Kirkburton Middle School

Playdays Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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143791 Unique Reference Number 12 March 2008 Inspection date Diane Mary O'Neill Inspector

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13 Barton Road, West Kensington, London, W14 9HB Setting Address

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020 7386 9083 Telephone number playdaysnurseries@hotmail.com E-mail Playdays Day Nursery & Nursery School Limited Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Full day care Type of care

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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

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

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Playdays Nursery is one of four nurseries in operation. it opened in 1995 and operates from a converted four storey house which is situated in a residential area of West Kensington. A maximum of 21 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery has access to an outside play area between the hours of 10.30 - 11.30 and 15.00 - 16.00. They also take the children on regular organised trips to the local parks.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 20 children aged from birth to two and half years on roll. Of these none receive nursery education funding. Currently, children from the local area attend the nursery. 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 seven members of staff. Including the manager five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications and one is working towards a qualification. The nursery receives support from the local authority.

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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 effectively learn simple good health and hygiene practices as they adhere to the well-planned daily routines. For example, they know to wash their hands after messy craft activities, following the use of the toilet and prior to eating. Children have access to running water, soap and paper towels to help with their personal care and staff ensure that steps are available to help assist them so they can reach the toilets and sinks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s health care needs are well supported by the staff in this well managed setting. Staff are extremely responsive to their working practice. For example, they clean table surfaces periodically throughout the session and consistently wear protective gloves when dealing with bodily fluids such as changing babies and young children's nappies. This ensures cross-infection is minimised. Although the nursery has well stocked first aid kits within the individual rooms, to enable staff to deal with accidents efficiently. Some of the contents of these first aid boxes are out of date, therefore their use would create a risk of harm to children. Staff are fully aware of children’s individual heath care needs and take appropriate steps to care for them if they become ill or have an accident. This is further supported by the informative written sickness policy which clearly references stipulated exclusion periods for childhood communicable diseases.

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Helping children to be healthy

This is openly shared with parents as are all documented first aid and emergency procedures and records. A high percentage of the staff team hold current first aid training and a rolling programme ensures they are kept fully up to date with the correct procedures to follow to continually maintain children’s health and welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a healthy, nourishing and well-balanced diet which meets their individual dietary needs. Both in the babies and toddler rooms the children are provided with a mid morning and afternoon snack and drink such as rice cakes, oat cakes and fruit and vegetables. All meals are freshly prepared on site. The nursery has a two week rolling programme of menus enabling a variety of meals to be produced. Parents of babies are also provided with a variety of puree type meals to choose from. Children enjoy sitting in small groups with the staff for all meals and snacks which enables lots of conversation to take place making it quite a social time. Children remain well hydrated, as drinks are freely available throughout the day in labelled cups and beakers.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a well-planned and stimulating range of equipment to promote their physical development both inside and outside the nursery. Staff use the ‘Birth to three matters’ guidance in a successful manner to enable the younger children to experience a good range of physical play opportunities. For example, space is organised to enable positive movements such as running, kicking balls, confidently using sit-and-ride equipment, scooters and climbing apparatus. Children’s physical play experiences are further extended as staff take them on trips within the local community to parks and green areas.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to rest or be more active according to their needs. All the children have their own labelled bedding and either sleep in cots or on mattresses. Book corners and soft furnishings allow children to have a quiet time if they desire. Children confidently access the toys on offer and move freely within their set play areas.

