John Kitto Community College

Brookfield Day Nursery Ltd Inspection report for early years provision

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113545 Unique Reference Number 03 October 2007 Inspection date Helen Penticost Inspector

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Brookfield House, London Road, Lowfield Heath, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9TR

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Setting Address

01293 535300 Telephone number jenny.haydon@jaysnursery.co.uk E-mail Jenny Haydon Registered person Integrated Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

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Setting Address

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?

Brookfield Day Nursery Ltd was registered as a Full Day Care facility in November 2000. It operates from converted detached house within the Crawley Area. The Nursery is open each weekday from 07:30 to 18:30 and is open throughout the year. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 60 children aged from three months to under five years on roll. Of these 13 children receive funding for early education. The Nursery serves children of parents who commute to the area in connection with their employment. 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 12 members of staff. Of these, 9 hold appropriate early years qualifications and 2 staff are working towards a qualification.

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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 develop a good awareness and understanding of the importance of hygiene practices, which protects them from the spread of infection. They are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times such as after visiting the toilet. All children clean their teeth after lunch time and they discuss the importance of this, therefore children understand the consequences of poor dental hygiene. All members of staff hold a current first aid certificate, which enables them to carry out first aid to ensure the children's well being in the event of an accident. Accidents and existing injuries are recorded, however, the system for this does not ensure that confidentiality is maintained. Parents are expected to keep their children at home if they are sick to minimize the risk of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a healthy lifestyle because staff observe appropriate health procedures. They enjoy a well planned, three weekly rotating menu which includes three meals per day and this is also supplemented with healthy snacks. There is also a separate menu for small babies who are weaning. All of the nutritious meals and snacks are made and prepared on the premises. The organisation of mealtimes for all age groups means that children are well supported by staff who sit with the children, encouraging them to eat the food.

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Helping children to be healthy

An outside play timetable is used within the nursery to ensure that all age groups have access to the outdoor area twice per day. Therefore children benefit from plenty of fresh air and exercise to develop their large muscle movement. Children acquire skills such as cutting with scissors, drawing and writing through the well resourced writing areas and well planned activities. Babies and young children's emotional well being is fostered as children enjoy fond relationships with calm staff who interpret their needs effectively. Babies sleep according to their individual needs and young children sleep after lunch.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming, bright and well organised indoor environment. The premises are maintained in a suitable state of repair and staff carry out written risk assessments, which helps to keep children safe. A good range of play equipment and resources are made available which provides children with many opportunities to learn through play. They are able to access equipment independently as it is stored on clear boxes which are clearly labelled with words and pictures to describe the contents. Staff are vigilant and ensure that equipment is clean and checked for safety on a regular basis, this minimises the risks to children. The staff plan and provide activities that challenge all children to enable them to take risks in safe surrounding, for example when using scissors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Parents and visitors use a verbal intercom system to gain entry to the nursery. However, persons not suitably vetted can gain access by following a parent into the building. This does not ensure children's safety at all times. A record of visitors is effectively maintained. Regular fire drills and effective policies and procedures ensure that children's safety is promoted in the event of a fire. Staff are well deployed and provide children with good levels of supervision which ensures that children are kept safe whilst moving around the nursery. Children are developing a good understanding of the importance of keeping themselves safe, because of the gentle but firm

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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 reminders from staff members and they carry out tasks such as walking down the stairs with care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the child protection policy and procedures which ensure that children are safeguarded. The staff's knowledge is regularly updated through attendance at appropriate training courses. A comprehensive safeguarding policy is available to parents to keep them informed of the staffing team's responsibilities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young children enjoy a very warm and caring relationship with the staff. They approach staff confidently and are given plenty of cuddles and genuine affection to ensure that they feel settled and secure within the nursery. The interaction between staff and children is of high quality and staff are extremely attentive to their individual needs. Independence is highly promoted in all areas of the daily programme, for example, during snack time even the youngest children are encouraged to choose their own snacks and pour their own drinks.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff plan meaningful activities using their secure knowledge of the Birth to Three matters framework. The staffing team are perceptive to children's interests during self-initiated play and they use appropriate techniques to challenge children's thinking. For example, when playing with equipment such as the robot, the staff encourage the children by offering support which helps to develop children's curiosity and motivation to explore. They observe and record their achievements in a very organised way to ensure children's individual progression and learning needs are met.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies senses are highly stimulated as the enjoy first hand experiences such as hand painting and exploring the tactile baskets. The toddlers settle down comfortably with staff and they participate enthusiastically, thoroughly enjoying crunching in the rice krispies and paint with their Wellington boots. They giggle and delight as they explore the spaghetti in tomato sauce squeezing it through their fingers and tasting it. There are very good opportunities for children to rest and play, to ensure their overall care and developmental needs are effectively addressed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. Children benefit from the staffing teams sound knowledge of the Foundation Stage curriculum and a variety of planned activities which helps them progress in all areas of learning. Observations and the staff's understanding of children's individual interests enable them to plan the next stage of learning and development. Activities are evaluated, however there is not enough detail regarding how the activity was varied for the differing ages and abilities or how the activity could have been improved. Children are offered a wide variety of meaningful learning opportunities which are suitable for each child to become involved.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are very independent. They choose their own equipment, prepare their own snack, change their own clothes and help with daily routines such as tidy up time. Opportunities exist for children to practise mark making in all areas of play, for example at the check in desk at the airport. Children see and identify words around the setting such as labels, notices and their name which they locate to self register. Staff listen intently to the children and respond appropriately, helping children to feel very good about their knowledge and develop their self-esteem. Children benefit from the wide range of books in the comfortable book corner,

