Little Monsters Kindergarten

Little Monsters Kindergarten Inspection report for early years provision

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EY358779 Unique Reference Number 18 August 2008 Inspection date Ingrid Szczerban Inspector

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1 Simes Street, Westgate, Bradford, BD1 3RB Setting Address

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E-mail

Hameeda Zaman Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Full day care Type of 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

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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?

Little Monsters Kindergarten is owned and run by a private organisation. It operates from three rooms in a converted building and children are grouped according to their age. It is situated in the centre of Bradford. A maximum of 44 children may attend at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 for 50 weeks of the year. All children have access to an enclosed play area. The nursery currently supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language. There are seven members of staff; of these, at least half hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean and reasonably well-maintained environment. The staff provide appropriate support and guidance to ensure that children develop a relatively good understanding of hygiene. The children wipe their own noses, and wash their hands after eating and going to the toilet. Children develop an awareness of oral hygiene as they brush their teeth after lunch. Children are protected from cross infection through the implementation of good

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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 hygiene practices and an effective sickness policy. They use individual paper towels, have their own bed linen, and toys and equipment are washed regularly. Children sleep according to their individual needs so that they remain healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Records of all medication and accidents are kept and sufficient staff hold current first aid certificates. However, there is a lack of consistency in the accident records; not all entries specify the exact part of the body which is injured.

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Helping children to be healthy

A balanced diet is offered to the children promoting their health and development. They are offered meals, drinks and snacks at regular intervals throughout the day. Older children have access to a water cooler and request drinks from staff who supply cups for them to help themselves. Meals are freshly prepared on the premises and most of the children enjoy the food provided and eat well. Menus are displayed for parents' information and children's individual dietary needs are fully considered to promote their well being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of physical activities which contribute to their good health. They learn how to pedal, balance, kick and throw balls, crawl through tunnels and climb, by using equipment, such as small bikes, sit and ride toys, small slides, bats and balls. As part of the daily routine regular outdoor play sessions are planned for the children. When the weather is inclement, space is made inside for physical play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children move around safely and freely in the setting. Their own artwork is prominently displayed which raises their self-esteem and increases children's sense of belonging. On the whole, risks are identified and minimised by staff through good practices. However, one electric socket is exposed in the baby room, which compromises children's safety. Access to the provision is monitored satisfactorily; staff can see through the glass panes in the doors when visitors call, to protect children from unknown adults. Children begin to learn about their own personal safety as they practise regular fire drills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a broad range of safe, developmentally appropriate resources which foster all areas of their development. Resources are age-related within the playrooms; these are well organised into specific areas of learning and most are stored at child height, encouraging children to make choices and promoting their independence. Suitable furniture and equipment is provided for children. Staff are vigilant to ensure that babies are properly restrained and kept safe; they make them secure in buggies and high chairs by using harnesses.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a sound understanding of child protection issues and some of them have attended training, ensuring that children are protected and their well being is enhanced. There is a satisfactory child protection policy, however, there is no systematic method for sharing this with parents, prior to admission.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are greeted on arrival by a warm and affectionate staff team who ensure children feel secure and confident in the setting. Children are happy, and generally well settled. They benefit from having their individual needs met within good caring relationships which contribute to their sense of belonging. New children are given good support to help them settle.

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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 Young babies are given plenty of space to practise their physical skills. They build their muscle tone and gain a sense of awareness, by sitting and reaching forwards to explore their reflections in the mirror. Children benefit from regular routines that are planned around their needs which increases their emotional well-being. For instance, staff have high regard to individual babies' sleep patterns and tailor care to suit these.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff use the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum to plan a suitable range of activities for children. These are used flexibly to incorporate children's interests. Children learn about the world around them. They recently had a visit from the police and enjoy regular outings to local attractions, such as museums, parks and the library.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children communicate well. They chat to each other as they play, and are confident speakers with adults too. Children's language skills are further developed through singing activities which they love, and many are confident enough to sing alone in a group. They are developing good fine coordination skills. They use pencils and crayons, and can feed themselves with increasing control.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are met through a variety of means including information received from parents prior to admission. A suitable range of resources and planned activities positively represent diversity in society. Children celebrate a variety of occasions, such as birthdays and festivals from around the world. The menus include a selection of international foods. These experiences help children begin to appreciate similarities and differences, develop a positive attitude towards others and make connections between different parts of their lives. Children from different backgrounds are warmly welcomed, and the staff are comprised of Asian and European practitioners. Appropriate systems are in place to support children using English as an additional language and some of the staff are bilingual. Satisfactory arrangements can be made to support children with learning difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and learn how to take turns as they listen to each other at singing time. They understand their boundaries and cooperate and help with clearing away their toys. The staff have a good awareness of positive behaviour management techniques to enhance children's well-being. Lots of praise and encouragement is given to children, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Children enjoy taking responsibility and take pride in being asked to help to wipe dry the slide before going out to play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive clear information about the setting and its policies and procedures through various means, such as a welcome pack, notice boards, monthly newsletters and open days. The plans of themes and activities for children are also displayed. Parents are kept informed about their child's progress. They receive written and verbal feedback from staff each day, and children's development files are always available to them.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Space and deployment of staff are effectively organised to meet the needs of the children and enhance their well being. There are sufficiently rigorous procedures in place to vet staff to ensure that they are suitable to care for children. Adult to child ratios are consistently maintained

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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 and staff are suitably qualified in early years. Children receive good levels of individual support from staff.

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Organisation

All required documentation is in place, and policies and procedures are generally adhered to in practice. Recruitment and vetting procedures are sufficiently robust. This ensures that children are well protected and cared for by staff with sufficient knowledge and understanding of child development. Induction procedures are in place to ensure that new staff have a satisfactory awareness of expected practice. Staff enhance their skills by attending regular training courses. They work well together as a team and each has a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. The managers give support to the staff, through constant guidance, staff meetings and appraisals. The nursery manager works within the playrooms which enables her to observe practice and support the staff. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

Concerns were raised in relation to National Standard 2: Organisation. The concerns related to staffing and qualification requirements. An Ofsted inspector carried out an announced visit to the setting on 18 July 2008. Actions were raised in relation to attendance records and the accessibility of records. The provider responded to the actions raised and remains qualified for registration.

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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): • devise a method for sharing the child protection procedure with parents prior to admission • develop consistency in the recording of accidents to ensure that the exact part of the body that is injured is always noted • make all electric sockets in playrooms inaccessible to children.

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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 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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