Stanley's at PrimroseOfsted inspection, 6 Sept 2005

Primrose Children's Centre

Inspection report for early years provision

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Primrose Children's Centre

Unique Reference Number EY305936 Inspection date 06 September 2005 Inspector Cathryn Parry

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Primrose Children's Centre

Setting Address Primrose Village, Lambton Terrace, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, NE32 5QY Telephone number 0191 424 9977

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E-mail

Registered person South Tyneside Council Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care, Crèche

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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

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Primrose Children Centre is one of several centres run by South Tyneside Council. The childcare registered in 2005 and operates from four rooms in a purpose-built building. It is situated in the residential area of Primrose in Jarrow. A maximum of 68 children may attend the centre at any one time. The centre is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 for 50 weeks of the year and provides nursery and crèche facilities. All children share access to a fully enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 43 children aged from 6 weeks to under 5 years on roll. Children come from a wide catchment area. The nursery supports children with special

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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 educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs eight staff. All of the staff, including the manager hold appropriate early years qualifications. Two of the staff are working towards an additional qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. All children thrive as the centre provides healthy and nutritional meals and snacks. A varied and imaginative menu encourages children to have a good awareness of healthy meal options, and the opportunity to try new foods. Children confidently ask for drinks when they are thirsty, as well as having fresh water and milk regularly provided. They explore, test and develop physical control, for instance when using climbing equipment and sit and ride toys. The flexible routine incorporates time for quiet play and rest, enhancing children’s well-being. Children are learning good personal hygiene through consistent routines and positive role modelling. Comprehensive policies, very good relationships with parents and relevant training ensure individual children are cared for well should they become ill. This reduces the risk of cross infection. All relevant documentation with regard to

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Helping children to be healthy

health, including specific dietary needs and consent forms are in place and up to date. These positively safeguard children’s well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safeguarded well, as the childcare facilities are secure at all times. This is supplemented with effective procedures for adults collecting children. Regular risk assessments both indoors and out, minimise the risk of accidental injury effectively. All children explore confidently using high quality resources, appropriate to their age and stage of development. They are able to move freely as there is adequate space, which is clean and well maintained. This is supplemented with all safety equipment being in place, reducing the risk of accidents. Routines such as tidying away toys from the floor encourage children to take responsibility for their own safety. Children are protected very well as staff have a sound understanding of child protection issues. Appropriate documentation and procedures contribute to children’s safety. However, fire evacuation drills are not regularly undertaken or logged, which

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

could have a detrimental effect on children's welfare.

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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 are highly motivated to play with a wide variety of toys and activities. A very good balance of child centred and adult led experiences ensures appropriate challenge for their age and stage of development. Staff extend activities such as listening to a story about a caterpillar, drawing pictures and singing related songs. This inspires children to be creative and increases their knowledge of the natural world. Children delight in using their imagination for instance when playing in the sand and water. Younger children's interest is encouraged through a wide variety of manmade and specifically chosen natural resources. All children’s communication skills are fostered well through various activities including songs and rhymes, resulting in good interactions between themselves and staff. Children enjoy mark making and are

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

developing good hand and eye coordination. This is encouraged with imaginative activities such as painting with water outside. Staff plan a wide range of activities and experiences for all ages. However, they do not evaluate individual children's progress effectively to inform future planning. This could have a negative effect on children's overall progression.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well settled in the friendly and welcoming environment; with an effective induction procedure ensuring individual needs are met very well. All children are included in the wide variety of experiences provided fostering a sense of achievement and enjoyment. Staff's good understanding of children's individual personalities promotes effective behaviour management. They are learning right from wrong and are starting to take responsibility for their own actions. Sufficient effective support is given, which nurtures children’s independence, for instance when encouraging children to self serve vegetables at lunch time. They show concern for their peers and are learning to share and take turns throughout the day. The staff's confident approach to equal opportunities actively contributes to children’s positive attitudes to the wider community. This is complemented with access to a good selection of resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Very good relationships with most parents foster a feeling of trust and stability for the children and their families. Detailed information is shared daily, including written diaries for younger children. This is highly beneficial to the continuity of care that the children receive. However, all parents are not aware of their child's identified key worker. As the number of children increases in the centre, this could have a negative impact on the exchanging of information.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children’s play opportunities are maximised through the effective organisation of

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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 space, time and resources. Indoor and outdoor space is well planned and staff purposefully deployed, enabling children to participate independently and in groups. Attractively set out resources and activities inspire children to play and have fun. This is complemented with easily accessible, low storage units promoting independence and free choice. Suitably qualified staff with a range of experiences have a positive impact on the high quality of care provided. Children benefit greatly from the highly motivated and caring team who have an excellent understanding of individual needs. Policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and individual documentation stored confidentially. This ensures children’s well-being and privacy are respected throughout. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure regular fire drills are completed and logged • further develop evaluation of activities to inform future planning • further develop methods of informing parents of children's key worker system.

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The quality and standards of the care

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 care

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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