Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre

Kate Greenaway Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Kate Greenaway Nursery School

Unique Reference Number EY294232 Inspection date 22 January 2006 Inspector Gulnaz Hassan

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Kate Greenaway Nursery School

Setting Address York Way Court, Copenhagen Street, Islington, London, N1 0UH Telephone number 020 7837 4982 E-mail Julian.Grenier@islington.gov.uk Registered person Kate Greenaway Nursery School Governing Body Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care, Crèche

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Kate Greenaway Nursery School

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 outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Kate Greenaway maintained nursery school was registered in 2005. It operates from three open plan group rooms, a sleep room, bathrooms, office and staff facilities. All children share access to a secured enclosed outdoor play area. It is situated in Kings Cross in the London borough of Islington. A maximum of 51 children may attend the nursery at any one time and there are currently 54 children on roll. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18:00 for 50 weeks of the year. Children come from the local community. The nursery currently supports a number of children with special educational needs, and also supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery school offers an integrated service,

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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 including early morning and after school care and care for children under three years. The nursery is open five days a week, from 08:00 to 18:00 hours for 48 weeks of the year. The crèche operates as and when required between the hours of 09:00 and 15:00. The nursery employs 16 staff and one lunch time support worker. All staff hold Early Years qualifications at level two and three, three staff including the manager hold teaching qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are very well cared for in a clean and tidy environment where they benefit from excellent hygiene and cleaning practices. Explanations help children understand that washing hands after certain activities and before eating reduces the risk of passing on germs and becoming ill. Children's welfare in the event of sickness, infectious illnesses and accidents is ensured as the setting has developed and discussed good policies and procedures to follow with parents. Children enjoy healthy and nutritional meals in a calm and socially exceptional atmosphere where they sit in a familiar group and where the approach to self choice, autonomy and independence is unique. Children are learning about healthy eating and about the value of good nutrition and its impact on their health and wellbeing by incorporating healthy eating into project work. As a result children are developing

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Helping children to be healthy

healthy eating patterns and are learning about how food affects their wellbeing, behaviour and health. Children have ready access to drinking water during the day. The exciting outdoor play area provides children with very good opportunities to enjoy physical exercise, for instance, they can learn to balance themselves by walking on narrow garden edging, play basket ball and learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle as they join in free play and structured activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from playing in a secure and welcoming environment that the staff have organised effectively with the needs of children in mind. This allows children to move around, rest and play safely and confidently on the premises. Children have access to a range of good quality toys, resources and equipment that are regularly checked for safety and that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children's safety is further enhanced by staff who carry out effective risk assessments vigilantly for each and every activity. Children are looked after using a good range of child size furniture, such as tables and chairs and other equipment that meets their daily care needs well. Children benefit from an exceptional range of safety measures and security

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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 precautions that ensure the safety of children both on the premises and outside in the outdoor area. All elements of risk have been considered and children are reminded and encouraged to take responsibility for their own and others' safety, for instance when they are using knives to cut dough. The setting has developed effective termly emergency evacuation procedures to ensure that children are safe at all times and so that children are prepared in the event of an emergency. Children's welfare in the event of child protection concerns is very good. Staff have good knowledge and understanding of all child protection issues and know how to proceed if they have concerns about children in their care, this helps to support children’s wellbeing. Staff and parents receive regular support and advice through a

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

unique service at the setting which enables a community social worker to be based at the nursery on a weekly basis.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy exploring and experimenting through a range of well planned activities that are appropriate for their stages of development and that are consistent with children's emotional and social needs. Children enjoy participating in expressive creative play activities such as children's representations of dragons following project work on the Chinese New Year. Children enjoy investigating and exploring the texture of media and materials such as dry and wet noodles, they cut play dough with real knives and engage in imaginative and early maths play in the home corner where they also count and sort fruit and vegetables. Staff prioritise flexibility in routine to ensure that children's individual needs and preferences are met. For instance, staff spend time ensuring that children feel relaxed and confident in a new setting. Staff are skilled in communication and language skills, they spend time talking to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children about their feelings and their experiences. Staff are skilled in questioning children, they repeat children's responses and communicate well with them, to encourage them to express their needs and share their thoughts. Children are developing their social skills and ensuring their own emotional wellbeing. The staff are keen practitioners of the Birth to Three Matters framework and of the Foundation Stage and they incorporate this into the daily care and play routine well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children build positive images of the world they live in as the provision promotes this aspect exceptionally well. Children have access to a very good range of activities and resources that reflect diversity and positive images. The staff work very effectively to ensure that they have a strong understanding of children's individual, cultural and religious needs. This helps children to develop a strong identity and to feel good about themselves, their family and others. As a result, children are gaining in self-esteem, self-assurance and confidence.

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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 Children with special needs receive very good support from staff who work closely with outside agencies to meet children's needs. Staff are secure in their understanding of the code of practice which means that they are able to meet and plan for children’s individual needs. The management and care of children with special needs in the setting is exceptional, for instance, Makaton has been incorporated into all areas of care and learning and includes all the children in the setting so that all the children can play together and relate to each other effectively. Children benefit from lots of praise and encouragement and from ground rules and house rules that the children discuss and help to draw up. Children are learning to manage their own behaviour and they develop and share rules such as only using

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Helping children make a positive contribution

nice words with each other. Staff work extraordinarily well with each other and with parents to offer children consistent support, they maintain very good links with outside agencies to ensure that children are receiving the best possible opportunities to resolve behavioural issues. Children's needs are met very well through the sharing of excellent written information about children's individual needs as well as through the daily verbal exchange of information between staff and parents. The staff ensure that they work effectively with parents by maintaining a friendly but professional relationship. Staff work extremely hard to support and develop existing parenting skills, offering information, advice and access to other services such as social services that promote children's wellbeing and development in all areas.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children play in a warm, very well organised and secure environment where they are very well looked after by a manager and staff who are experienced and qualified at very good levels. Children receive exceptionally committed and dedicated support as an exceptional key worker system is in operation, this ensures that each child has one member of staff who knows them very well enabling them to feel secure and confident. The staff continue to develop their understanding of current childcare issues by attending courses and by reading professional child care journals. All of the documentation, policies and procedures required for the safe and effective management of the nursery are in place, this contributes to the welfare of the children. Relevant information is shared with parents and records are regularly updated to ensure that children's needs are being met. Children's needs are

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Organisation

exceptionally well met as documentation, records, policies and procedures are comprehensive and over and above the required levels. This ensures the safe and effective care of children and contributes to their welfare. Relevant information is shared with parents and records are systematically reviewed and updated to ensure that children's needs are being met.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 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

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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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