Wimbledon Chase County Middle School

Acorns Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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126962 Unique Reference Number 04 July 2007 Inspection date Lesley Anne Cannon Inspector

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Acorns Nursery/Sevenoaks Primary School, Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3LB

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Setting Address

01732 459162 Telephone number acornsnursery@onetel.net E-mail Company Child Care Ltd Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

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Setting Address

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?

Acorns Day Nursery has been registered since 1990.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The Nursery is managed by Company Child Care Ltd. who established the group at the request of Sevenoaks Council and provide a proportion of places for employees of the council.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery is in a single storey building on the site of Sevenoaks Primary School. The group has access to four main areas for play, a bathroom, kitchen, office, staff room and secure garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 08:00 until 18:00 for 51 weeks of the year.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently sixty nine children on roll, with twenty four children receiving funding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are 14 members of staff who work with the children, 13 hold a relevant child care qualification, and one is currently working towards a qualification. A cook is also employed to cater for children's dietary needs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The group gain support through the school, parents and the management committees.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a wide range of activities and foods which contribute to their good health. They are provided with a selection of healthy snacks such as fruit and raisins and benefit from hot meal at lunch time. Children can see food being prepared and learn about the food they eat, encouraging children to understand how a healthy diet is provided. Children sit in small groups at meal times and share conversation. The menu is displayed for parents to view and special dietary needs are catered for giving children continuity in their diet. Pre school children are competent when using cutlery and have the opportunity to serve their own food at lunch time. Able children can help themselves to drinking water at all times encouraging independence, younger children are offered drinks at regular intervals helping them to understand the needs of their bodies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children play in a clean environment where they learn about personal hygiene through effective daily routines. Children are encouraged to be independent at hand washing as soon as they are able to reach the sink themselves. Preschool children are able to use the toilet independently and are experienced at the task. Children in nappies are prevented from cross infection as staff follow clear hygiene procedures. All staff hold first aid certificates. There are clear procedures for sick children and the administration of medication that is shared with parents, this helps staff ensure children receive appropriate care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of outdoor activities in the large garden providing children with opportunities to use and develop their physical skills on a daily basis, this helps contribute to their good health. Children have outings to a selection of places, such as the duck pond, the post office and the local supermarket. This provides them with opportunity to exercise in different ways and with a purpose. Babies and toddlers are learning to control their own body by experimenting with a range of physical skills. Staff use Birth to three matters frame work to support the children’s development as they gain strength and co-ordination.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in clean and organised environment. The nursery is divided so children are cared for in an area where safety measures are relevant to their age group, for example babies under one year have their own room. The room is made safe and comfortable for them as resources are displayed at their level in sturdy wooden structures. The premises are secure and procedures are in place for the safe arrival and departure of children. Staff deployment is clear and well organised that ensures children are well supervised at all times. In the main part of the building resources are displayed in a variety of ways, on low table, on the floor or in see through storage boxes. This enables children to be independent and make their own choices in a safe environment. Resources are checked regularly and damaged or broken items are removed to prevent injury to the children. A risk assessment of the premises is carried out, and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

staff are alert to on going hazards, for example a member of staff asked a child to move a chair to ensure others did not fall over it. This helps children to investigate their surroundings, recognising risks and enabling them to tackle new challenges in a safe environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear procedures and policies in place to safeguard children. The policy is shared with parents so they know the nursery have a responsibility to safeguard the children in their care.

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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. All the children enjoy their time in the nursery. The young babies learn to communicate and form close relationships with the staff. The children are relaxed in the nursery and there is positive interaction enabling younger children to settle in the environment. Children are eager to join in, especially at singing time. Once a week each age group have a focused music activity that is planned and adapted to meet their differing needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

