Little Cherubs

Little Cherubs

Inspection report for early years provision

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Little Cherubs

Unique Reference Number EY300440 Inspection date 23 August 2005 Inspector Laura Brewer

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Little Cherubs

Setting Address 50 - 52 Shortlands Road, Bromley, Kent, BR2 0JP

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E-mail

Registered person Little Cherubs Care and Education Ltd 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?

Little Cherubs Nursery has been registered since November 2004 and is one of 2 nurseries run by Little Cherubs Care and Education Limited. It operates from a two storey building in Bromley and is accessible to transport services and local amenities. The nursery primarily serves families from the local community and surrounding areas. Children are grouped according to their age range. Children under 2 years are cared

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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 for in a unit on the ground floor which includes a separate sleep area and nappy changing facilities. Children over 2 years are cared for in a unit located on the first floor which includes a quiet room and toilet provision. All children share access to a secure outdoor play area. There are currently 31 children aged under 5 years on roll. Of these, 3 receive funding for nursery education. The nursery opens 5 days per week, 51 weeks of the year. Opening hours are from 08:00 until 18:00. Children can attend on a full time or sessional basis and children with special educational needs and those who have English as an additional language are fully supported. There is a minimum daily attendance of -----8 staff, of whom 7 hold a relevant early years qualification. Two staff are currently working towards a qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn about the importance of good personal hygiene through well organised activities and routines. They always wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating meals and snacks. Effective procedures such as, staff consistently wearing disposable gloves and cleaning the changing mat with an anti-bacterial spray sustain good levels of hygiene and help prevent the spread of infection. Children's individual health needs are met as comprehensive written information is taken and shared with relevant staff during the admission period. Children enjoy a varied range of energetic physical activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Staff ensure that all children have regular opportunities throughout the day to play outside to enable them to develop their physical skills and abilities. If the weather is poor, children can still benefit from being in the fresh air by playing

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Helping children to be healthy

underneath the purpose-designed canopy. Children benefit from the good food hygiene practises observed and from the healthy, nutritious menu's. Children are frequently given snacks such as fresh fruit to help them develop healthy eating practices. Younger children are offered drinks throughout the day mirroring their home routines. Older children can request water at any time in addition to the set meal breaks. Special dietary requirements are complied with which ensures children remain healthy. Staff follow the 'Birth to Three Matters' framework well and the children usually settle well. Children have established good relationships with the staff who interact in a gentle and supportive manner. This enables them to feel happy within their surroundings. Children freely go to staff for cuddles and reassurance, developing healthy dependence to support their emotional wellbeing. Children are able to rest

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Helping children to be healthy

and be active according to their individual needs.

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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 clean and appropriately maintained environment. The good organisation of toys and equipment means children can move around safely to independently access available resources from shelves, tables and boxes at child height. Comprehensive daily risk assessments minimises children's risk of accidental injury and enables any identified risks to be dealt with promptly. Fire prevention is good and regular fire drills help children become familiar with the procedures so they learn how to leave the premises quickly and safely. Children learn the importance of behaving in a manner that does not endanger or hurt themselves or others as a result of clear guidance. For example, staff clearly explain to children why they should not run around the building.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected. The manager ensures that procedures are up-to-date and that staff understand their responsibilities in relation to child protection issues.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children throughout the nursery are generally confident within the setting and have built good relationships with the staff. The younger children receive lots of cuddles and have secure bonds with their carers which increases their sense of wellbeing. They benefit from routines which are consistent with their experiences at home. Staff awareness and good use of the 'Birth to Three Matters' framework is improving children's achievements. They enjoy participating in a varied sensorial programme and energetically explore a range of materials which enables them to develop new concepts, for example whilst experimenting with sand, paint and malleable materials. Children's communication skills are effectively encouraged by staff and they enjoy looking at books, singing and mimicking animal noises together. Children's physical development is promoted within the nursery, for example, staff encourage babies to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

practice their walking and mobility skills. The older children move confidently and can run, jump, and hop, although the climbing equipment available provides limited challenges to develop their climbing abilities in a variety of ways. Nursery Education The quality of teaching and learning is good. Most children are keen to learn and quickly settle to become involved in activities. Children initiate conversations about their own experiences, for example, whilst talking about visits to the park with their families. They experiment with writing for a variety of purposes and some children can confidently write their own names. Children spontaneously incorporate counting during their play and can confidently count up to 10 or more. They recognise and name shapes and use size and positional language in daily activities. Children demonstrate high levels of

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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 independence, for example, whilst using the toilet and putting on aprons to participate in painting activities. Children are sensitive to the needs of others and show care for the environment by helping during tidy-up time. Children develop a lively interest in the world around them. They are keen to investigate whilst digging in the mud in the outdoor play area and enthusiastically discuss with their peers and carers what they have found. Children enjoy experimenting with colour and texture during a range of experiences. Their own work is valued and they have frequent opportunities to use their own self-expression when producing good representational drawings and paintings. Staff use their secure knowledge of the Foundation Stage to provide a broad range of activities. However, the short term plans do not include clear learning objectives nor

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

information about how activities can be extended or adapted to help individual children progress. As a result some planned activities do not sustain the attention of all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the positive partnership staff have developed with parents. This ensures children settle well and their individual needs are met. They experience consistent care due to effective communication systems between parents and staff, such as the contact book and notice board which details care routines. Children build good relationships with staff and are generally happy and secure in their environment. Children with special educational needs are well supported because staff work closely with parents and outside professionals. Children show a sense of belonging when they share their experiences about their family and friends. They are introduced to a variety of cultural traditions which helps to develop a positive attitude and respect for others. Children's self-esteem is fostered when staff praise them and recognise their achievements, such as when they tidy up or complete a task. Children are usually well behaved and work

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Helping children make a positive contribution

harmoniously with each other in response to the realistic boundaries and expectations of staff. This positive approach fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The partnership with parents of children who receive nursery funding is good. Staff regularly share information about their child's progress through parent evenings, daily contacts and by sending children's work home. Parents are actively encouraged to be involved in their children's learning, for example, extending topic work which reinforces what children are learning about within the nursery.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by suitably qualified staff who have been appropriately vetted,

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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 due to effective recruitment procedures. Induction training, policies and procedures work well in practice, ensuring the efficient and safe management of the nursery. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of child development which enables them to meet children's individual needs well. Leadership and management of the nursery education is good. There is a commitment to develop the provision and the management have clear aims for the future. Staff are competent within their roles and have a secure knowledge of the Foundation Stage and how to use it in practise to support children's development. Staff are supported in their work and ongoing training is actively encouraged. Parents are kept up-to-date about their child's progress through daily contacts with staff and regular meetings. The range and quality of activities provided for children

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Organisation

ensures they make steady progress. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004. Ofsted has received one complaint relating to National Standard 7 (Health), regarding appropriate supervision of children, keeping records of accidents and obtaining parents signatures on records. The registered person was asked to provide details of their investigation into the incidents. No evidence was found that the National Standards had been breached. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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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): • provide children with more opportunities to develop their climbing skills and

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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 abilities.

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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 the short term planning includes clear learning objectives and information about how activities can be extended or adapted to help individual children progress.

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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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