Launceston College

Harefield Hospital Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Harefield Hospital Day Nursery

139155 Unique Reference Number 19 January 2007 Inspection date Susan Elizabeth Tovey Inspector

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Harefield Hospital Day Nursery

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6HJ

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E-mail

Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day 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 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?

Harefield Hospital Day Nursery has been registered since 1993. It operates from a self contained building within the grounds of Harefield Hospital. The setting offers places to Trust members, staff and the wider community. The nursery has three group rooms; a baby room, a toddler room and nursery room. There is access to outside play space from each of these rooms.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 41 children on role. This includes 13 funded children. Children attend a variety of sessions. The setting supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities and who speak English as an additional language.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery is open all the year round with the exception of Christmas and Easter bank holidays. Opening hours are from 07:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday.

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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 They have 11 staff working with the children and all have an early years qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery works closely with it's sister nursery at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children keep healthy within the nursery where they play and learn in a clean, hygienic environment. Staff follow good hygiene procedures to ensure children are protected from illness and infection. They wear gloves, apron and wipe surfaces with anti-bacterial spray, as appropriate. Babies are well protected from dirt as all adults are asked to wear overshoes before entering the baby room. Both toddlers and babies sleep in clean and inviting conditions. Nappy changing areas are clean and include items that stimulate the baby or child while they are being changed. Children develop an understanding of good hygiene practice as they wash their hands before eating and clean their teeth after meals. They learn good tooth brushing skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and welfare is safeguarded regarding accidents, illness and medication due to the effective policies and procedures in place. The accident and medical records are well maintained and a high number of qualified first aiders who can therefore tend appropriately to a child should they have an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have opportunities for a variety of activities to maintain and develop a healthy body. There are good opportunities for energetic physical play in the fresh air. Children use a variety of equipment to support their gross motor development, while younger children are appropriately supported as they learn to stand and walk. Indoors, they further develop their hand-eye coordination as they ably press the house's door bell and post shapes into the shape sorter slots. Older children enthusiastically take part in music and movement sessions and laugh and smile as they hop and gallop around the room.

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Helping children to be healthy

All children receive a good variety of healthy, nutritious meals to meet their individual dietary requirements. Children learn the importance of a healthy diet through planned topic work where, for example, they have learnt about food and drink which is good for their teeth. Children sit and eat together in a relaxed and social atmosphere. Babies are fed according to their individual needs and are encouraged to develop their own feeding skills as they practise using a spoon and feeding themselves finger foods. At lunch time older children serve themselves and set their place at the table which enhances their independence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in a welcoming and child-friendly environment. The children's individual needs are met effectively, because there is a good range of furniture, toys and equipment which is well maintained. All children enjoy their time spent in the bright and attractive play rooms. They explore safely and freely, as they experience lots of good play opportunities. The staff make good use of the space provided, such as the creative play areas,

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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 which are well set out to enable the children to make choices independently. The babies are cared for in a warm and homely environment; for example, the children have photographs of their families displayed at floor level and lots of interactive toys are easily accessible. They are well supervised, as the staff sit close to them on the floor and encourage them to move and explore materials and equipment safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children receive very good levels of supervision as correct ratios are maintained at all times. They relax and play happily in an environment where staff have an excellent awareness of security. Staff are alert to potential hazards and risks are minimized. Daily risk assessments are carried out and children are able to gain an understanding of their own safety when playing. Fire drills are carried out and both staff and children are aware of what to do to evacuate safely, with two mobile cots available to evacuate babies safely. Evacuation is practised on a regular basis, consequently staff are aware of the procedures to follow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and know what action to take if they have concerns about a child in their care which helps protect children and safeguard their wellbeing. Records are used to record any concerns and are stored securely for confidentiality.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children thrive in a happy, relaxed atmosphere. They enjoy themselves and remain well-occupied. Staff ensure children have well supported positive learning experiences within a stimulating environment. Staff interact positively with children which helps them to feel secure and enables them to form warm, trusting relationships with their carers. There is a strong focus on learning through play with children making their own decisions about what they do. They move freely around the rooms and explore the different activities and resources on offer. Staff join in children's play; they take their lead from what children are doing and use this to support their learning. Children gain good self-esteem as staff praise their efforts and celebrate their achievements. Children enjoy the balance of activities available to them which helps them progress in all areas of development and they spend their time purposefully, for example, they

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

paint, use their imagination as they play in the Post Office, play with small world resources, dough and sit sensibly together as they listen to stories. Staff work together to plan activities which give all children opportunities to develop their skills. All staff have attended training to support their use of the Birth to three framework of good practice. Short term plans relate to Birth to three, as do the records of progress and achievement for younger children within the setting. These planning documents also show how activities are successfully linked to the Foundation Stage curriculum. All children have their own key carer, who is responsible for helping them settle within the nursery and for monitoring their progress and development. Children have excellent relationships with staff and each other and laugh and smile as they have fun playing and learning together.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and children's learning is good. Children's personal, social and emotional development is a strength of the nursery. Children occupy themselves well and are motivated

