Lilliput Farm Day Nursery

Lilliput Farm Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Lilliput Farm Day Nursery

205226 Unique Reference Number 28 February 2007 Inspection date Anne Georgina Phillips Inspector

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Lilliput Farm Day Nursery

1 Dunhampton Farm Cottage, Dunhampton, Nr Stourport, Worcs, DY13 9SW

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E-mail

Petra Silvester 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 outstanding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Lilliput(ian) Farm Day Nursery opened in 1993. It is privately owned and managed.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

It operates from four rooms in a detached property in Dunhampton near Ombersley, Worcestershire.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

A maximum of 36 children may attend the nursery at any one time. It is open each weekday from 08:00 to 18:00 for 51 weeks of the year. It closes for one week over the Christmas holiday period. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area which includes a separately fenced pond and conservation area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 54 children aged from three months to under five years on roll. Of these, 20 children receive funding for early education. Children come from a wide catchment area and

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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 many of their parents travel to work in or around the local area or neighbouring West Midlands. The nursery currently supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities and also supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery employs 13 members of staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications, including one with an early years teaching certificate, and four are working towards a qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and the National Day Nurseries Association and is working towards the latter's quality assurance award. Students attend on placement from a local college. The nursery is an active member of a local nursery education support group and has close links with the nearby Sytchampton Endowed First School where it's out-of-school club is also based.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. They make healthy choices and are learning about leading healthy lifestyles overall.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well protected from infection because staff consistently implement good daily routines. All areas of the nursery are very clean and well kept. Staff are vigilant in working to minimise cross-infection. They communicate effectively with parents to ensure that children do not attend when they are ill. Staff supervise children well to prevent accidents but are well-prepared if these occur as all members of staff hold a current first aid certificate and an appropriately stocked first aid box is readily accessible.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about simple good hygiene practices. They use good quality low-level and child-friendly toilet and hand washing facilities. Close adult support ensures that they wash their hands thoroughly. Soap dispensers and a good supply of fresh paper towels promotes good hygiene effectively. Older children are especially good at helping themselves to tissues to wipe their own noses and to flush these down the toilet straightaway to prevent infection. They are keen to explain why they wash their hands before having their snack and after using the toilet which shows that that they are developing a good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well-nourished. Their individual dietary needs are known and respected. Snack and meal times are well-paced and older children are able to access a beaker of water if they are thirsty. Staff ensure that extra drinks are available to children in hot weather when playing outdoors, but the youngest children are not able to readily access a drink of water at other times. Food provided by parents is appropriately stored and reheated safely if necessary. Food provided by the nursery is wholesome and includes milk, and substantial afternoon snacks which introduce children to a range of healthy options such as meatballs and salad, yoghurt and fruit. Staff work in partnership with parents to ensure that children's lunch boxes contain a healthy balance to promote children's awareness of the importance of a healthy diet.

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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 There are excellent opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. Children of all ages, including the babies, enjoy fresh air and exercise on a daily basis spending much of their time in the large well-equipped garden especially in the summer. An excellent indoor soft play area gives children exceptionally good opportunities for active and physical play even during inclement weather and the wintertime. Children use it with enthusiasm and skill.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children rest and sleep according to their needs. Flexibility and close liaison with parents enables children to gradually give up their daily rest, for example, by alternating the days that they have a sleep so that they do not become too tired by the end of the week.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming, child-friendly environment where they and their parents receive a warm welcome as they arrive. Attractive displays of photographs and artwork help children develop a sense of belonging. Individual areas within the nursery are bright, airy and very well planned to meet the ages and stages of development of the children that use them. The areas for the younger children have lots of free space which is safe and attractive to them so that they are keen to crawl and start to walk. Brightly coloured equipment and soft cushioning are strategically placed at floor level to stimulate their development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a vast range of very good quality toys and equipment. It is presented to them in a very accessible manner to promote their independence and stimulate their interest. For example, they are able to make choices from low-level shelving in all areas of the nursery. The area for the pre-school children is especially well thought out and presented to encourage independence and children's choice. There are mirrors in all parts of the nursery so that children are able to become aware of themselves and their own image.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are secure and generally well-supervised in a clean and mostly well maintained environment. Staff consistently supervise children well indoors and outside. They position themselves so that they can see children to ensure that they are safe. Organisation of the outside area is well thought out so that it can be safely used by children. For example, substantial large wooden gates are securely closed during the times that children use the outdoor area preventing access by cars and unannounced visitors. However, although brief absences of staff from toddler rooms to prepare children’s snacks and children’s safety near storage heaters are well managed, they do pose a potential risk to children’s safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are developing a very good understanding of how to think and act safely because staff frequently explain why they need to act in specific ways, for example, not running because they may fall and hurt themselves. They learn to use soft play equipment safely by not jumping from the higher level. This helps children understand the reasons why it is important to behave safely. Older children know the rules extremely well, for example, they intervene and explain to others that they cannot use the tractor because the rungs to the steps are broken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well-protected by staff who have a good understanding of child protection guidelines. All staff have completed child protection training and senior staff are clear about their responsibilities. Up-to-date guidelines are in place and accessible to staff.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a very wide variety of stimulating and interesting play experiences that help them develop and achieve very well in line with their age and stage of development. They are confident to make decisions, explore and investigate. The care and development of children under three is promoted by knowledgeable and well-trained staff who interact with children extremely well which promotes children's development and communication effectively. Warm and caring interaction ensures that children are emotionally secure, developing confidence and a good self-image.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are cared for in separate rooms which match their individual needs very well. Babies are alert and communicative. They enjoy calm, sociable meal times where they are fed by staff who talk to and smile at them. They enjoy lots of opportunities to crawl and start to pull themselves up and explore the surrounding environment safely. Their individual sleep patterns are known and respected so they are able to have a sleep as soon as they are tired.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The competent toddlers look forward to playing in the soft play area which gives them an opportunity to try out lots of new physical skills in a safe, fun environment. There is lots of excitement as they play in the ball pool and experiment sliding down the foam wedges.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Two-year-olds enjoy a spacious, happy and friendly environment. They listen wide-eyed to the story and confidently start to count the sheep in the book. They carefully feel the texture of the lamb in the book. They are very keen to communicate and quickly point out when they notice another ladybird, more lambs or choose the rhyme to sing next. They notice the ducks on the water and talk about them ‘swish swishing’. They concentrate carefully and persist with their jigsaws.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All staff have recently completed the ‘Birth to three matters’ training together in-house and have now incorporated this in their daily planning of activities to enhance the developmental opportunities for children. Treasure baskets are being developed so that children can explore everyday textures and experiences in the nursery. Outdoors there is a frame with lots of different pieces of equipment such as a domestic colander and babies rattles for the children to experiment with sounds.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children make excellent progress. They are developing extremely positive attitudes to learning. They concentrate and persist very well. They are happy, very settled and purposefully engaged in a wide range of practically based play activities which challenge and excite them. Children with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds are included and are supported well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s behaviour is exceptionally good because sharing is praised frequently so that they are spontaneously kind and thoughtful to one another in their play. They offer to share their seat so that another child can play a game at the table when all the other chairs have gone. They calmly negotiate with one another in their role play suggesting that they could share or

