Busy Bees at Harrow

Happy Child Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Happy Child Day Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY246603 Inspection date 15 November 2005 Inspector Bharti Vakil / Pauline Nazarkardeh

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Happy Child Day Nursery

Setting Address 1 Francis Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2QZ

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E-mail

Registered person Happy Child Limited 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?

Happy Child Day Nursery was registered in 2003. It is one of the chain nurseries operated by Happy Child Limited. The setting operates from a converted building in Kenton in the Borough of Harrow. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Children from the local and surrounding community attend. The setting is registered to care for a maximum of 50 children at any one time. It is open each day from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round, except for bank holidays. Children

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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 attend for a variety of sessions. There are currently 53 children from 13 months to under 5 years old on roll. Of these, 12 children receive funding for nursery education. The setting supports children who have English as an additional language. There are 11 members of childcare staff including the manager who work with the children. The manager and 7 of the staff hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery also employs a cook who holds a Food and Hygiene certificate. The setting receives support from the Local Authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and welcoming environment. Children’s good health is promoted as staff implement effective hygiene procedures to minimise risk of infection across the nursery. Staff consistently wear disposable gloves and aprons for nappy changing sustaining high levels of hygiene. Children follow good personal hygiene routines helping to prevent the spread of infection as they independently cover their mouths whilst sneezing. They understand why they must wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals 'to wash off bad germs'. Although some of the children attending are very young, they are beginning to learn about the importance of hygiene through the care routines in place. This includes the regular cleaning of tables before and after meal times. Children needing medication are assured of receiving and benefiting from the correct medicine as suitable records are kept. Children get swift and appropriate help if they

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Helping children to be healthy

have an accident due to staff knowledge of first aid. Children thoroughly enjoy a range of activities and fresh air everyday, which contributes to their good health. Younger children's physical needs are well met as staff ensure sleep and feeding routines are consistent with those at home. Young children begin to gain control of their bodies as staff encourage them to feed themselves, which develops their independence and fine motor skills. Children are able to make good progress in their physical development as staff plan a wide range of activities. The older children run, jump, crawl, balance and climb moving confidently and safely. They are developing good fine motor skills as they use a wide range of malleable materials with increasing confidence. Children are learning about some aspects of healthy eating as they benefit from a varied menu, including a range of hot and cold meals. These comply with all special

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Helping children to be healthy

dietary requirements and parental wishes. However, children are not offered a variety of options at all meal time. There are missed opportunities to encourage and develop children's independence skills at meal times and drink times.

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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 The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, welcoming and secure environment. Space is organised and used effectively to allow children opportunities to be active, engage in physical activities and to enjoy opportunities to relax and share books in a comfortable environment. The allocated room for rest is very attractively set out to enable children to sleep in a calming environment. Children move confidently around the environment, both inside and out, making their own choices about their play. Furniture and equipment used by children is clean, safe and checked regularly. Children are able to sleep and eat in comfort and safety as the nursery has a wide range of suitable furniture and equipment, such as cots, child-size tables and chairs. Children are able to access the play materials with ease as they are presented in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

open storage trolleys and low levelled boxes. This increases opportunities for children to be independent. Children's safety is ensured by clear written procedures which are followed by staff. Staff take positive steps to reduce hazards both inside and outside. Staff are very well deployed and are very vigilant in closely supervising children. Children are learning to be aware of their own safety, for example by staff asking them not to run indoors in confined space to avoid accidents. Children are very well protected by staff who have a sound understanding of child protection policies and procedures. Implementation of effective systems, such as the collection of children and recording of visitors contribute to ensuring children’s safety.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and content during their time at the Nursery. They spend time playing either by themselves, in small groups with or without an adult being present and in large groups with a member of staff. Children's learning is enhanced during timely staff interaction such as encouraging children to play with a shared piece of equipment. Children access a good range of resources such as books, interactive toys, sand, water, shape sorters and puzzles. Children are familiar with the staff and the routines that are in place. They are confident to approach staff for support and are able to express their needs or concerns. This helps them to feel secure and confident. During play children are able to make decisions about what they would like to do next and the environment and resources are organised to ensure this. All children particularly enjoy singing, music and movement. Children sing spontaneously during their play, their enjoyment is

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

enhanced as staff join in. Young children giggle as their names are included during singing. However there are missed opportunities during the day to encourage and develop children's independence self help skills e.g. meal times. Children's art work is well displayed, they are proud of their work, which is brought to the attention of visitors. This contributes to their sense of belonging and a feeling of self-worth.

