Dizzys Day Nursery

Dizzys Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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EY233205 Unique Reference Number 27 November 2007 Inspection date Deirdra Keating Inspector

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24 Hollands Road, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 8PR Setting Address

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01440 706246 Telephone number info@dizzysdaysnursery.co.uk E-mail Elizabeth Gillian Jones Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

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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?

Dizzy's Day Nursery is privately owned and opened in 2002. It operates from a converted unit on the Holland's Road industrial estate in Haverhill. A maximum of 40 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open from 07:30 to 18:00 Monday to Friday 51 weeks of the year. Children have access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 79 children aged from two to under five years on roll. Of these, 23 children receive funding for early education. Children come from the local area and attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery currently supports a number of children with learning difficulties and/or 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 19 members of staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications and one member of staff is currently working towards a qualification. The nursery receives support from the local authority and has been awarded the Suffolk Quality Assurance Scheme.

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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 stay healthy because the nursery follows current and appropriate guidelines, policies and procedures. A hygiene, sickness and infection control policy is in place and parents are given clear guidelines regarding illness in the nursery. This prevents the spread of cross-infection. Children learn about good hygiene practice as staff use group times to explain the importance of washing hands. Staff also involve children well in the cleaning of tables prior to snacks and meals. Large, clear photographic time lines are displayed just above the sinks to remind children how to thoroughly wash their hands. Younger children are helped to wash their hands after nappy changes and before meals at a small sink using a stool. Babies have nappies changed by careful staff who consistently use good preventative measures such as disposable gloves and aprons. Children receive good care if they have an accident or become ill whilst at the nursery.

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Helping children to be healthy

Fully stocked first aid kits are readily available and all staff have attended first aid training. Parental consents are all provided regarding medication and medical treatment. Accidents and medication requirements are clearly recorded however, parents do not always sign these on collection which could compromise children's health and safety.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children experience very good routines which meet individual needs for rest and sleep in line with parent's wishes. Babies are put down in cots in a darkened annex off the main room. Staff gently rock babies off to sleep in their arms in accordance with specific guidelines from parents. Older children sleep on mats in a small room adjoining the nursery. All sleeping children are checked every fifteen minutes to ensure they are safe and comfortable. Children are provided with separate clean bed linen and blankets which are kept in individual boxes for the week. Children are also able to be active according to their needs as they enjoy free access to an appealing outdoor area. Children thoroughly enjoy playing outside where a very good range of equipment and toys encourages them to spend time outside in the fresh air.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and dietary needs are met because practitioners work well with parents. Individual requirements are displayed on the wall and in the kitchen to ensure that individual dietary needs are carefully respected and adhered to at all times. Children increase their understanding of healthy living through healthy topics where children cook and prepare healthy food such as fruit smoothies and sandwiches. Visits from a dentist reinforce children's understanding of the impact of a healthy diet. Meals are prepared from fresh nutritious ingredients by staff who have attended food hygiene training. Snacks feature fresh fruit and healthy savoury snacks with milk or water. Children develop their skills during snack time, they learn to spread, pour and carefully carry their plates to the table. Babies and younger children are encouraged to use their cutlery and start to feed themselves. Staff gently encourage

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Helping children to be healthy

children's independence but are also readily on hand to support them. Children remain well-hydrated throughout the session as fresh drinking water is available at a low-level for children to independently access. Babies are regularly offered their beakers during the day and given drinks with meals and snacks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The nursery comprises of two large main rooms each with a small adjoining room, kitchen, bathroom and staff room facilities. The premises are in a good state of repair and are extremely spacious, warm and welcoming. The organisation of space has been well-thought-out to give

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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 defined areas. The room has been creatively decorated to give a child-friendly and colourful atmosphere. Toilet facilities are accessible and inviting with low-level sinks and colourful murals of children's characters painted on the walls. Older children enjoy free access to an exciting outdoor play area and younger children are taken outside daily. Both rooms have been softly furnished which gives a cosy and homely appeal. A large low-level window links the two rooms and enables children to see each other as they move rooms. The kitchen is central to both rooms and is very clean and well-organised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use an excellent range of safe and suitable equipment. A broad range of resources are stored in low-level storage units which are labelled with photographs for instant recognition. Children are extremely interested to play with the very good range of equipment on offer. Equipment is regularly checked and washed to ensure that it is safe and clean for children to play with. Daily risk assessments by staff conducted prior to children arriving ensure that the environment is safe and any potential hazards are minimised. A designated staff health and safety officer ensures that risk assessments are conducted and documented for all areas of the nursery including outings, outdoor play and specific activities. The premises are safe and secure with access to the provision closely monitored by an electronic door locking system. Fire prevention equipment is all in place and regularly checked with termly fire drills clearly

