Riverside Childrens Centre

Riverside Childrens Centre

Inspection report for early years provision

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Riverside Childrens Centre

EY332276 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2006 Inspection date Sharon, Amelia Robson Inspector

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Riverside Childrens Centre

Riverside Childrens Centre, Garrick Street, South Sheilds, NE33 4JT Setting Address

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Riverside Childrens Centre

0191 424 4839 Telephone number alison.saleh@s-tyneside-mbc.gov.uk E-mail Social Care & Health (Sure Start) Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Full day care, Crèche Type of care

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Riverside Childrens Centre

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

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?

Riverside Children's Centre opened in 2006. It operates from a newly refurbished and extended former family centre. It is situated in a residential area of South Shields.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

A maximum of 60 children may attend the nursery unit at any one time and a maximum of 8 children may attend the crèche at any one time. At present the nursery is full and has a long waiting list.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The children's centre offers full day care each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 50 weeks of the year. The crèche will operate as and when required. All members of staff, including the manager, hold early years qualifications.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are beginning to understand the importance of good personal hygiene through the well planned daily routines which contribute to their health. For example, staff gently wash babies and younger children's hands with wipes before they have meals and snacks, talking to the children about what they are doing and why.

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Helping children to be healthy

Older children know to wash hands and talk about why it's important to do so. They talk about 'having germs on hands if you don't wash them'. Staff put into practice the comprehensive policies and procedures of the setting regarding children's health. For example, they implement the policy regarding the care of sick children, which helps to minimise the risk of cross infection and therefore safeguarding children's health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Accident and medication recording systems are in place and staff are clear on how to maintain these; however, it is not clear where parents sign the accident forms. Very good systems are in place to ensure that new legislation regarding health and safety issues are made known to staff and implemented by them. The majority of the staff team have first aid qualifications, so that the health and well-being of the children is preserved.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children access a balanced and varied diet that takes into account the views of parents and the preferences of the children. The menu is includes lots of healthy and nutritious meals, ensuring children have both fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Older children are developing an understanding of how healthy eating contributes to their good health. Discussions about food that helps you grow, and during meal times planned activities, such as harvesting vegetables from an allotment help promote their understanding of healthy eating. Children have opportunities to try a range of seasonal fruits at snack time and are gently encouraged to try new tastes and textures to help develop healthy choices. Parents are kept well informed about the food and fluid intake of their babies through access to their child's daily diary. Staff consult with parents to ensure sufficient information is exchanged to help promote successful weaning.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children throughout the setting have very good opportunities to promote their health and well-being through physical activity. Babies practise stretching, crawling, standing and walking as they investigate and enjoy their environment, and the very good range of colourful toys and activities. Older children thoroughly enjoy the outdoor play areas, they develop their large motor skills as they explore, investigate and experiment using the good quality outdoor equipment. Children also have opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities that further contribute to their good health, for example walks in the local community. They also have opportunities to develop their physical skills, such as climbing, jumping and balancing through regular visits to the park. Children are given lots of encouragement from staff to enjoy the very good range of physical experiences.

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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. Children are cared for in an extremely safe, secure and well maintained environment. The nursery is very well organised, so children can explore and select activities and resources safely. Nursery rooms are very attractive and welcoming with lots of evidence of children's work displayed. Children are safe and secure indoors, outdoors and during outings, because staff are extremely vigilant and put into practise the comprehensive the range of policies and procedures of the setting. For example, they hold regular fire drills and perform thorough visual and written risk assessments throughout the nursery and on outings. Also staff record how often sleeping babies are checked, therefore ensuring the overall safety and well-being of babies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children access a great variety of very good quality play materials and equipment, that is very well maintained. Staff ensure all toys and resources meet the relevant safety standards. The layout of the nursery rooms means children are able to move around freely and safely, therefore promoting confidence and independence. For example, babies make very good attempts to access treasure baskets and use natural objects, such as sponges and wooden pegs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Knowledgeable staff fully understand and follow the nursery's comprehensive policies and procedures, which ensures they protect and preserve children's well-being. They understand about keeping children safe through their very good knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures. Staff provide good explanations for children about handling tools, such as scissors and cutlery safely. They provide opportunities to talk about road safety during outings, so that children are beginning to develop an understanding of keeping themselves safe indoors and outdoors.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle very well into nursery life. They are extremely happy, secure and have developed very good relationships with the staff who care for them. As a result, children are confident and independent, happily making decisions and choices about what they want to do. Staff have a very good understanding of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and use it to underpin the programme of activities. Consequently, children under three years benefit from the variety of experiences and the broad range of interesting activities they take part in to support and enhance their development. For example, babies enjoy sensory experiences of handling sponges and wicker baskets. Older children enjoy a gluing activity using paper of different colours, shapes and textures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff know the children very well. They are interested in what the children say and do, talking and singing to them as they play and work together. They use good questioning techniques which are suitable to the children's age and maturity, and observe them well in order to maintain the children's development files. As a result, the programme of activities provides good challenges so that children are making good progress in all areas of their development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although the nursery do not receive funding for three and four year olds, staff have very good knowledge of the Foundation Stage and have regard to this when planning activities.

