Bobblewood Nursery

Purple Rocket Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Purple Rocket Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY277434 Inspection date 10 June 2005 Inspector Kate Bryan

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Purple Rocket Nursery

Setting Address 742 Uppingham Road, Thurnby, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE7 9RN Telephone number 0116 2414686

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E-mail

Registered person Susan Margot Cowling Type of inspection Integrated Type of care Full day 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 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?

Purple Rocket Nursery was established in 2004 and is run by a private proprietor. It operates from six rooms with associated facilities in a converted house in Thurnby. It serves the local area. There are currently 100 children from birth to eight years on roll. This includes 12 funded children. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports children 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 group opens five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 08:00 until 18:00. There are eight staff who work with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level two or three. The setting receives support from the Leicestershire Local Authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Daily routines ensure that children learn the importance of good personal hygiene which is promoted by hand washing and the use of individual towels and toothbrushes. Younger children are helped with hand washing whilst older children use the toilet and wash their hands with confidence. Practitioners display consistently high levels of hygiene, such as wearing disposable gloves for nappy changes, which results in children's health being maintained. Children have a very good choice of home cooked, wholesome meals and fruit for snacks. Drinks are available all day for children and practitioners ensure that younger children always have access to these. Meals are nicely presented and children enjoy these, all meals comply with special dietary requirements to ensure that children remain healthy. Birth to three matters guidance is well used by practitioners to ensure that younger children have access to

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Helping children to be healthy

a range of experiences that promote their physical development. For example, acquiring balancing skills over a range of outdoor surfaces and using stairs. Older children benefit from regular opportunities for physical activities and are skilled at using a range of equipment, such as a climbing frame, which increases their confidence and promotes challenge.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The nursery has good measures in place to ensure that risks to children's safety, both indoor and outdoor, are minimised, for example, practitioners greet parents and children at the entrance and take the children to their base rooms. This ensures that stair gates and doors are not accidentally left open and reduces stress for babies who are not then dealing with unfamiliar adults. Good procedures for health and safety and risk assessments, which are understood by practitioners, ensure that children are kept safe in line with health and safety requirements. For example, children have individual sun cream which ensures they are protected when outside. Children have easy access to a good range of developmentally appropriate resources, many of which are stored at children's height to promote independence and choice. Children are encouraged to learn about keeping safe by practices such

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

as regular fire drills and by safe negotiation of hazards like stairs. Children are well protected by practitioners who have a good awareness of child protection procedures and know how to put these into place to promote children's

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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 welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy their time at the nursery and achieve well because practitioners are interested in providing a high level and quality of care. They use the Birth to three matters and the foundation stage to ensure that children are making very good progress in areas such as communicating and socialising. Practitioners have warm and very productive relationships with all children and know them well as individuals, this allows them to feel secure and develop a strong sense of their own self-worth. Children under three are cared for in developmentally appropriate groups within their own rooms. These are well supplied with high quality resources which provide a range of exploratory and sensory experiences which enable children to begin to make sense of the world and their environment. Children also have access to a well designed garden with separate areas providing good opportunities for children to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

develop physical skills such as walking on different surfaces. Nursery Education. The quality of teaching and learning is good. Children are very interested in the good range of activities provided which engage and stimulate their learning. The wide range of resources provided ensures that they are making good progress in all areas of learning. Children show a strong sense of belonging as they greet practitioners and each other upon arrival. They work well together and know the importance of cooperation, for example, a child suggested to another that they share a board so that a matching game could commence. They are confident and skilled speakers and use words effectively to convey their experiences both real and imaginary. They are able to sit and listen to stories and also offer answers to questions. Children are making good progress in linking words to letters and show confidence in mark making and letter formation. Children have a good awareness of shapes and are able

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to use positional language effectively, the use of numbers in everyday activities also fosters their confidence and abilities. Good use of symbols and sign language ensure that children with English as an additional language are able to participate in activities and make good progress in their learning. Children have very good imaginations which are encouraged in activities such as role play and drama. They grow flowers and vegetables and are able to observe changes in growing things and the world around them, they exhibit curiosity and are interested in using technology such as tape recorders. Children's physical skills are well developed through a wide variety of mediums such as dance and music. Their awareness of space and movement is well promoted by regular use of the garden area and the opportunity to engage in free play. Planning covers all areas of learning and observations are in place to record children's progress, however, planning does not recognise children's

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

achievements and the next step in their learning. Practitioners use effective questioning to promote children's thinking and their enthusiasm and approach provide a conducive and stimulating environment in which children enjoy learning.

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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 good. All children are warmly welcomed into the nursery. Practitioners ensure that the children foster positive attitudes to each other by providing a good range of resources which represent all the children who attend. Positive images of the wider community enable children from all ethnic backgrounds to develop self-esteem and a sense of their own worth. Children are very well behaved and exhibit good manners at all times, they are able to share and show consideration for others. This positive approach fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Babies settle well because practitioners work closely with parents to ensure that the child's individual needs are met. A daily diary keeps all parents informed of their children's progress and allows parents the opportunity to comment on anything they believe practitioners should be aware of. This positive relationship with parents ensures that

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Helping children make a positive contribution

children benefit from exchanges of information. A good partnership is in place with parents and carers which contributes to children's well being in the pre-school room. Practitioners ensure that parents receive regular reports which inform them how their child is developing and progressing. Information is taken about individual children but parents do not contribute to completing an assessment of their child and are not provided with help to continue their child's learning at home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Leadership and management are good. Children's care is enhanced by the good organisation at the nursery. The proprietor's management and leadership is effective in ensuring that nursery education is well provided. The premises are very well organised. Indoor and outdoor space is designed to maximise play and learning opportunities for all children. All legally required documentation which contributes to children's health, safety and well being is in place and is regularly reviewed to ensure children's safety is maintained. Children benefit from the input of well qualified and skilled staff who undergo a sound induction procedure. Comprehensive policies and procedures are known by all staff and training is well supported so that children benefit from practitioners' increased knowledge. Children are effectively protected by never being left alone with practitioners who are not cleared and this increases their

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Organisation

sense of well being. They also receive good levels of support which increases their confidence and enhances their development. The good quality of the provision means that it meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the nursery was required to devise a special needs statement which was consistent with current guidance and legislation regarding training for the special educational needs co-ordinator. The special needs co-ordinator has now attended relevant training which has enhanced existing provision by the input of

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Improvements 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 current information.

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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): • make improvements as indicated in the nursery education section below.

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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 that the partnership with parents is extended to include ways in which parents may contribute to their child's progress (also applies to care) • ensure that planning recognises children's achievements and identifies what they need to learn next.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

procedures 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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