Rooks Heath Nursery

Rooks Heath Nursery School Inspection report for early years provision

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EY278265 Unique Reference Number 04 October 2007 Inspection date Christine Bonnett Inspector

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Baptist Church Hall, Northolt Road, South Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 8EB Setting Address

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E-mail

Savita Malhotra Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Sessional 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?

Rooks Heath Nursery School is privately owned by Mrs. Savita Malhotra. It opened in 2003 and operates from a hall within South Harrow Baptist Church, in the London borough of Harrow. A maximum of 24 children may attend the nursery at any one time. It is open each weekday from 09:30 to 12:15 during term time. There is no access to an outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 14 children aged two to under five years on roll. Of these, seven children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from the local and wider community. The nursery 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 four staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, and are part of the Pre School Learning Alliance.

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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 satisfactory. Children learn about the importance of eating a healthy diet as staff talk to them about it at snack time. They enjoy the fresh fruit and milk the group provides. Staff are aware of children's individual dietary needs, and ensure they are adhered to. Older children's independence is not sufficiently promoted at snack time as they are not routinely encouraged to help prepare the snack or to pour their own drink.

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Helping children to be healthy

The hall is maintained to a suitable standard of cleanliness to enable children to play on the floor with no risk to their health. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times of the day, and are learning why self-care skills are important to maintaining good health. Staff hold first aid certificates, and have systems in place to manage any accidents that occur.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although an outdoor area is not available, children are still able to engage in physical exercise. They have regular musical movement sessions, and have access to a trampoline, play tunnel and a range of other equipment to enable them to bounce, scramble and generally enjoy active play indoors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is compromised as wet paintings are placed on fire guards to dry; this practice poses a potential fire hazard. The security of the hall is good and prevents unwelcome visitors gaining access, and children leaving unobserved. In addition, children are always escorted to the toilets by staff for safety as other rooms within the building are used during the morning. To further protect the safety of children, fire drills are held once a term.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted as staff have a sound knowledge of child protection issues. They know what signs could indicate a child was being harmed and the procedure to follow to report concerns. However, the group's policy contains out-of-date information. In addition, children's welfare could be compromised as the policy does not include the procedure to follow in the event of an allegation of abuse being made against a member of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The hall is made welcoming for children and their parents as appropriate displays, posters and children's art work decorate the walls. Play resources are set out appealingly for the children, and they can also help themselves to other items they wish to play with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children generally enjoy their morning at nursery. They arrive happily and settle quickly at their chosen activity. The Birth to three matters framework which supports children's learning in their earliest years is understood by staff, and is incorporated effectively into the planning of the day. As well as having a range of activities to engage in during the session, children also have the opportunity to begin to explore the local environment. For example, they walk to the local library and post office.

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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 benefit from the warm and gentle care that the staff give. They are interested in the children, and give lots of appropriate support to those who are new and unsettled. Staff are skilled at extending children's vocabulary by asking open-ended questions to make them think, and respond appropriately.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of the teaching and learning is satisfactory. Children are generally making satisfactory progress in all areas of learning. Staff have a sound understanding of the Foundation Stage and provide an adequate range of activities for the children to enjoy. Children become involved in the activities, and the level of challenge is sufficient to interest most of them. Generally children concentrate, and demonstrate persistence to finish a task.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Long, medium and short term planning is effectively carried out and implemented by staff. Although children are observed and their attainments recorded, evaluation and planning for their next individual step is not clearly demonstrated.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's personal, social and emotional development is well promoted. They are confident and express their needs to staff. Children particularly enjoy the 'good morning' song sung at the start of the session in which all their names are mentioned. This helps to enhance their self-esteem and sense of belonging. They are also learning to share, take turns and play co-operatively together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are respected as individuals, and the staff know their individual needs well. Staff act as good role models to encourage them to learn good manners and promote good self-esteem. The nursery has an appropriate range of resources that promote a positive view of the wider world and increase children's awareness of diversity and their understanding of others. Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported in the group as staff speak all the community languages.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit because of the group's positive approach to working in partnership with parents and carers. The settling-in procedure enables the child's main carer to stay with them in the group for as long as necessary to ensure they are secure and happy. The partnership with parents and carers of children who receive nursery education is satisfactory. Newsletters are issued each term, and parents are able to discuss the progress of their child with staff at any time. Open days are also held to demonstrate the work of the group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Systems are in place to support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Staff have had training in this area of work and would seek further guidance and support from other sources to ensure a child's individual needs were met. Although some children demonstrate challenging behaviour, it is managed effectively by staff using positive methods. Generally children behave well as they are beginning to understand the rules for good behaviour. Children are reminded of the rules during circle time, these include being kind to their friends and listening to the teachers. Therefore, the group fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are generally content at the nursery, and spend their time engaged in meaningful activities. The environment is welcoming and equipment is set out appealingly for them. Staff are kind and give plenty of support to children, when necessary. Children's welfare is safeguarded as robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure all staff are suitable to work in the group.

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Organisation

Children's health, safety and well-being are promoted as accurate and up-to-date records are maintained. However, the attendance register for children and staff lacks the necessary detail.

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Organisation

The leadership and management of the setting are satisfactory. The provider and manager work closely together to monitor and develop the work of the group, and welcome the support of the local authority advisory teachers. Staff are encouraged to attend further training to keep up-to-date with childcare and education issues. The provider and manager lead a staff team who are motivated and committed to building on their skills to enhance the children's experiences within the nursery. Equality of opportunity for all children is promoted to enable them to make suitable progress in their development. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the nursery was required to develop staff's knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities issues. All staff treat children as individuals and with respect. As well as a range of play resources and books that promote diversity being accessible to the children, the group also acknowledges a variety of world faith festivals, such as Eid, Diwali and Christmas.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The group was also required to provide written information about each child's progress for their parents to see. Children's work folders are now available for parents/carers to look at on request to ensure they are aware of how the child is developing.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations were also made at the last inspection to improve the nursery education programme. The nursery works very closely with the local authority Early Years Partnership to continue to monitor and evaluate the work of the group for the benefit of the children. Staff have attended training on the Foundation Stage, and have increased their knowledge of how to deliver it effectively. In addition, staff now give children time to finish an activity to their satisfaction to enable them to achieve a feeling of pride in their work.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation was made to maximise children's learning at snack time. This is still to be achieved consistently. Children do not routinely have the opportunity to develop their independence and staff do not fully use this time to enhance children's learning.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004, there have been two complaints relating to National Standard 1; Suitable Person, relating to not informing Ofsted of a change of manager, and one relating to Standard 6; Safety, relating to the recording of accidents. Ofsted investigated and found that the nursery had operated without a suitable manager in post. The registered person was served with a Compliance Notice requiring her to meet Standard 1 as set out in the National Standards. It was also found that an accident had not been recorded appropriately. An action was raised

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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 requiring all accidents to be recorded. The provider complied with the notice and the action, and remains qualified for registration.

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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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • promote the safety of children by ensuring fire guards remain uncovered at all times • amend the child protection policy to ensure it conforms to the Local Safeguarding Children Board requirements and includes how allegations of abuse made against the manager or members of staff would be managed • ensure the surnames of the children and staff are recorded in the attendance register.

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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): • promote children's independence at snack time and maximise their learning (applies to care also) • continue to develop a system for evaluating children's progress and planning for their individual next step.

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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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