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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 take it in turns. They are very good at making choices about their activities in their personal care, independently washing their hands, drying them, and even wiping their noses and throwing the tissue into the toilet to prevent germs spreading. They mop the floor carefully after water has been spilt and they manage their shoes, slippers, Wellington boots, and outdoor clothes competently. They confidently explain that to become ‘star of the day’ one must be kind or help tidy up.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children quickly become involved and engrossed in challenging and inspiring developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor activities which staff skilfully adapt to ensure that they promote the optimal challenge for children to enable them to take the next steps in their learning. For example, staff build on children's existing mathematical skills to encourage them to find out how many pieces are left if they add one or take one away.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children excitedly explain what happens when they stir the cornflour mixture vigorously showing the yellow surface of the container underneath. They discover how living things grow when planting flowers and vegetables in the large garden. They help harvest and wash these before eating them at their snack times. They are interested in everything around them and are keen to investigate the smell of the plastic dice and it’s container. They remember a long past activity in the garden when they looked for the bugs and insects and revisit this in their play indoors creating a long wooden pathway with models of these. They plan their own learning when remembering that a previous creation was too small so that they need to have another go to make one that is a bit bigger. They act out recent experiences in their role play, for example, suggesting that they recreate a doctor’s surgery, taking on the different roles.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Teaching is inspirational. It inspires and motivates children. All staff working with the children have an excellent understanding of the way children learn. They are exceptionally skilful in their interactions with children. They ensure that an excellent range of exciting and challenging activities are readily accessible to children so they quickly become engaged and concentrate. Staff build secure, trusting relationships with children so that children are keen to try new experiences and make excellent progress in all areas of learning. Activities are always meaningful to children and are used effectively to help them take the next steps in their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The preschool environment is skilfully arranged to maximise children's independence. Everything is readily accessible to the children including low-level shelves where they can access writing or creative materials at any time developing their own learning ideas spontaneously. For example, children are able to access fresh paper, glue and sticking materials to make their own child-centred collages. Children's behaviour is carefully supported with lots of explanations in a calm and thoughtful manner so that children are encouraged to take time and think for themselves. Storytelling is magical and holds children attention extremely well. They listen wide-eyed and then confidently contribute their own ideas and interpretations of what the story means. For example, they explain that they think the child in the story has been dreaming because it is not normal for a forest to grow in somebody's bedroom. They are sensitively

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

encouraged to think of others and ways that they could be helpful to their family and friends.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children make excellent progress in developing her problem solving, thinking, and mathematical skills. They confidently and competently count at large group activities and when using their own fingers to solve problems. They focus and concentrate well on mathematical problems.