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Helping children to be healthy

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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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children and parents are warmly welcomed into this bright and well maintained provision. It is a reasonably safe and secure environment where children’s safety and welfare is paramount to the organisation of the nursery. Generally staff are very vigilant when recognising hazards both inside and outside and take positive steps to minimise these. Risk assessments are carried out daily and all the staff share in the responsibility for keeping children safe. However, staff’s vigilance at checking the security of babies in high chairs is not as rigorous as it could be, therefore, putting them at potential risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff practice evacuation procedures with all the children on a regular basis helping them to learn about being safe. Staff use a cot to transport the babies out of the building safely. The toddler room has its own evacuation point near to its rooms on the lower floor. Children’s safety is well maintained as staff are vigilant at monitoring the access to the premises. All visitors and parents have to buzz an intercom system to be allowed into the building by staff. Visitors to the nursery are requested to provide identification and to record their presence on site in the visitors' book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have good access to a variety of developmentally age appropriate equipment and resources, which are well-organised and interesting for them to play with. This helps to create a happy and relaxed environment for them. Children have suitable opportunities to access a free flow play environment allowing them to make the choice of where and what they play with. Some of the equipment is in child-height storage units to encourage children to become independent and gain safe access to their resources. The children are encouraged to help tidy toys away and notify an adult if something is broken. Sensitive reminders by staff encourage children to share in their responsibility for their own safety and that of others.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The inside play space is very spacious and bright with pictures and art work done by the children. Photographs of the children playing and involved in different activities show them linked to the various areas within the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework. Outside the children have access to a fully enclosed play area which they can access within certain time frames as laid down by the local planning authority. This is effectively monitored at all times by staff. Children’s physical play opportunities are further extended as staff use the local recreational facilities. The nursery has clear policies and procedures for outings to maintain children’s safety and well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected by staff who have a clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures and give priority to children's welfare. Staff are confident in their knowledge of child protection, reporting concerns appropriately to senior staff and documentation is in place to support them in the event of any concerns. The nursery has a rolling training programme in place to ensure staff members’ knowledge and understanding is continually up to date. Therefore, children are safeguarded and not at risk.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children eagerly arrive and settle in this vibrant and well-organised setting. Efficient and experienced staff are on hand to sensitively support any children who may be unsettled. Staff eagerly greet the children and their parents making them feel very welcome. The entrance area is very inviting as there are informative notice boards and comprehensive information available to the parents.

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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 are happy, contented, motivated and thrive well in this secure, stimulating and very caring environment. They confidently explore and access the wide range of stimulating activities and are beginning to form firm relationships with staff and the other children. Staff have a very good awareness of the “Birth to three matters” framework and use it effectively to plan activities. They are beginning to gain sufficient knowledge about what younger children can learn and have developed excellent systems for recording children’s achievements. Staff are then able to focus their planning for the children’s next steps within their learning using this framework. Assessment is based upon meaningful observations recorded on children’s profile records and staff informally consider the next steps in children’s leaning and endeavour to use

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

these as an aid to future planning. The highly motivated staff team positively impacts on the children’s high levels of confidence and security. Sensitive settling-in procedures build on this giving children confidence to participate in the varied and interesting activities on offer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy exploring the extensive and interesting array of activities both inside and outside of the setting which enables them to begin to develop their investigation and exploratory skills. The babies show wonder and surprise when exploring in the play tent and enjoy expressing themselves in a painting activity. Children enjoy watching staff as they make small hoops spin, and some even try to copy this. They gain enjoyment from using different equipment within the play room such as soft and hard books to look at, making sounds with musical instruments and copying staff as they sing ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The toddlers have excellent opportunities to explore their world through various play activities and are exceedingly well supported by the dedicated staff team. Children develop their communication skills as they respond to others around them. For example, the children enjoy chatting to each other as they play with the hats in the dressing up activity. Children enjoy feeling different textures and making marks as they use small paint brushes and their fingers to explore a tray of beans and lentils. Other children enjoy using felt pens to make pictures. Some children laugh as they pretend to dance to music made by a toy and others enjoy watching moving objects such as sending a ball down a spiral tower. Children are animated and eager to take part in the array of activities which staff make available to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children show a strong sense of belonging as staff warmly greet them upon arrival at the nursery. They attend from a variety of backgrounds and are highly valued as individuals. Staff are very committed and supportive of the children and their families and ensure their individual needs are effectively met. The staff team ensure that the resources positively represent the children who attend as well as individuals from the wider community. For example, photographic evidence shows ladies from different countries with their children as well as other positive images. Children have opportunities to learn about different festivals and cultures which the staff try to cover each month in their planning. Staff have excellent support from the Local Authority inclusion officer, to help with their planning and ideas for the children’s learning and activities. English is a second language to some of the children who attend the nursery.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Therefore, the staff have displayed some words in those children’s languages up in their rooms. For example, some are in French, Japanese, Polish and Spanish. This helps families to feel welcomed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The nursery currently supports some children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The nursery has a special needs coordinator(SENCO) worker and good links with the local authority who offer support when needed.

