Excel Childcare

Excel Childcare Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY229507 Unique Reference Number 05 February 2007 Inspection date Alison Romanczuk / Josephine Geoghegan Inspector

p.1

96 Forest Hill Road, London, SE22 0RS Setting Address

p.1

E-mail

Excel Childcare Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Excel Childcare is a private nursery which opened in 2002. It operates from a refurbished building, with a garden to the rear. Children are accommodated on the ground and first floor. The nursery serves families in the local community of East Dulwich.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Excel is registered for 35 children under five years and there are currently 24 children on roll. The nursery offers funded places for three and four-year-olds and there are currently six children on roll. The nursery caters for children who may have disabilities or for whom English is an additional language.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Excel operates five days a week from 8.00-6.00, throughout the year.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Nine members of staff work with the children. They have a variety of qualifications in early years.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Some good systems are in place to promote hygiene and help stop the spread of infection. For example, staff follow clear nappy changing procedures and encourage the children to wash their hands. Most of the environment is clean and well managed. Children are well cared for when they are unwell because staff follow clear medication procedures and work consistently with parents in meeting children's needs when ill. Staff are trained in first aid should an emergency arise and consent for emergency treatment is gained when children start at the nursery.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a good diet at the nursery. They are offered a varied diet of freshly prepared meals, some of which are cooked on site. There are currently no staff with food hygiene certificates although training has been planned for one staff member. Children have constant access to drinking water and are offered fresh fruit regularly, promoting healthy eating habits. Children’s individual dietary needs are known and staff are flexible to their needs for sleeping, playing and eating times, particularly in the under two's room. Children are enthusiastic when developing their physical skills and have access to regular fresh air in the nursery's garden to further support this aim.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children's safety whilst at the nursery is compromised because there is no risk assessment system to ensure they are protected from hazards. The registered person has not adequately ensured that staff are implementing these procedures. As a result there are hazards including hot radiators within children's reach and electrical sockets which are broken. There are insufficient procedures in place relating to children wearing jewellery at the nursery which impacts on their safety. The nursery had a recent fire check and holds regular fire drills to ensure children are familiar with these procedures. Methods for recording children's and staff attendance are generally well maintained.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

At other times children are generally well safeguarded because staff show an awareness of the importance of reporting any child protection concerns to managers and some staff have attended training in this area. However, policies displayed on the nursery notice board have not been updated for some time and do not make it clear to staff or parents the requirement to notify Ofsted about any serious harm or abuse against a child whilst in the care of the nursery.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy being at the nursery and are interested and enthused by what is on offer. They have access to a very good range of toys and resources in all group rooms and have good opportunities to engage in variety of activities throughout the sessions. Some staff have attended Birth to three matters training and use this knowledge well in their planning aims. Staff are enthusiastic and attentive to the children's needs and encourage the children to make decisions about what they would like to do. As a result the children develop independence for example, whilst moving freely and choosing resources from low level boxes. The children in the under two's room are becoming competent learners and demonstrate increasing confidence in

p.3

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 their environment and interaction with others. They enjoy being imaginative, imitating while using play food and bowls and are able to experiment as they use dry sand and scoops and bubbles and spoons in their water play tray.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Nursery Education is satisfactory. Children progress well through the stepping stones because practitioners are confident in their approach to children's learning. Staff use information gained from children's parents and by observing the children to plan activities and to encourage and move them on to the next step of learning. Children benefit from the good range of resources available which they are able to mix and match in order to explore their ideas and interests. The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory because whilst staff are confident in their day to day management of children's learning, at times the children have to move around the nursery. This happens, for example when staff collect other children from school and has an impact on their concentration and progress in personal, social and emotional development because they have to leave unfinished activities and resources.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children interact well with each other and staff. They demonstrate increasing independence despite having to move around the nursery at times and feel confident in accessing and utilising resources. Their behaviour is good and the children are eager to participate in activities. They communicate with increasing confidence, for example, about activities experienced at the weekend and staff offer supportive questioning to encourage their learning. Children show a fondness for books and are able to identify and begin to write familiar words such as when naming their self drawn caterpillar. Their learning in mathematics benefits from a good selection of practical activities including making shape books and corresponding puzzle pieces and they count with increasing proficiency. They utilise sand and water well and are eager to solve problems, for example when constructing self initiated junk models from cardboard tubes and