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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 where a good selection of both fiction and non fiction books are stored at child level and are easy for them to access. They know how to handle books correctly, turn pages carefully and show interest in their content.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children gain confidence in using numbers in their play and during daily routines. They respond enthusiastically to challenges which extend their mathematical vocabulary, for example during number rhymes, stories and everyday discussion. Opportunities for children to identify addition and subtraction is undertaken in a fun and interesting way, such as singing the currant bun rhyme. Children are confident in using information technology. They have access to a range of computer programmes and enjoy using telephones and key boards during free play. Children have many opportunities to be creative as they use resources and media to make pictures, collages and models. Children use their imagination well during role play and thoroughly enjoy the check in desk and aeroplane scenarios set up through a child initiated topic.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Staff have a positive attitude towards diversity. Children celebrate festivals and have ample resources available to them to increase their awareness of the diversity of the world. Staff confidently follow children's interest in activities and ensure that all children are included and valued. They show a strong sense of belonging, developing their self- esteem as achievements are celebrated by displaying their work around the nursery. As a result children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fully fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are good role models and manage children's behaviour sensitively and effectively, increasing children's understanding of right and wrong. Children's positive behaviour is actively promoted and rewarded with high levels of praise and positive recognition. Staff are very well deployed at all times to meet the needs of all children. They learn to share and take turns whilst playing together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is good. Parents receive good quality information on the service on offer and curriculum plans are shared so parents are able to support children's learning at home. There are both formal and informal systems in place for staff and parents to share information, for example newsletters updating parents. This sharing of information between staff and parents enhances children learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a well established, qualified staffing team who have been appropriately vetted to ensure that they are suitable to work with young children. Staff retention is good, providing consistent care for children and parents. Consequently staff work well as a team and contribute their ideas to enable them to offer a diverse range of activities. They are well deployed in each room allowing children to receive appropriate adult attention. The manager has responsibility to monitor and evaluate training needs within the setting, so as to enable staff to access courses highlighted through their appraisal. All staff are actively encouraged to attend further training and refresher courses. All regulatory documentation is in place and well maintained. Policy documents are made available to parents and information regarding Ofsted is displayed. All children's records are stored confidentially.

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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 Leadership and management are good. The effective leadership and management of the nursery and the educational programme enables children to make good progress towards the early learning goals. Staff have a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and stepping stones because they are motivated, supported and well trained by the management team. There is a strong commitment to creating a rich learning environment for children in which every child matters. The setting meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection there were four recommendations raised. These were to ensure that the outdoor equipment is clean, ensure that any recommendations made by the Fire Safety Officer are complied with, ensure that the registration system gives detail of times of arrival and departure for both children and staff and to ensure that the staffing team carry out the written hand washing policy and procedures. Policies and procedures are now in place to maintain the outdoor equipment and Fire Safety Officer recommendations have been complied with. The registration system now shows times of arrival and departure for children and staff and staff are monitored to ensure that they are carrying out the hand washing policy.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last Nursery Education inspection there were three recommendations raised. These were to ensure that the written focused activity is evaluated in order to inform future planning, provide opportunities to extend the learning of simple calculation and to develop the book corner and role play area to make them more inviting to the children. Staff now evaluate the focused activity and they provide opportunities for simple calculation during everyday activities. The book corner has been developed with comfortable cushions and the books are both fiction and non fiction.

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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. 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 the accident and existing injuries records allows confidentiality to be maintained

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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 • ensure that unauthorised persons cannot gain access to the premises

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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): • ensure that written evaluation of planning details how the activity was adapted for varying ages and abilities and how the activity could have been improved

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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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