Springboard Nursery

Springboard Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Springboard Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY292699 Inspection date 01 June 2005 Inspector Cathryn Parry

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Springboard Nursery

Setting Address Springboard Sunderland Trust, Unit 1, Rivergreen Industry Centre, Pallion, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 6UB

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E-mail

Registered person Springboard Sunderland Trust 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?

Springboard Sunderland Trust Nursery registered in 2004 and operates from one main playroom and two small activity rooms. It is situated within the Springboard Sunderland Trust within Rivergreen Industry Centre in the city of Sunderland. A maximum of 26 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 for 51 weeks of the year. Children have access to a fully enclosed outdoor play area.

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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 There are currently 16 children aged from two to under five years on roll. Of these six children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from a wide catchment area. The nursery currently supports a number of children with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs four staff. Three of the staff including the manager hold appropriate early years qualifications. One member of staff is working towards a qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children thrive because of good interaction with staff. They are becoming increasingly independent in their personal care for instance when using aprons to participate in creative activities. Children have a good understanding of hygiene, which is shown as they wash their hands before meal times. Children’s well being is enriched through accessing a healthy diet, which takes individual needs and parental choice into consideration. They are able to access drinking water throughout the session and enjoy fresh fruit and tasty food options such as vegetarian chilli, which encourages a healthy life style. Staffs good relationship with parents and effective procedures ensure children are cared for appropriately when ill, reducing the risk of the spread of infection. Children's physical well being is enhanced well through regular large physical activity and the opportunity to rest and be active as they require. They explore, test and

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Helping children to be healthy

develop physical control through a variety of opportunities such as negotiating a maze when playing crazy golf.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children and parents are shown a warm welcome, building good relationships. Children are kept secure through good procedures for entry to the building. Regular risk assessments both indoors and out, minimise the risk of accidental injury effectively. All staff hold current first aid certificates. Children are able to progress well in a safe environment. They are able to explore confidently using high quality resources appropriate to their age and stage of development. Routines such as tidying away toys from the floor encourage children to take responsibility for their own safety. Children with special needs are able to participate fully because of the effective relationships that staff have with parents and other professionals, establishing their individual needs. Children are well protected by staff that have a sound understanding of child protection issues.

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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 their time in the nursery, they are eager to participate in the variety of activities available. Effective induction methods and sensitive staff interaction helps new children to settle well. Children between the ages of two and three make good progress as established staff have a sound understanding of the birth to three framework. They show flexibility in their planning enabling children's individual interests to be followed, for instance when washing and painting fir cones that a child had brought from home. Their communication skills are fostered well through various activities including songs and rhymes, resulting in competent speakers and listeners. Staff consistently respond to children encouraging them to confidently ask questions. Children are self assured as they express their feelings and ideas, for instance when using paints and other creative materials as well as verbally.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Nursery Education The quality of the teaching and learning is good. Children are developing a positive disposition to learning through good relationships between themselves and staff members. They show good levels of concentration as they persist with activities such as appropriately planned computer based games. Resources covering the six areas of learning are easily accessible in low level storage units encouraging independence. Children's play could be further enhanced through increasing equipment and a more imaginative approach to their display and organisation being taken. Children show a sense of belonging as they cheerily greet other children. They show pride in their achievements, enthusiastically showing individual paintings to their parents. Children are keen to share items brought from home and confidently recall recent experiences such as a trip in the car at the weekend. They can count to ten

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

confidently; recognise primary colours and some simple shapes. More comprehensive labelling and a broader range of resources for writing would enhance learning opportunities for older and more able children. Children develop a sense of time through consistent nursery routines. They gain knowledge of the world they live in through exploring natural resources such as leaves and by visiting local places of interest. Children's behaviour is good and they follow instruction accurately enabling learning to take place, for example when sitting at the table for creative activities. They use their imagination well for instance when using construction toys, which is extended through positive staff interaction. The manager ensures long, medium and short term plans cover all areas of the curriculum and meet children's individual needs. Staff make written observations of children and evaluate activities well. They use these to inform future planning

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

resulting in children making good progress.

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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. An effective induction procedure ensures children and their parents feel secure and settled in the nursery. Staff value and respect children's differences and encourage them to play a full part in the setting, which raises self confidence. Children are beginning to play well together, learning to share and take turns especially during group games. Their behaviour is good as they learn what is right and wrong with older children being positively supported to start taking responsibility for their own actions. The children have opportunities to learn about themselves for instance through looking at pictures of each other when they were babies. Their knowledge of the wider world is increased through a wide variety of activities such as splashing in puddles during a pre arranged 'wellie day', visits to local shops and celebrating a variety of festivals. This positive approach fosters children's spiritual, moral, social

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and cultural development well. Good role modelling by staff encourages a positive attitude to equal opportunities and diversity. The nursery is however lacking in resources reflecting positive images of disability to support this. Partnership with parents and carers is good. Positive relationships with parents encourage children to feel secure, which contributes to their well being. Parent's views are valued and acted upon throughout, so that individual needs are met. Staff ensure that all parents are informed daily on how their children are progressing and developing ensuring continuity of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children’s care is enhanced well by the positive attitude and disposition of the staff, and the good leadership and management of nursery education. Space is organised well, enabling children to move freely from one area to another. Included in the nursery is a quieter area where children can rest and a creative area where children can participate fully in messier activities. Children’s time at the setting is fulfilling and productive due to the enthusiasm and commitment of the manager and her staff. All legally required documentation which contributes to children’s health, safety and well being is in place and regularly reviewed. Staff's ongoing commitment to training impacts positively on the variety of activities provided and the standard of care given to children. The high quality of the provision means that the nursery meets the needs of the range of children who attend well.

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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 Not applicable

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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): • develop equal opportunities resources with regard to disability

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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): • review the organisation of equipment, and further develop resources to enhance children's play opportunities • develop purposeful opportunities and resources to enhance children's writing skills

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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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