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children particularly benefit from role play situations at the nursery where they act out familiar scenarios and use pretend play in the 'kitchen' or 'doctor's surgery' for example, to make sense of the world around them. They demonstrate increasing creativity, using paint, collage and drawing materials and are further encouraged by the displays of their work on the nursery walls. The children develop increasing physical development using a selection of supportive tools such as scissors and drawing implements and when using outdoor wheeled vehicles in the garden area.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs and interests are well met because they are welcomed into the nursery and staff get to know their personalities and interests. Younger children receive lots of cuddles and reassurance and good relationships are established early on across the nursery. Staff are both friendly and approachable and children settle well as a result. Children's behaviour is good and they show care and concern for each other. For example, staff encourage the children to share and take turns and give consistent praise for their good conduct. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is well fostered as a result.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's understanding of difference receives good support and they are able to play with a good selection of resources such as dressing up clothes, books and puzzles which reflect a range of cultural and religious considerations. Children who may have additional languages or

p.4

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 learning disabilities are welcomed into the nursery and training has been planned to further support links with the local authority in meeting children's needs. The nursery's partnership with parents is satisfactory and lots of two way information is shared consistently to support children's learning and care whilst at the nursery. Parents attend regular evenings to talk about children's learning in the Foundation Stage. Policies and procedures on the notice board have not been updated, however, and some miss information regarding child protection and complaints occurs as a result.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Children are cared for by staff who are appropriately qualified and staff to child ratios are well met at present. Most staff are clearly vetted and experienced in their roles. Routines at the nursery are well organised overall with some disruption at those times when staff have to drop off or pick up children from local schools. Despite this, children benefit from having times to play, eat and rest each day. Managers ensure the children are constantly supervised. However the recently appointed manager has not as yet been given full responsibility to supervise staff in a formal manner and has limited access to their files. As a result current staff have not attended training in food hygiene which impacts on children’s health. There has been no training in health and safety and, as a result, not all risks at the nursery are sufficiently assessed and this compromises children’s safety at times. Staff do not receive enough support through

p.5

Organisation

appraisals. They are not adequately informed of up to date procedures as some of the nursery policies such as those concerning child protection do not reflect current practice.

p.5

Organisation

Leadership and management at the nursery is satisfactory and children receiving funded nursery education grant benefit from those times when they have uninterrupted periods to concentrate. At other times learning is disrupted because they have to move rooms to ensure they are adequately supervised and this impacts on staff’s planning aims. Staff working with the children in this area have been trained and work well during core times, however, to ensure children’s progress. Overall, systems of monitoring and evaluating the provision generally work well and managers have a clear vision for improvements in this area.

p.5

Organisation

Overall, the provision does not meet the needs of the children who attend.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Improvements at the nursery have been made to the organisation of the nursery and the range of activities available. The nursery was asked to ensure staff deployment and ratios at the nursery were appropriate and met the providers registration requirements. This has been improved so that children are appropriately supervised although movement of children to other rooms during school drop off and pick up times is not always suitable. The nursery was asked to provide a suitable range of activities for those children aged under three years old and to improve children's learning through role play. This has been improved to a suitable standard and as a result children in these rooms enjoy and benefit from the variety and scope of activities available. The role play area in the pre-school room has additional equipment and as a result children's imaginative play has been further enhanced.

p.5

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.

p.5

Complaints 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 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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

p.6

The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care, the registered person must take the following actions: • ensure at least one member of staff is trained in health and safety and that children's safety is maintained at all times through regular risk assessment at the nursery • ensure the organisation of the nursery is clearly supported through regular supervision of staff and securely underpinned through up to date policies and procedures in all areas These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

p.6

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): • build on the nursery's leadership and management in The Foundation Stage to ensure consistency in teaching and children's learning

p.6

The quality and standards of the nursery education

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

p.6

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

p.6