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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’s behaviour can vary considerably within the nursery, however, good role models and consistent staff support for the children ensures that any incident is dealt with calmly and with consideration for all involved. There is an excellent team spirit throughout the nursery with children getting on with one another, playing happily together, being respectful of each other and sharing resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers that the nursery has is very good. This contributes significantly to children’s sense of belonging, security and well-being. Parents are given an extremely warm welcome into the nursery where staff are on hand to discuss any issues and readily share information. Parents are encouraged to come and help settle their children into the nursery with great support from the staff. Parents receive an informative parents' pack and every four months a room pack from where their child is attending, as well as having regular news letters, notice boards within the nursery and individual rooms which are very informative and help to keep parents continually informed about the nursery and its practices. Children’s art work is on display and daily diaries help to keep parents informed about their child’s day within the nursery. Parents are encouraged to speak with their child’s key worker at any time

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and see their individual child’s folder. This wealth of information helps them to understand how their child will make progress within the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework. The information in the news letters and notice boards helps them see how they can continue to support their children’s learning at home.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for in a setting where their needs are met well because staff, time and resources are effectively organised. Staff work extremely well together as a team, are very supportive of each other and focus on supporting and interacting with the children to ensure children's care, learning and play needs are met. Recruitment procedures are thorough and ensure children are cared for by staff who have relevant experience and qualifications to do their job and all staff working with children are suitable to do so. Children's safety and well-being are effectively promoted because appropriate checks are completed on all staff and the information is extremely well recorded. Any person such as visitors, who have not been vetted would not have unsupervised access to children and all staff are fully aware of this.

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Organisation

Highly effective induction systems ensure staff are fully informed of the setting's policies and procedures which they implement in a clear and consistent manner. Staff are very clear on their roles and responsibilities and staff appraisals are used as a way to discuss their strengths and weaknesses. Any future improvements or training needs that are identified are addressed as soon as possible. Children are cared for by staff who have a secure knowledge and understanding of child development and a high percentage of staff hold an early years childcare qualification. Staff have a strong commitment to updating their knowledge and they keep up to date with current child care practices through regular staff training and give high priority to professional development.

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Organisation

All required documentation is maintained to a high level of efficiency to enable the excellent running of this setting. Managers ensure staff are keeping registers up to date and other documents in order and make regular checks of these. Any discrepancies are dealt with straight away. All policies, procedures and working documents are reviewed regularly to ensure they still meet the function and operation system in this setting to maintain and keep the high level of child care standards in place. Overall, children’s needs are met.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the nursery was asked to, continue to provide opportunities for staff to attend further training. The nursery has been very proactive in working with the local authority to access a variety of training and workshops for the staff. The staff have found these to be very beneficial towards their practice as well as giving them the opportunity to share ideas and information with other nurseries and child care providers. The nursery is currently arranging for staff to attend the 'Early Years Foundation Stage' (EYFS) Training. The positive outcome for children and the nursery as a whole is that they benefit from the staff's learning experience which enables the staff to be productive in offering new and fun play experiences as well as good child care .

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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.

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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

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 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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that first aid box contents are checked frequently and replaced as necessary • ensure that routine safety matters, such as ensuring that children in high chairs are restrained by safety harnesses, are regularly checked.

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The quality and standards of the care

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 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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