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected well from potential harm by knowledgeable and trained staff who know what to do in the event of a concern. A written statement is clearly shared on registration forms. This ensures that all parties are aware of the nursery's duty to protect children's welfare. A designated member of staff ensures that written policies and local contact numbers are regularly reviewed and up-to-date.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are exceptionally confident and self-assured in the welcoming environment. Staff warmly welcome children individually. Children speaking English as an additional language are welcomed in their own language by staff who have learnt phrases from parents. Children are extremely confident in their relationships with staff who are very warm and tactile and have developed trusting relationships with children built on mutual respect. Babies are settled-in extremely well during introductory sessions where a key carer is established and specific routines are discussed. This ensures that staff provide superb continuity of care for each child. Children confidently approach staff with individual photo books that staff have collated, they excitedly point to favourite toys and pictures of their families captured in their photo books. The children are becoming increasingly independent as staff carefully and gently take time to show children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

where to hang their coats and how to put them on. They confidently gather prams and dolls and wheel them outside to play. Children are able to make considerable choices about how to spend their time throughout the whole session. They choose from many reflective and sensory resources which provide stimulating experiences and supports their care, learning and play extremely well. Children relish dance and rhymes where they use tunnels and march and clap. This is brought to life by lively staff who enthusiastically encourage the children to participate allowing them to do so in their own time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. All staff have a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and how children learn. Planning has been developed through staff's

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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 evaluation and changed to incorporate children's current interests. Regular room meetings enable all staff to get together and discuss the weekly view sheet detailing activities that are set out. Staff follow children's interests extremely well, these are then documented, linked to the stepping stones and added to children's records. Weekly reflection sheets ensure that staff evaluate activities and continue to follow children's interests as they plan for the following week. Staff work well with children extending all activities. They encourage children building towers to count bricks and ask them to find new words to describe textures. They work well to follow children's interests and provide activities that are meaningful and relevant to the children. Porridge oats in a transparent tray are used to feed dolls and children learn about quantity as

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they fill cups and containers. Group times are split to ensure that they meet the children's ages and stages of development. Children's behaviour is managed very well throughout the day. Staff work hard to provide stimulating activities making the most of every part of the room in order to provide a rich and vibrant learning environment. Activities set up during lunchtime are carefully laid out to look inviting and appealing to children. Staff work effectively in all areas of the room continually supporting and extending children's learning. They make daily observations and have developed very good systems to ensure that any observations of children are collated and added to written records. Staff then clearly highlight next steps to ensure that children continue to develop and progress. Recently parental contributions have been requested and added to the records to ensure that activities and achievements from home are included

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

in the developmental records of each child.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing confidence and continue to be motivated to learn. They work as part of a group and express their feelings, this is consolidated by a relevant and appropriate story. Children are developing good self-care skills as they start to manage their own personal hygiene. Staff proactively encourage links from home which enables children to make connections between different parts of their life experiences. Children in the nursery make very good use of books. Staff are readily on hand to share stories with children and the comfortable book area that has been softly furnished is constantly used. A writing area houses an exiting and stimulating range of mark-making equipment. Staff work well with children as they start to form their letters, using wooden shapes for children to hold and feel.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A very good range of fun and tactile resources supports children's mathematical development. Plastic keys and laminated number cards enable children to start to recognise numbers. Children practise counting using colourful sponge pads with plastic animal figures. They are clearly interested and reliably count them as they move them from one sponge to another. Children start to use size language as they build towers and count the bricks. There are many opportunities for children to develop their creativity. They have access to a very good range of media and materials. Dry powder paint in appealing colours and brushes encourages children to make shapes with sweeping movements. Children thoroughly enjoy marble painting where they use water and marbles to develop pictures that are truly in their own style. Children happily engage in imaginary play where staff support them well. Children play cooperatively as a group

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

as they act out a journey to the zoo. They use one object to represent another as a long yellow scarf acts as the seatbelts for the journey.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children investigate a very good range of objects and materials that are changed daily and include pasta, flour, oats, jelly and orange coloured cornflour. Tactile resources such as shredded paper and plastic animals encourage children to notice differences in texture. Children can freely play outside where an extremely good range of resources have been creatively developed to provide a stimulating outdoor area that reflects all areas of learning. Covered areas have been resourcefully developed to provide a den. Children enjoy all the elements outside; they listen to the rain on the tarpaulin and catch the raindrops on paper. A barked area provides