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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 learners. They independently move from one activity to another keeping themselves constantly engaged. They use their initiative during play, behave very well and understand right from wrong. They form good relationships with each other, play well together and show care and consideration for others. They demonstrate good independence skills as they tidy away resources, select their own choice of collage materials and serve themselves at lunch. The staff are developing their use of planning, to ensure that the children are presented with a variety of activities that have regard for all areas of learning and which focus on specific outcomes. The staff collate information about the children's achievements, through observations and assessments. The children's attitude to learning is positive and they play an active role in this,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

as they make choices from the activities offered. They concentrate well during routine activities, such as circle time, they listen carefully to instructions and attentively to stories. The children negotiate well with one another whilst waiting to do painting and use the computer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are very confident and self-assured. They are secure in their relationships with adults and interact positively with other children. Children are independent in their self-care skills, with most children able to put on their own outdoor clothes and aprons for painting. The children are familiar with the daily routine and follow this well. Children are confident speakers and engage easily in conversation with others as they play. They chat together whilst playing with the pirate ship and under water world, ordering their thoughts well before speaking. They recognise their written names on their place mats. The children enjoy exploring books, both individually and in small groups though out the day. The book area is very comfortable and cosy with the books displayed in an inviting way. Children are captivated during story time, and they eagerly await what happens next. The children can explore mark-making as a writing

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and drawing activity at the table or help themselves from the resources available .Some children can write their own names, others attempt with the support of staff on their art work. But there are missed opportunities to encourage the children to 'write' for a purpose, for example, by the computer. Children's mathematical development is excellent. They are very confident with numbers and counting. Children regularly practise their counting skills through good use of number rhymes. They are familiar with number names and are aware of the order of numbers, both forward and back. Staff frequently encourage children to consolidate their skills further as they ask them to count and invite them to tell them"how many" of something they have or would like to use or ask them to help themselves to a certain number of items, for instance, two pieces of toast or ten raisins. Children use appropriate mathematical terms to identify

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

shapes, position and as they make comparisons, for example whether something is big or small, They have opportunities to build and construct with a range of objects and materials. The children enjoy using the computer and are able to perform simple functions, such as clicking and dragging. Children talk about their families and special events and show awareness of time. They discuss the weather and understand why they need to wear rain coats and boots to play in the rain and sun hats when sunny. Through planned activities the children are becoming aware of cultural, religious events and customs of countries of the world. They are able to explore, investigate and make discoveries, for example, they use magnifying glasses to look at insects in the garden. They are learning about how things grow, as they plant seeds, bulbs and sunflowers. Children enthusiastically take part in physical activities and have excellent

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

opportunities to reinforce and further progress their skills. They demonstrate good spatial awareness when playing outside using wheeled toys, as they adjust speed, change direction and avoid collision.They develop their fine muscle movements as they cut with scissors,

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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 manipulate play dough with their hands and use a range of small scale resources. Children enjoy joining in games where they use their imagination and act out stories. The children take part in many art and craft activities, the materials are laid out and children are encouraged to make independent choices and explore free creativity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children within the nursery are valued as individuals and have excellent relationships with staff and one another. Children enjoy the genuine interest taken in them by staff. They have excellent self-esteem as a result of the praise and encouragement they receive from staff who value all children's efforts. Children show a very good understanding of the needs of others and show care and consideration to others. They share resources and are patient, for example, as they wait their turn for the dish of vegetables to be passed around at lunch-time. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. They are very happy and relaxed within the nursery where children have positive relationships with one another. They feel good about themselves and staff sensitively support children to help them progress. Children celebrate each other's achievements and clap to applaud the efforts of other children. They develop an

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Helping children make a positive contribution

understanding of diversity through play with a variety of multicultural resources and planned topic work. Staff have experience of supporting children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and work in close partnership with parents and outside agencies to meet individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is excellent; they know what is expected of them and are clear about what is right and wrong. They listen to staff and respond positively to requests. Children sit quietly at circle time and line up sensibly to clean their teeth. They have an excellent understanding of the boundaries and behaviour expectations of the nursery and share and take turns very well. Children are very polite to one another, through the role models provided by the staff, who encourage the children to say "please" and "thank-you".

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is outstanding and contributes significantly to children's well-being in the nursery. Children benefit enormously from the friendly interaction between staff and parents, which is enhanced by the key worker system. Parents' views about their child's needs and interests are actively sought before the child starts nursery. Parents are kept well informed about how their child is progressing and developing through verbal exchanges, individual, progress files and an open door policy. They receive regular, detailed information about the nursery practice and they support their child's learning, for example, by recording story tapes in their first language of Italian and Chinese. All policies and procedures are available to the parents who are able to share their views about the nursery through questionnaires and discussion with the staff. Parents are extremely positive in their praise of the nursery and feel

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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. Excellent teamwork contributes to children having fun, positive play and learning experiences at the nursery. Staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities and work cohesively together to ensure the nursery runs smoothly. They are vigilant to children's needs and ensure children are well supervised and ratios met. Staff are efficient, professional and organise a stimulating environment in which children focus well on learning through well supported, purposeful play.

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Organisation

The leadership and management of nursery education is good. The highly committed management team and staff provide good levels of care to enhance children's experiences and well-being. The nursery is very well organised and has a good leadership team with a shared vision. It is managed extremely effectively, with good systems and structures in place to ensure all staff are appropriately supported and trained. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. Practice is continually monitored and evaluated and records maintained of these reviews. Staff are committed and dedicated to ensuring good standards are maintained and have identified areas for further improvement. Policies and procedures work in practice to promote children's health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. Most documentation to support all areas of practice are well maintained although the daily registration system does not include all persons on the premise.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the setting was asked to ensure hygiene practices are promoted in all areas of the nursery. Good hygiene practices are maintained in all areas of the nursery, bins are fitted with secure lids, which are regularly emptied throughout the day. This means children health and welfare is protected.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The staff were also asked to provide children with active play all year round. Children are now provided with active play all year round. Since the recent refurbishment, the garden has been part covered with a soft play all weather surface. Also, children have access to the tennis court near the building for running around and ball games. This increases children's opportunities for fresh air and exercise.

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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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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

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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): • update the daily registration system to include all persons on the premises.

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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): • continue to extend children's opportunities to mark make in everyday activities

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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

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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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