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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 These present an excellent level of challenge and are presented in an engaging and enjoyable way. They quickly learn the concepts of addition and subtraction when using the dice and counting out the 'bones' for the 'puppies'. They request more mathematical activities to practise showing that the activities are challenging and match their level of interest very well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy an excellent range of experiences that bring the world around them to life. They are able to enjoy pond dipping and watch the tadpoles and frogs grow in the fence conservation area in the garden. They have imaginative opportunities to learn about growing and eating their own food. Spontaneous events such as snow falling widens children's experiences when they explore it’s texture, temperature and properties.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are competent in using a wide range of materials, tools and resources. Indoor and outdoor equipment challenges and excites them. They slither, slide and become competent climbers and pedlars. They competently balance on the very long line that they draw themselves in the nursery garden. They develop excellent control with scissors and mark making materials.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have excellent opportunities to be creative through a wide range of materials and role-play activities. Regular music sessions and opportunities to dance to different types of music give them opportunities to explore their senses and respond to what they see and hear. They have extensive opportunities to explore textures such as sand, soil and a range of natural materials.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Planning and assessment is effectively implemented to ensure that all areas of the curriculum are covered and that there are no gaps in children's learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are valued and included because staff communicate very effectively with parents and other agencies to ensure that children's needs are met. Partnership with parents is outstanding. Communication between parents and staff is meaningful and timely ensuring that small steps in children's progress is identified promptly and praised so that they visibly grow in stature and make excellent progress. Good quality information about the setting is available to them and they receive updates about children's learning activities and other things that might affect the welfare of their children. Parents make very positive comments and they say that they feel genuinely involved in what children do each day and their learning. Information about the Foundation Stage, the 'Birth to three matters' framework, and the current themes and topics is displayed prominently so that parents can readily see what is planned and taking

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Helping children make a positive contribution

place. An appropriate complaints log is maintained and available to parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from comprehensive activities and resources which help them to value diversity. They see reflections of people from different backgrounds in the resources throughout the nursery. They explore Chinese culture by doing their own Chinese characters and trying different foods. The home languages of children are known and respected with staff learning some words of these to make them feel welcome and aid communication. Children's experience of a range of different languages within the setting is a real strength. Older children confidently say hello in wide range of languages at the morning snack time. They are also developing competence

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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 in how to sign to children that might have difficulty with communication. They confidently explain what the sign for ‘finished’ is which not only helps them develop their understanding of a different type of language but also makes other children feel very welcome and involved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children make very positive relationships. They are very well behaved, with older children becoming very good at taking turns and praising one another spontaneously. They become very confident and develop high self-esteem. Children develop a high level of independence with managing their indoor and outdoor clothes and shoes competently, and mopping the floor in the preschool room when water has been spilled. They develop high self-esteem especially when being spontaneously praised by their peers. For example, they beam with pride when told that they are very good as completing the computer program.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children work very harmoniously with others and are learning to take responsibility for their own behaviour well because staff use very effective strategies to encourage children to think and to solve problems for themselves. They talk to them about the consequences if they pull at toys rather than finding ways of sharing fairly. They learn to think of others besides themselves, for example, when discussing what they might do to help their families at home. Children’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Leadership and management is outstanding. Managers and staff organise themselves very effectively to promote very positive outcomes for children overall. They have a clear vision of the environment and overall experience that will inspire and stimulate children. The environment, resources, and teaching excites and engages children, firing their imaginations and developing excellent thinking and communication skills.

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Organisation

Staff are committed to improving their knowledge and resources for the benefit of children. For example, by the development and use of excellent indoor play opportunities and the undertaking of a quality assurance award. Training and staff development is a high priority with all staff completing first aid, child protection, 'Birth to three matters', and food hygiene.

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Organisation

The close-knit and consistent staff team communicate extremely well with one another and parents to effectively promote the welfare and progress of the children in the nursery overall. Continuity of care is maintained because staff get to know the children as they work through the nursery, share developmental records as children move on, have a good understanding of their needs and how to build on these effectively. Well planned separate rooms that closely match individual children's ages and stages of development are extremely well-thought out to promote children's development and progress. Even the smallest children are involved in messy play and going outdoors. Relationships throughout the nursery are good with staff consistently interacting with children at their own level giving them close support and warm interaction so that children quickly settle and are keen to communicate. Adult to child ratios are mostly

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Organisation

maintained well especially to support inclusive practice.

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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 All the required documentation and children's records are in place and readily available for inspection. They are used effectively to support the care, learning and welfare of children, and communicate with parents. Overall children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last two inspections, four recommendations relating to children's care and one relating to nursery education were raised. These related to: An aspect of detail in the complaint's policy for parents; the recording of children's arrival and departure times in registers; children's safety in respect of the temperature of the water and wash hand basins and the transporting of hot drinks; and the confidentiality of children's records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All have been addressed well. Children's welfare has been safeguarded with the updating of the complaints policy with up to date details of Ofsted and the accurate recording of children's arrival and departure times in daily registers. Children's safety has also been significantly improved with the installation of a temperature regulator to the water that supplies the wash basins and the use of insulated cups with fitted lids for hot drinks when used away from the staff room. Children's development records that are displayed in the nursery are now only accessible to staff using a code ensuring children's confidentiality is maintained.

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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 outstanding.

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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): • improve children's access to fresh drinking water, specifically with respect to children under three years • review risk assessments especially with regard to: storage heaters; the deployment of staff at snack and meal times for under threes

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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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The quality and standards of the nursery education

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of nursery education are outstanding.

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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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