Hopscotch Day Nursery

Hopscotch Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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EY248665 Unique Reference Number 04 October 2007 Inspection date Susan Parker Inspector

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School Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM15 0DH Setting Address

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E-mail

Hopscotch Day Nursery 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 satisfactory. 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 satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Hopscotch Day Nursery is privately owned and has been open since 2003. It operates from a modular building at the rear of Kelvedon Hatch primary school, in the rural area of Kelvedon Hatch. The nursery serves not only the local village but the wider community.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery is registered to provide places for a maximum of thirty children aged between birth and eight years old. There are currently 46 children on roll. This includes 20 children who are in receipt of nursery education funding. Children attend for a variety of sessions.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The setting supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and who speak English as an additional language.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery opens five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 07:30 until 18:00.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Nine members of staff work with the children. Six members of staff are full time, three of whom have a level 4 qualification, and three have early years qualifications to NVQ level 3. Three members of staff are working towards a level 3 qualification.

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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 nursery is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm, clean environment. Their health is promoted as there are effective procedures in place to deal with any accidents or administration of prescribed medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are aware of the need to wash hands before meals, through discussion with adults, and after messy activities. The children's dietary needs are adequately met as the nursery works with the school for the provision of meals. Staff also discuss and record individual requirements with parents and keep a record of these, ensuring that any special diets are observed. Children are offered a suitable range of snacks including fresh fruit which helps to promote their growth and development.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular access to a secure outdoor play area. Children have daily physical play and use of equipment. Therefore they have regular opportunities to develop their skills and explore a wide range of physical movements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is promoted as the staff have a satisfactory awareness of possible risks and take steps to minimise these. However, the wire rack paint dryer in the toddler room is used by the children as a step to look out of the window. Children are beginning to learn about keeping themselves safe as the staff talk with them about issues such as fire safety. A fire drill was carried out during the inspection, the children were calm and evacuated to a safe place efficiently. Risk assessments are carried out and recorded on a tick sheet weekly, this ensures that risks are identified and dealt with effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a wide range of clean and well-maintained equipment. Children use the school swimming pool in the summer months. Staff ensure that there is one adult to one child and that two qualified life guards are on duty. This ensures that children are safe at all times while learning a valuable lesson which will enhance their safety near water

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is adequately promoted as the staff will report any concerns to the manager. The manager has a clear understanding of child protection and has the required contact telephone numbers and documentation in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled within the nursery where they can choose from the set out toys and activities. They communicate well with the staff, discussing various subjects and asking for help when needed. Children are offered a variety of activities which help promote their development. These include playing with play dough, imaginative play, reading, and craft activities such as painting and cooking.

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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 Staff follow a set routine which promotes children's feelings of security and stability. Children are happy, settle quickly and relate well to other children and staff. Practitioners encourage and build children's confidence and vocabulary through praise and recognition. The staff team are suitably qualified and receptive to the concept of providing high quality childcare and education. They call children to the set activities which are adult-led where they observe the child's achievements. Staff have a suitable knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework which is included in all aspects of planning and provision of learning activities. These systems underpin the foundations of the educational programme for younger children who attend the provision.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. Staff have a basic understanding of the Foundation Stage which is reflected in their planning. Staff meet formally as a team to share and collate ideas linked to their current topic. This forms the bases of their long term objectives. They then break their overarching theme into a weekly plan formulating a medium term overview of how they will cover their topic within the six areas of learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's personal, social and emotional progress is developing. Children arrive with confidence, separating from their main carer with ease. They are learning to be attentive during group times but younger children find this difficult. Children are developing their independence in dressing and toileting themselves as they begin to ask for help less often. Children are beginning to build an awareness of phonetic links as they have the opportunity to recognise their own names. They are encouraged to enjoy books at story time. Children have opportunities to practice formal recognisable letters. However, opportunities to experiment with their mark-making skills in every day play is limited.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children practise counting during circle time and have daily access to formal mathematical activities, such as counting and recognising numbers and shapes. Children have regular access to the school computer room, one hour every Tuesday and Thursday and there are sufficient computers for two children to share and take turns with the appropriate age-related programmes. They have regular access to a wide range of equipment for outdoor play in the safely enclosed grassed play area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have access to a wide range of creative resources, materials and media. However these are closely supervised by staff and most art work is adult directed. This does not promote children's natural creativity and imagination.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are respected as individuals and the staff ensure that they are all aware of their individual needs and backgrounds. There are written procedures in place which enables the staff to provide appropriate care for children who have behaviour issues or learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The children's behaviour is generally good. They are set consistent boundaries so that they know what is expected of them. The staff have an effective understanding of behaviour management and appropriate methods to use.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children's awareness of society and other cultures is promoted. They have access to a range of toys and play resources, such as dressing-up clothes and books, which give them information and depict positive images of other ways of life. Children are encouraged to respect each other

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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 and show concern for the other children around them. Therefore children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is satisfactory. The children's needs are adequately documented and met. Staff complete daily reports which contain information on meals and activities. Information on the provision of nursery education, is displayed all around the nursery. Parents are welcome to speak to their child's key worker or the manager, about their child's progress, at any time. Formal open evenings occur annually.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Staff deployment and resources are efficiently organised which enables children to have regular access to suitable activities. The individual needs of children are met as the staff ensure that all necessary information about the children is recorded and shared confidentially. The children's overall welfare is adequately promoted as the staff have ensured that all required documentation is in place. Planning for suitable activities for children of all ages is sound, however, some activities provided for babies are not adapted for their level of development or understanding.

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Organisation

Leadership and management is satisfactory. The manager has an adequate understanding of her role regarding the National Standards and associated regulations. She has the overall responsibility for the suitability of all staff. There are sound procedures in place for the ongoing monitoring of staff suitability, and for identifying individual training needs.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the setting agreed to provide an action plan detailing how staff will be deployed to ensure that the manager is supernumerary. The current manager was not in place at that time. The current manager is supernumerary which ensures that she is free to deal with parents' queries and the organisation of the setting as a whole. She is free to cover for short-term absences of staff which ensures that the children are adequately supervised at all times.

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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 satisfactory. 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 satisfactory.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND 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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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): • adapt planned activities to ensure that they are suitable for children of all ages • ensure that the painting rack in the toddler room does not pose a hazard.

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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): • provide regular play opportunities for children to practise mark-making skills • provide frequent opportunities for children to use their own ideas and creativity.

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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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