Hughenden Valley Pre-School

Hughenden Valley Pre-School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Hughenden Valley Pre-School

EY334473 Unique Reference Number 09 October 2006 Inspection date Christine Bonnett Inspector

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Hughenden Valley Pre-School

Hughenden Village Hall, Coombe Lane, Hughenden Valley, HIGH WYCOMBE, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4NX

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E-mail

Jennifer Carol Ing Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Sessional care Type of 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

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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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Hughenden Valley Pre-school is privately owned by Jennifer Ing. It opened in 2006 and operates from rooms within the village hall in Hughenden Valley, Buckinghamshire. A maximum of 48 children may attend the pre-school at any one time. The pre-school is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:30 to 12:15 during term time. In addition, a Thursday afternoon session operates during the summer term, from 12.15 until 14.45. Children have access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 47 children aged from two years to under five years on roll. Of these, 28 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from the local and wider community. The pre-school currently supports children with learning difficulties, and those who speak English as an additional language.

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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 The nursery employs 11 staff, of whom four, including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. A further two staff are working towards a qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is promoted as the premises are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times, and the well-equipped and clean cloakrooms facilitate this. However, children are not developing and understanding of why it is important to maintain good personal hygiene. For example, staff do not talk to them about washing away germs to prevent illness. Effective policies and procedures are in place to manage accidents and administer first aid and medication, thereby helping to ensure children are well looked after.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy snacks that are healthy and nutritious; these include fresh fruit, raw vegetables, toast, milk and water. Individual dietary needs are catered for. Children are beginning to understand the importance of healthy eating and the effect it has on their bodies. For example, staff describe how eating raw vegetables keeps your teeth strong, and children relate how eating carrots "helps you see in the dark". Children's independence is not sufficiently promoted at snack time as the fruit and vegetables are prepared by staff in the kitchen, and are handed around to the children. In addition, children do not routinely have the opportunity to pour their own drinks. Children sit around tables together at snack time, which creates a social atmosphere and promotes social skills and manners.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have good daily opportunities for physical exercise. An indoor climbing frame is available, as well as bikes to ride. The adjacent outdoor adventure playground provides excitement and challenge for the older and more able children, and promotes the confidence and physical ability of all the children. Here they have the chance to scramble, climb, swing and slide within a secure, well-supervised environment. This helps the children to develop their understanding of the importance of being active and having regular exercise to keep healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children move around freely in a spacious environment that is free from obvious safety hazards. The rooms are light, bright, clean and welcoming. Because the halls are used by others in the evening, all furniture and play equipment has to be packed away at the end of each session. This means that children are not able to self-select items from easily accessible storage units. However, the wide range of available activities and play resources are set out attractively for children, which encourages their interest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is important to staff and any potential dangers are identified and quickly reduced. Priority is also given to making sure children will be safe in an emergency. The emergency escape plan is practised regularly, which ensures children are escorted to safety quickly, should the need arise. Security of the premises is good which also helps to protect