As the nursery is divided in to small age appropriate groups staff ensure they have a varied range of activities and resources enabling the children to make choices and express themselves. Children can freely access a range of resources that encourage them to develop their manipulative skills, such as appropriate size crayons, pencils, and small implements for cutting dough, or glue sticks and paint brushes of a relevant size for the age group of the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. The staff are qualified and have a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and how children learn. Staff and parents meet before the child starts in the preschool room to discuss their child’s abilities enabling staff to assess the children starting point. This ensures staff provide a programme that is well balanced and meets the needs of the children. Staff work together on long and short term plans, and take responsibility for leading activities. They monitor children’s achievements in their child development book. This shows clearly children’s progress and how this links to the Foundation Stage. Staff use these plans flexibly making time for ideas that children bring, for example children noticed the very heavy rain, and staff stopped the activity allowing children time to go and watch the rain and talk about it.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s thought process is stimulated as staff talk with children about activities they are participating in. Children frequently talk about past and present events in their own lives and share their personal experiences from home, such as photographs of family members made in to their family tree, or talking about plans to go shopping with Mummy. This enhances the children communication skills as they share in conversation with staff and their peers. The children are self assured when handling books. They confidently select a book for themselves and are comfortable to share with a friend.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff work hard to praise children for their help and cooperation through out the day. For example staff commend the children when they are able to follow instructions because they have been listening. They are given opportunity to try things for themselves and continue to helping them to practise and develop their skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children can express numbers in day to day language, for example in the role play area or counting how many children are present. However there is limited opportunity for children to see and match numbers in activities around the premises to enable them to consolidate their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have regular physical exercise in the garden, digging, running, climbing and riding bikes. They participate in planned outings to the local park, supermarket or a train ride. This helps build children’s awareness of the local community and helps them understand how we behave in different situations. Children also have opportunity to grow some vegetables and plants. Recently they harvested new potatoes, which they ate with their lunch; they still have runner beans and radishes growing. This extends children knowledge of life cycles and needs

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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 of things that grow. They participate in a recycling programme within the nursery and know how this helps the environment around us. This builds children’s knowledge of the environment and their local area where they live.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's behaviour is generally good and minor disputes are settled quickly with good staff support. The staff work hard to praise and enable children, giving them time to try things for themselves and continue to repeat the activity, developing their skills. Children receive lots of praise and encouragement during activities and generally throughout the morning, building on their confidence and self-esteem and giving them a feeling of self-worth. The setting fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Currently there are no children on roll with learning difficulties or disabilities; however the group are experienced and forward thinking in how they can support children and their families.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are treated with respect and are encouraged to develop a positive attitude to others, for example they are polite to each other, waiting to take turns, saying please and thank you appropriately. Children celebrate a variety of cultural festivals through out the year; however there are limited resources available in day to day activities that reflect those in society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive an information booklet that contains all necessary information about the nursery. During the child’s stay at the nursery parents have the opportunity to meet with staff as children develop and progress through the rooms in the Nursery. Each room within the nursery has an information board that displays planned activities and routines, this enables parents to be involved and to support their children’s learning. The parents and children benefit from various forms of communication, such as contact books for babies, and daily information sheet for other children, informative and well presented newsletters, daily verbal feedback and e-mails for on the spot up-dates. A small group of parents form a parent’s liaison group to help ensure staff and parents are communicating effectively. This enables parents to supports their children’s learning and underpins the work of the staff. There is a small library of videos available for

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents on specific areas of childhood. Staff have recently organised a paediatric first aid course for the parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The premises are well organised with a variety of good resources and activities available providing a stimulating environment for the children. In each room they can move freely between resources that interest them, giving them opportunity to get the most from their chosen activity. The staff are deployed well giving children an opportunity to play independently or to be involved in a small group activity ensuring individual needs are catered for. Extra staff are employed over lunch periods to ensure staff have a sufficient break

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Organisation

All relevant documentation is in place, such as register, accident and medication records Staff are aware of confidentiality and all records are stored securely. This contributes to the safety and well being of the children.

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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 Leadership and management are good. Staff have a secure understanding and use the National Standards, Foundation Stage and Birth to three matters in there daily planning. This is reflected in their plans, the information gathered and the knowledge of how children learn. There are 13 qualified staff and one working towards a qualification. They are encouraged to keep their childcare knowledge current by attending short courses. A member of staff works on the curriculum planning, then they work together on long and short term plans, reviewing activities, assessing if they meet the needs and look at how they can improve their practice to enable children to progress. Children’s achievements are monitored in their child development books and they show how this links into the Birth to three matters and the Foundation Stage.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the group have updated their registration information, medication systems, and attendance registers to ensure continuity of care for the children. Parents are now made aware of the nurseries responsibility in safeguarding children and they are invited to information evenings regarding curriculum planning. This help provide parents with relevant information enabling them to build links with the nursery.

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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 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): • ensure resources are available in day to day activities that reflect anti discriminatory practice

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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): • extend numbers around the room to enable children to consolidate their learning.

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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 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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