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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 Nursery Education Children have very good opportunities to experience a wide range of interesting topics. They independently select their own resources this contributes to them being confident learners. They communicate very well and share their ideas and experiences e.g. a child talked excitedly to a member of staff about her holiday, this was encouraged by the staff who asked questions to encourage the conversation. There is a home reading scheme in place with good information provided to parents. Many children recognise their own names and those of other children, there are many opportunities for children to develop their writing skills. Children count confidently and many count beyond twenty in familiar context. They are able to point out numbers in the environment. Children are learning about shape

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and size as they confidently fit puzzles of varying challenges and use equipment in the water and sand play. They are able to describe size and position during their play. Children are given opportunity to express themselves creatively. Role play is provided in a shared area where children can express their ideas and feelings imaginatively. They can sing songs from memory and can identify the tune of a song when played on an instrument. The quality of teaching and learning is good. Staff show a good awareness of the Foundation Stage Curriculum. As a result children are well occupied and very interested in what is on offer. The nursery room is set up to encourage children to be involved in various activities and the staff are well deployed. They extend children’s vocabulary and thinking by asking open ended questions. Staff have very good relationships with the children and high expectations of children’s behaviour. Staff

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

maintain observational records for individual children however these are not always dated. Consequently this impacts on staff’s ability to report accurately on children's progress and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are developing lots of confidence and self-esteem. They are very happy because the staff know them extremely well and they are able to meet their individual needs very effectively. Children are well respected by the staff. Children have good opportunities to find out about their own culture and beliefs of other people as they celebrate different festivals. For example, Eid, Hanukkah, Christmas and Chinese New Year. They have access to a very good range of toys and resources which promote equal opportunities such as, dressing up, dolls, different types of music. Children enjoy quiet and relaxing times as they listen to stories and they have very good opportunities to explore using their senses. For example, smelling, feeling and listening. Children are learning to manage their own behaviour as staff provide consistent boundaries and they are very kind and considerate towards each other. As a result, children's social, moral, spiritual and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

cultural development is fostered. The named special educational needs coordinator has attended relevant training and

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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 she shares her knowledge with the staff team. Staff are able to identify concerns relating to children's development and they know the correct procedures to follow. Children benefit from the staff's enthusiasm to develop their skills. Partnership with parents is good. Staff provide on-going information about the children's routine, activities and achievements. Parents have the opportunity to meet with staff to discuss their children's progress and they are given written information about the Foundation Stage Curriculum. Staff provide ideas for parents to extend their children's learning at home for example, the home reading scheme and parents are welcome in to the setting at any time. The written complaint procedure is not in line with new guidance to the National Standards.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are familiar with the routines that are in place to help them settle quickly and feel secure. They initiate their own learning as they are able to access resources and activities that are well organised. Consequently, there are many opportunities for children to engage in purposeful play. The management of care enables children to understand the importance of how to keep themselves safe and healthy. Over half the staff including the person in charge hold a recognised childcare qualification. Staff are well deployed which means that children are suitably supported in activities. The setting has a commitment to ongoing training and staff are encouraged to continue developing their professional knowledge and expertise. Children benefit from the systems in place which ensures that staff and parents are kept up-to-date with the required policies and procedures. Leadership and Management of the setting is good. The setting is well-organised and

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Organisation

very good communication systems are in place. For example, staff meetings, planning meetings, staff appraisals. The staff team are very clear about their roles and responsibilities and work closely to meet the individual educational needs of children. The children benefit immensely from the good team work. Staff maintain observational records for individual children however these are not always dated. Consequently this impacts on staff’s ability to report accurately on children's progress and development. The setting meets the needs of the range of children attending.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the previous inspections the setting has obtained the required information for dealing with suspected child abuse. Children are now provided with a wide range of activities and resources to promote their awareness of the world they live in. The setting now provides many opportunities for children to explore through creative activities.

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Complaints 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 Since April 2004 Ofsted has received two complaints. The first compliant related to Standard 2: Organisation, Standard 6: Safety and Standard 8: Food and Drink. The complaint related to a child involved in an accident. The Borough's Health and Safety officer visited the setting in June 2004. An Ofsted inspector carried out unannounced visit July 2004 and a follow up visit in October 2004. The provider identified areas of improvements with regards to all three Standards. The second complaint related to Standard 8: Food and Drink. The complaint was received in December 2004. It related to high levels of frozen foods offered to children. We asked the provider to investigate the concerns. The provider found no evidence that the Standard had been breached. The provider remains qualified for

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Complaints since the last inspection

registration. 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 children are offered a variety of healthy options at all meal and snack times and have opportunities to make independent choices • update the system for recording complaints in line with new day care guidance to the National Standards 2005 in order to share this information with parents.

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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 on the opportunities provided to develop and extend on children's independence and self help skills especially at meal times • ensure that observational records for individual children are dated in order

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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 that staff can report accurately on children's progress and development.

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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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