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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 children from possible harm. For example, staff monitor all the doors to the building when children are arriving and leaving to ensure a child does not leave unnoticed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is also safeguarded by the staff's knowledge of child protection matters. They understand the signs and symptoms a child may exhibit that could indicate they were being harmed and are familiar with the procedure to follow to report such concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They are happy and settle quickly into the routine as they move freely between activities, making choices about their play. They particularly enjoy imaginative play as they make good use of the well-presented dressing-up clothes. Children also enjoy being in each other’s company and demonstrate this by playing cooperatively together. Both book corners are well stocked and popular with the children who regularly select books to look at by themselves or in a small group with a staff member. However, large story times are not so positive for all children. There is constant disruption, as children need to use the toilet one after the other. This means that children are consistently moving around, and staff have to stop reading to give guidance and support to them. Consequently, children lose interest, stand up, and become bored, which devalues the session.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children are beginning to benefit from the implementation of the Birth to three matters framework, which supports their learning and development, but not all staff have had the opportunity to receive training in this area. Therefore, it is not effectively incorporated into the planning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of the teaching and learning is satisfactory. Some staff have received minimal training in the Foundation Stage, and others have received none. Consequently, all staff lack the knowledge required to deliver a comprehensive educational programme to promote children's learning effectively in all six areas of development. For example, mathematics is well promoted, children count confidently and some are beginning to understand simple calculation. However, the programme for knowledge and understanding of the world is limited, and does not enable children to develop information technology skills. Similarly, whilst some staff are skilled at asking open-ended questions to encourage children to extend their vocabulary, opportunities to develop pre-writing skills are minimal. Children do not recognise that print carries meaning and has a variety of uses.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are observed during play and their achievements recorded. This information is then used by staff to plan the next stage along the stepping stones. Staff make good use of available resources, and children enjoy the activities provided, such as, making puppets by cutting, colouring and sticking stencilled pigs onto sticks to illustrate "The three little pigs". While staff are clear about the learning intension for each activity, they lack the skill to extend them to provide appropriate challenge for the more able children. This limits some of the children's ability to progress effectively towards the Early Learning Goals.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued, and their individual needs are respected. For example, a child was asked if she would like to "snuggle-up" on a beanbag as she said she was tired at snack time. Staff are kind to the children and give appropriate praise and encouragement to enhance self-esteem and confidence. Children develop an understanding of other cultures and faiths within society as they have access to a satisfactory range of resources that give a positive reflection of diversity, such as books and play figures. However, the equal opportunities policy does not inform parents how the group promotes diversity, or how inappropriate practices and attitudes are challenged.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved as they are generally engaged in meaningful play. They learn right and wrong in ways they understand because staff adhere to the behaviour management policy, and use appropriate and positive strategies to manage any unacceptable behaviour that arises. However, the policy does not include how instances of bullying are managed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Information about the group is made available to parents to ensure that they are aware of what the group provides. All policies and procedures are also available for them to consult. Parents have the opportunity to share any relevant information about their child on a daily basis, to ensure their needs are met. Newsletters are produced regularly, and parent’s evenings held. The partnership with parents of children who receive nursery education is satisfactory. Parents can access their child's progress charts and are welcome to discuss any concerns with staff at any time. However, the complaints procedure needs up dating to ensure parents are able to contact Ofsted, if necessary. In addition, an active parent's rota operates. Parents willingly give their time to help at the pre-school. This is enjoyed by the children, and gives parents the opportunity of taking part and experiencing a morning at the group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties or disabilities are welcomed in the pre-school as staff have a positive attitude towards this area of childcare. They liaise with other agencies involved with the individual child to support them effectively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This positive approach fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children's welfare is safeguarded because robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure staff are suitable to work with them. Staff are deployed appropriately throughout the rooms and outdoor area. They monitor the children effectively when using large apparatus to ensure they do not endanger themselves or others. Staff work well as a team, which ensures all children are secure and happily engaged in meaningful activities.

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Organisation

Leadership and management of the pre-school are satisfactory. The manager has a large staff team, and is currently devising plans to develop their work for the benefit of the children. Knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and the Birth to three matters framework needs to be gained by the manager to ensure they are delivered effectively by staff to enable children to make good progress in their development and learning.

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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 pre-school maintains all required documentation and records. The written policies and procedures practiced by staff also help ensure children's wellbeing and protection.

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Organisation

The setting meets the needs of the range of 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 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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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): • increase children's awareness of good hygiene practices by teaching them about the importance of hand washing at appropriate times. • promote children's independence by encouraging them to serve themselves at snack time • continue to develop staff's knowledge of the learning needs of children under three through implementing the Birth to three matters framework. • reorganise story times to create an uninterrupted session where children understand how to sit and listen • amend the behaviour management policy to include how instances of bullying will be managed • amend the complaints procedure to ensure the contact details for Ofsted are correct

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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 the equal opportunities policy to include how diversity in wider society is promoted and how inappropriate practices and attitudes are challenged.

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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): • ensure registered person/manager and all staff have knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage to improve the quality of teaching and children's learning • develop the programme for knowledge and understanding of the world, particularly in relation to information and communication technology, exploration and investigation and sense of place. • promote writing skills to enable children to understand that print carries meaning

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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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