PJ's Nursery

PJ's Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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EY356525 Unique Reference Number 06 August 2008 Inspection date Valerie Block Inspector

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96 Gosforth Road, SEASCALE, Cumbria, CA20 1ND Setting Address

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01946721072 Telephone number juliedickinson1@aol.com E-mail Julie Anne Dickinson Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Full day care, Out of School 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 satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

PJ's Nursery opened in August 2007 and is privately owned and run by the provider, who is also responsible for managing the child care. The nursery operates in a house with a parking area and enclosed garden located on a main road in Seascale, Cumbria. The nursery is open each weekday from 07.00 to 17.30 throughout the year apart from two weeks over the Christmas period.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The setting is registered to care for 15 children; six of this number can be babies. Currently there are 38 children on roll. No children receive funding for early education. Children have access to the main rooms, with the upstairs rooms mainly used for babies and the downstairs areas mainly used for children over the age of two. There is an enclosed back garden area that is accessible through a playroom's patio doors. Children attending school are cared for before and after school and in the school holidays. Children up to the age of 11 years are admitted. The nursery currently supports a number of children with additional needs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Nearby facilities include rural walks, school, shops, library, play park and beach. Children attending the nursery come from the local and surrounding areas.

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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 The owner/manager employs six members of staff. The manager and three staff members hold appropriate early years qualifications and one member of staff is working towards a qualification. The setting receives support from the local authority and is a member of the National Childminding Association and the National Day Nursery Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are kept healthy as the nursery has procedures to ensure their continuing good health. Nappy change procedures include staff wearing disposable gloves and aprons to prevent cross-contamination and nursery procedures ensure that children who have infectious illnesses are excluded until well enough to return.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy outdoor play on a daily basis, as the weather allows, in their playground. Staff also take children out to the beach and for walks regularly so they enjoy fresh air and exercise. Healthy food choices are available to children as the nursery promotes healthy eating. Menus are available to parents for their information and staff obtain relevant information from parents to ensure they are aware of children's health issues and parent's wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. In the main children are kept safe and secure at this setting and have sufficient clean, age-appropriate play equipment that is sufficiently accessible to children so that they make choices about their play and learning.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Security is particularly well addressed as there is an efficient electronic secure system to ensure that no strangers can enter the building and that children cannot leave unsupervised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children begin to learn about keeping themselves safe as they are told about the house rules to prevent accidents. For example, they are asked not to run or throw things.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are some minor safety issues that are not included in the written risk assessment that present some risks to children's ongoing health and well-being. The unlocked garage on the drive is accessible to children as they arrive and depart from the premises. Prams are stored in the garage as well as unsafe materials. Unsafe blind strings are accessible to children. One of the high chairs does not have appropriate over shoulder harnesses. The owner/manager demonstrates her commitment to ongoing safety as the high chair without safety harnesses is removed from use when the problem is known.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded as required procedures are understood by staff. The manager has recently done a course on this subject.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children's needs and routines are soundly met as staff talk to parents about their children's care needs and follow children's sleep routines. Staff have developed a homely atmosphere at the nursery where children are relaxed and confident.

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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 The nursery provides a satisfactory range of regular activities for the children such as reading, free play, crafts and painting and outdoor play. Staff plan for children's activities considering the early learning goals and the 'Birth to three matters' framework. They have begun to use observations and assessments of children's abilities although these are not, as yet, fully used to plan future activities that meet individual children's needs. Staff have also developed a questionnaire for parents so that they are aware of children's developmental stages and achievements. Parents are therefore aware of their children's individual starting points for their learning journey.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Individual children's interests are taken account of when activity planning, especially with older school-aged children. Children attending the nursery who are on their school holidays have appropriate fun activities such as a tournament where they compete playing darts and playing other games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies enjoy a variety of interesting activities. They are challenged as they are encouraged to roll and crawl through tunnels at soft play time where they begin to develop confidence in their physical abilities. They enjoy warm continuous support with their key staff and so develop trust in adults as well as self-esteem and confidence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder exchanges information regularly with parents both verbally and in writing about the children and the setting. This system of communication ensures an effective transfer of information. Parents express satisfaction with the care their children receive. The nursery staff show an interest in parents' views as parent questionnaires have been used to survey parents' satisfaction with the service offered. The nursery has acted on any recommendations made.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The nursery provides an adequate amount of activities and play equipment that promote a positive view of the world and increase children's understanding of diversity. Children learn about their own world as they are regularly taken out in their village for walks and to places of local interest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The setting welcomes children with additional needs and understands their obligation to work in partnership with parents and other professionals to meet children's needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well-behaved. The staff provide good role models of good behaviour for children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are kept safe as the nursery management ensure that all persons with unsupervised contact with children have been appropriately checked and are suitable to be with children. New staff are inducted satisfactorily to their new jobs and there is a formal staff appraisal system in place, through which staff identify training needs; appropriate training is accessed as required so ensuring that staff skills are developed to meet children's needs.

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Organisation

Children over the age of eight have not been counted within the total allowed numbers of children at the setting as stated on the registration certificate. This means that there has been insufficient space for children under the age of eight who are in the same areas as older children.

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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 All necessary records and consents are kept as required so meeting children's needs. The nursery has developed some further records to increase the quality of information for parents such as daily diaries.

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Organisation

Policies are in the main satisfactorily written and each parent and staff member has their own copy for reference. Staff are aware of how to process any safeguarding issues although the child protection statement does not include details of these procedures. This is a breach of regulations. There is no procedure written to advise of how the nursery would deal with allegations of a safeguarding nature against anyone on the premises.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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 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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • revise the risk assessment to minimize the following risks to children: accessible blind strings, accessible garage storage and the lack of harnesses for children when in in high chairs • ensure that the care of children over the age of eight is not allowed to adversely affect the care provided for children under eight years old • revise the safeguarding statement to include all necessary information.

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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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