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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 children with living mini-beasts to examine. Saucepans tied to the wall enable children to experiment with sound and an appealing child-sized bench houses a good range of books. These include factual books which provide a point of reference for other areas. The nursery proactively takes part in planned forest projects. This enables children to access an excellent range of planned and purposeful activities outside in the woods.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's physical development is supported well. Climbing equipment is always available for children to develop their physical abilities and confidence. Children use this confidently and safely, they have been involved in drawing up the safety guidelines and remind each other of the rules. Wheeled and push-along toys encourage them to negotiate space and move safely within a confined space. Children manipulate sparkly red play dough using a range of tools and equipment. They are developing their dexterity well as they carefully spread paint onto wheeled toys and cut paper. Children thoroughly enjoy musical movement sessions as an additional service provided by an outside teacher.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop a very good sense of belonging. Photographs of children that create colourful displays give each child a point of identity in the nursery. Equal opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice are actively promoted for all the children. Staff have developed very good systems to ensure that individual needs are known to all staff and carefully adhered to. Children learn social skills and enjoy being with and talking to adults and children. They play harmoniously in different sized groups showing concern for one another and the environment. Softly furnished areas that have been creatively set up with hanging transparent materials and fairy lights enable children to enjoy tranquil moments as they wish. New children to the nursery are settled very well by caring and attentive staff who take time to fully record all routines. Children show good respect for others in the setting, their beliefs, cultures and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

traditions. Festivals that are meaningful and relevant to the children in the setting are celebrated through fun experiences such as; food tasting and cooking. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The nursery has a positive approach to caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Staff follow good clear policies in line with the code of practice. A designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) has completed some of the modular training and works closely with the local authority to ensure that children receive the appropriate support. Staff provide sensitive support and work with groups of children as they deliver fun and interactive exercises to help children continue to progress. Children with English as an additional language are supported extremely well by staff who have learned a good range of key words and stock phrases in order that children feel included and understood. Children's behaviour is managed extremely well throughout the sessions. Strategies are very carefully tailored to suit the stage of the child's development. These include explanation, positive

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Helping children make a positive contribution

reinforcement and a timer to encourage children to share. Sensitive and gentle interventions are provided by staff who are calm and consistent. Consequently there are only minor incidents and generally children's behaviour is good.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is good. A parents and staff working partnership has been set up to involve parents in all aspects of the nursery. Staff have attended specific training in working with parents. They offer stay-and-play opportunities in order to demonstrate how children learn through the Foundation Stage. Parent's evenings are offered where an exchange of information and creative opportunities are set up for parents. This enables them to understand

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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 how children learn through play and progress towards the early learning goals through a play-based curriculum. A creatively drawn learning tree with detachable green leaves provides an innovative system for parents to contribute to their children's development. Parents take home a leaf and add observations from home which are then added to records. Written records are available on request and as children leave, however these are not provided for parents to share on a regular basis. An informative notice board provides parents with up-to-date information and a clear complaints procedure is displayed. Parents speak very highly about the approachable attentive staff and the open-door policy. They are clearly very happy with the nursery and are keen to make their positive views known.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The registered person uses effective recruitment procedures which ensure that staff are appropriately checked and suitably qualified. The premises are well-organised. Indoor and outdoor equipment is laid out very creatively to maximise play and learning opportunities for children. Group size and staff deployment generally contribute to the children's good health, safety, enjoyment and ability to make to take an active part in the setting. However, staff are not always deployed sufficiently in the outdoor play area. Good systems are in place to ensure that any staff sickness is immediately covered by bank staff. Staff are well qualified and there is an excellent commitment to staff's ongoing development from both staff and management. All staff have attended first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene training as core courses. This ensures that up-to-date procedures and guidelines are carefully adhered to. New staff are given

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Organisation

thorough inductions with staff hand books that compile the nursery's policies and procedures.

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Organisation

The manager has a clear understanding of the National Standards and her responsibility to comply with these and the conditions of her registration. The self-evaluations have been extremely well considered and are displayed as ongoing documents. This encourages staff to continually evidence and record their practice. Arrival and collection times are managed safely and effectively with an accurate register showing actual hours of attendance. All required documentation which contributes to children's health, safety and wellbeing is in place and is regularly reviewed.

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Organisation

The leadership and management is good. The nursery is owned and led by a motivated and dedicated manager who leads a dynamic team and has a strong commitment to training. Children benefit from a team who work very well together. Through ongoing staff development and training the children are achieving well. The manager delegates responsibilities well and the staff have specific areas of responsibility in which they take pride. Staff meetings and room meetings ensure that staff review the effectiveness of the curriculum planning and children's progress is monitored. Staff work closely with a teacher from the local authority to ensure that methods are effective and inclusive. Staff network very well, regular training provides opportunities for them to view other settings and promote the setting as a training venue. The nursery proactively links up with schools to ensure that schemes and methods are compatible.

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Organisation

All required documentation is in place to ensure that children are looked after according to their parents' wishes. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the setting was asked to ensure all children wash their hands before meal times and after toileting. This has been done and children routinely wash their hands with support from staff. They were also asked to further develop staff's awareness and understanding

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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 of effective ways to manage children's behaviour, taking into account their age and stage of development. Staff are using extremely good strategies they are calm, consistent and skilled and consequently children's behaviour is good throughout the sessions.

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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 that parents sign off accident and medication records on collection • develop a system to ensure that children are well supported when using the outdoor area.

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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): • continue to develop the sharing of written records with parents and carers.

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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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