younger brothers or sisters to ensure they are settled and the younger ones can see through into the other room, or visit, if they are upset. All the children and babies have a key worker who develops a good relationship with the child and the parents to ensure information is exchanged and any concerns addressed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The activities provided for the babies and younger children are adapted to suit their needs. Staff monitor and observe to ensure the children are developing well, and weaknesses and strengths are recorded and addressed. Skills and progress are reviewed every three months. Each child has a book with information about their time in the setting, with work samples,

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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 photographs and development notes. They enjoy looking at their books and talk happily about the activities they have enjoyed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All the children enjoy using a wide range of resources. One of the babies stood for 20 minutes playing with sand, feeling the difference between wet and dry, pouring it, filling things and moving it around. She found a plugged hole in the tray, and happily pushed sand through it onto the floor, watching the pile grow under the stand. Staff watched and talked about the activity with her but allowed her to investigate and experiment. She was very proud of the fact she figured out how to take the plug out and could put it back when she had finished.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are very conscious of the need to communicate with babies, understanding from gestures and signs that a child wanted to listen to music on the cassette recorder, then watching the child sway to the music being played with a huge grin on her face. The younger children also enjoyed making sounds with the empty plastic bottles filled with different materials and colours.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Table top games and craft activities are adapted to suit the children, with the babies and toddlers enjoying puzzles, construction and painting. Pictures are displayed on the walls or taken home by parents. The toddlers use the home corner to prepare food and sit at the table. They are developing confidence, help themselves to resources, and are starting to concentrate very well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. The staff have a very good understanding of the Foundation Stage and use the guidance to plan a wide range of activities to cover all the areas of learning. They use the stepping stones to ensure children are making good progress and to highlight any weaknesses. Activities are monitored, assessed and evaluated to meet the needs of the children; all of the over three year olds enjoy the full range of learning opportunities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are settled and confident, happily speaking to staff, their peers and visitors. They help themselves to a wide range of resources designed to meet the needs of their stage of development, and ask for other things if they are not immediately available. If they are having difficulties they are happy to ask for assistance; for instance, when the computer crashed the child asked staff for help, and when they next had problems an older child offered advice. The older children are very supportive of younger ones, letting them join in their games and explaining the rules if playing table top games. They show the younger children how to behave, taking turns and co-operating in their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All the children enjoy stories, sitting quietly and participating if requested. They anticipate well what will happen. They also know that books can provide information. During role play, some of the older children used a festival book to discuss weddings, then dressed up to perform the ceremony. Pictures are proudly displayed on the walls showing the story of The Little Red Hen. The children all recognise their names, put their labels in the basket on arrival, and then find their names on the table at lunchtime. They put completed work in their own drawer ready to take home. Through open-ended questions the children are developing their vocabulary and becoming confident speakers, able to articulate their feelings and needs.

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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 Mark making materials are available all the time, so children write menus in the café, shopping lists for the shop and make appointments when the home corner is a surgery. They enjoy doing dot to dot or tracing to learn to write their names correctly and are starting to try to write their names on pictures. Their pencil control is developing very well. They can also use scissors competently, enjoying cutting and sticking.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During the construction, fishing and table top games the children show they are developing a good understanding of mathematical language. They can count well, some much higher than 10 when counting the days in the month, sort and recognise colours. When using the blocks they discussed and compared different ways of making a tower. The construction corner has examples of different equipment and tools used, and also buildings ranging from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye, as well as ordinary houses. Maps of the London Underground and roads with traffic cones and road signs give information about the various activities associated with construction. The children speak confidently about how they are used.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy using the cassette player and confidently use the computer. They have a good range of toys to develop their technological skills as well as those needed to be creative, such as clay tools and painting equipment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children know about the mini beasts and creatures displayed on the nature table. They enjoy walks in the locality to see the river and the horses nearby, collecting nuts and leaves in autumn for collage work and printing. They also know how to care for the nursery rabbit and understand the need to provide water and food. However, they do not use the small garden to grow plants, which would further develop their understanding of the natural world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The behaviour policy and house rules provide children with clear guidance for their behaviour. They behave very well. They all learn to share, take turns and co-operate when playing, with older children supporting younger ones and advising them on what is appropriate. Their manners are very good, whether when speaking to staff or other children. The behaviour management co-ordinator ensures staff are consistent in their management of any concerns about behaviour and keeps them up to date with current thinking or changes in policy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is being fostered. They are learning right from wrong and are developing consideration for each other, taking account of individual needs. Their knowledge of diversity is widened through different activities to celebrate other cultures, customs and festivals. They can already count and use some simple French and German words. During the Chinese New Year celebrations they learned to greet people in Chinese and made dragons to parade. They also enjoy different foods, crafts and music.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is outstanding. Parents wrote letters between the inspection visits making very positive comments about the setting. They value the care and concern their children receive. They know they are safe, happy and settled. Several families have used the setting for siblings and would not consider using another. They feel involved in the setting and that staff listen to concerns and keep them informed of any changes or special activities. The regular