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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 Older children confidently stand up in a large group and talk about what they have done and their home environment. They remain focused during adult-led activities, listening well and responding to instructions. They make choices about what they want to do, selecting activities and collecting resources independently. Children behave very well, they happily take turns and share with their peers. They are developing good manners and frequently say please and thank you to each other and staff, requiring little or no adult intervention.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in story time with great enjoyment, and they enthusiastically participate in the storyline. Children are beginning to recognise their names, while older children are able to recognise the names of some of their peers. They have many opportunities throughout the day to practise counting and recognising colours, including while sitting together for meals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are eager to attend and enjoy their time spent in a welcoming environment that acknowledges and gives value to each child as an individual. A very good range of information is recorded in respect of children's individual needs and is updated as required. Children show a growing confidence in self-help skills as they select activities, attend to their own needs and make approaches to staff that are warmly met. Children learn about their own community through activities, such as walks to the local park and visits to an allotment and they look at people who help us in the community. A good range of resources provide positive images of diversity and children find out about other cultures through meaningful activities. The range of resources, activities and the positive attitude of the staff help children to acknowledge and give value to others. Staff have a good understanding of the Code of Practice for children who

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Helping children make a positive contribution

have learning difficulties or disabilities, so that children make sound progress in their development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave extremely well. Staff throughout the setting have high, but realistic expectations of the children. They listen well to what children say, and are courteous to the children and each other. Therefore, children feel safe, valued, and are developing good manners. There are comprehensive behaviour management policies and procedures, which includes appropriate strategies for dealing with behaviour. Children become increasingly aware of the behavioural boundaries of the setting, from the very good role models set by staff. They support, praise and value positive behaviour, so that children grow in confidence and develop good self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is very good. Staff are very friendly, approachable and ensure that opportunities are made to exchange information and take part in discussions with parents about what their children have done. Parents have access to daily diaries and are encouraged to access their child's development file whenever they wish. They are invited to reviews and parents evenings, which are held throughout the year. Parents receive a comprehensive information pack and have access to the settings policies and procedures, including details of how to make a complaint. Plans are clearly displayed to ensure parents are kept up to date with what their children will be doing whilst at nursery.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Comprehensive policies and procedures and record keeping systems are in place, well organised and confidentially maintained. The manager ensures that ratios are correct at all times and the day to day care of the children is give high priority. This is reflected in the enthusiastic, well motivated staff team who work together very well. Staff are committed to the ongoing improvement of the nursery through the uptake of training opportunities to enhance their personal development, and improve practice. Children benefit from the good quality support and interaction from the staff who are well qualified and skilled. Staff are supported through supervision, staff meetings and the open door style management favoured by the nursery. Staff have a very good understanding of, and put into practise the comprehensive policies and procedures of the setting, such as Health and Safety and child protection, promoting the care

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Organisation

and welfare of the children in their care.

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Organisation

The nursery is very well organised. A broad and varied selection of resources and activities are provided and very easily accessible, to enhance children's learning and development. The grouping of children, and the deployment of staff, reflects and meets children's individual needs.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration, 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 can be seen 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):

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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 • make clear where parents sign accident forms.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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