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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 questionnaires sent out by staff ensure the nursery is meeting their needs and enable them to make suggestions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Information provided for parents is clear and user friendly. When parents express an interest in the nursery they receive a welcome pack which contains information about the setting, contracts, registration sheets and the necessary permissions forms. They are able to visit as much as they wish to settle their children in, and can telephone staff to check they are settled when they have been left. Letters are also sent home when the children move from one room to the other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Foundation Stage and 'Birth to three matters' framework information is displayed on the walls, in addition to information given to parents when children start to attend. The monthly newsletter includes details of the future topic and ideas for activities which can be enjoyed at home. Older children have a home diary which they complete to bring items of interest to talk about at circle time. Parents are welcome to visit the setting at any time, whether to watch or join in activities. Some parents come to talk about their jobs, while others play music with the children or read the stories.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents can speak to staff at any time, but they have an informal meeting with the key worker twice a year to discuss the child's progress and any concerns not previously raised. Information about children's progress is made available on request. They also have information about the complaints procedure and the Ofsted contact number should they feel it needed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The comprehensive equal opportunities policy takes account of both children and parents. All are treated as individuals and parents are made aware of the procedure in place to deal with racism. Children learn about other cultures and customs through the wide range of resources and activities they enjoy. The nursery provides positive images and does not stereotype activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and disabilities are welcome in the setting, which being on the ground floor provides easy access. There are toilet facilities available, and staff willingly talk to parents or obtain advice from outside agencies to meet the needs of the children. Individual learning plans are produced to ensure the children develop appropriately.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The nursery has paperwork and recording in place to ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting. The registration certificate is displayed and the conditions respected. Staff ratios are maintained and the qualification requirements are met. The comprehensive policies and procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet the needs of the nursery.

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Organisation

Leadership and management of the setting is good. Clear roles and responsibilities, and also very good teamwork, provides children with good supervision and care. All staff have input into the planning of activities, whether for the Foundation Stage or the implementation of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Regular meetings are held to keep everyone informed of future activities and plans are displayed. Space is somewhat restricted, as is storage, but the staff use the available space and resources to very good effect, dividing both rooms into

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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 different areas to ensure variety, and providing a stimulating environment where the children are happy and keen to learn.

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Organisation

After undertaking robust employment procedures, a comprehensive induction is in place for new staff. All the staff are encouraged to undertake training and the ethos within the nursery is to support their personal development. Students are welcome and also have an induction procedure when they first start.

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Organisation

The manager and staff have completed the Ofsted self evaluation form and use it as an ongoing monitoring tool for the setting. They are committed to continuous improvement and development. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the nursery was asked to obtain advice from Environmental Health to ensure the nappy changing provision is hygienic. This has now been done and it is agreed that staff may use antibacterial alcoholic wash after changing children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The inspector advised that the operational plan needed to be reviewed and made available to parents, which has been completed. They have also been given Ofsted contact details as part of the complaints procedure. The inspector was concerned about the security of personal information, so systems have been introduced to ensure paperwork and records are stored safely and confidentiality respected.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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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):

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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 • develop a record of fire drills to enable the manager to monitor attendance and ensure all staff are familiar with the evacuation procedure.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop use of the garden to widen children's knowledge of the natural world further.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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