Shalom@Destiny Day NurseryOfsted inspection, 6 May 2008

Shalom@Destiny Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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EY346848 Unique Reference Number 06 May 2008 Inspection date Mauvene Burke Inspector

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2 Cottage Green, LONDON, SE5 7ST Setting Address

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0207 708 3777 Telephone number dekagha@yahoo.com E-mail Oluyemisi Iyabode Ekagha 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 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?

Shalom@Destiny Day Nursery opened in 2007 and operates from two rooms in the annex of a church which is situated in the Camberwell area in the London Borough of Southwark. A maximum of 34 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open each weekday from 07:30 to 15:45 for 51 weeks of the year. There is no outside play area so children use a local park within the area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 26 children aged from six months to under five years on roll. There are currently no children receiving funding for early education.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The nursery employs nine members of staff, including the manager. All staff members hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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 satisfactory. Children are encouraged to follow appropriate personal hygiene routines as they wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. This is further promoted through the appropriate use of effective visual reminders, for example action pictures for hand washing are in the toilet which enhances children's awareness. Staff follow clear procedures for nappy changing and they wear disposable gloves and aprons for each nappy change. Nonetheless, staff may be putting children at risk of cross infection because currently, they are all drying their hands on the same towel in their toilet. Babies benefit from having individual sleeping cots and all children have personal sheets, which are changed weekly or as required.

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Helping children to be healthy

The premises are sufficiently clean. Appropriate sick child and accident procedures are in place and accident and medication recording systems meet requirements. Consent is gained from parents to seek medical assistance in an emergency and almost half the staff hold first aid certificates. This all ensures children's health needs are satisfactorily promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

Main meals provided for the children are nutritious and children are given adequate quantities for their needs. However, food given after the main lunch are not healthy options. Children are often given starchy and sugary foods such as jam rolls, scones and cake with custard. Fruit is provided throughout the week. Water is offered to the children at snack and lunch times and a bottle of water is kept in the base rooms so children can have a drink when they require one.

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Helping children to be healthy

The setting does not benefit from an outdoor play area, therefore staff ensure that children receive regular opportunities for outdoor play by taking children out to the local park. Children are asked if they want to go out to play but not all children are encouraged, for example the babies. Children have opportunities to use the swings and slides and other climbing apparatus in the park. They also have access to scooters and pedal cars.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although there are small air vents in the nursery rooms, children do not always have enough access to fresh air as the windows are not opened.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from warm and welcoming premises where the rooms and play areas are decorated attractively to stimulate their learning such as posters and their own creative art work. They have access to a range of appropriate toys and resources that meet their developmental needs, they are clean and safe to use. Daily activities are suitably organised to enable children to make individual choices about their play and the play areas in both the Explorer's room and the Little Praiser's room are separated to allow children of different ages appropriate space to play and rest. Children's sense of belonging is promoted as they each have an individual coat peg with their photograph to store their personal belongings and comfort objects.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The security of the premises is good. The registered person has very recently installed an intercom system and is planning on connecting a CCTV camera to increase security. There are clear lost and uncollected child policies in place which are displayed around the setting and there is a visitor's book. Fire procedures are displayed and implemented well, for example fire

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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 drills take place on a monthly basis. Daily risk assessments are undertaken and risks have been identified and minimised to keep children safe, for example safety gates are used appropriately and electric sockets are inaccessible to children. Children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe as staff are on hand to remind them, for example staff ask children to sit with their legs under the table and keep their hands close to the table when using scissors

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Clear safeguarding children procedures are in place which include procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against staff. Relevant training has been accessed by some staff. They are confident about the procedures to be followed and the signs and symptoms of abuse. This means children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children for the most part are happy, settled and enjoy coming to the setting. They are sufficiently confident to work and play independently or in groups. They form relationships with staff and other children and are learning to play co-operatively. Children ask questions to extend their own learning and have opportunities to use their initiative, however, because some of the staff lack the skills to extend children's language and learning, opportunities are sometimes missed. Children learn social skills such as being caring towards each other and they are learning to share their toys and resources, for example when they use the computer. Children behave well and listen carefully to instructions from staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy playing in the home corner and concentrate for long periods of time playing with the dolls, tea-sets and cooking, generally engaging in role play. Children are creative thinkers and build on their first hand experiences, for example two children turned two tables and four chairs into a car and were busy driving a member of staff to her chosen destination. However, opportunities for children to develop their own creativity is being stifled because of adult-determined art, for example through the use of templates.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children in the baby room have access to a stimulating range of activities which they explore with enthusiasm. They enjoy playing in the sand and in the shredded paper. They take delight kicking the shredded paper about which has covered their small feet and throw the paper into the air with enthusiasm. Staff sit on the floor with the babies, holding and rocking them gently giving children a sense of security and sing softly to them as they fall asleep.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although there are systems in place for recording what children do, not all the staff use the observations to record the next steps in children's development which in turn means that the plans do not sufficiently meet the needs of all the children attending.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into the setting by staff and most children are happy and settled. They access a varied range of activities and resources which increase their awareness of diversity and they develop a positive attitude to others. Children learn about the local community as they take part in outings, for example a trip to Battersea Park where they had first hand experience of a Hindu temple.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although the setting does not currently care for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, staff demonstrate a good understanding of the procedures they would be expected

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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 to follow and have the necessary contacts within the early years department whom they would go to for support. Staff have a good awareness of how to assess children's individual needs and adapt activities that would offer suitable levels of challenge.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for in a calm environment where the emphasis is on positive behaviour. Staff apply consistent boundaries and offer regular praise to promote good behaviour and develop children's self-esteem. A behaviour management policy is in place, displayed and is shared with parents to ensure the care offered is appropriate. Children for the most part behave well and respond to adults' request to be quiet at certain times such as when they are being read a story. They are learning to share toys and take turns with equipment, for example when using the computer.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Information about children's home routines such as feeding habits and sleep routines, are gathered from parents to ensure continuity of care. Parents are provided with a daily diary which inform them of their child's day, routines and achievements. Parents are encouraged to take this book home at the end of the week and asked to make comments. Parents are kept informed of the nursery routines through a notice board in reception and also a monthly newsletter which contains information on topics and themes, menus and special events such as fun days. Parents value the friendly relationship they have with the staff and feel welcome and supported in the setting. Parents recently attended their children's review and were invited to comment on what was written. Parents record that they have seen and 'improvement' in their child's behaviour and 'can see the progress their child has made since coming to the

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children's care and welfare is generally satisfactorily promoted as the staff team are appropriately qualified and suitably deployed to provide sufficient levels of support for the children attending. However, not all the meals currently being provided for the children are healthy options. Nonetheless, children are happy and relaxed within this environment and staff generally work well together to ensure children's needs are met. There are inconsistencies as to how staff are observing and recording children's progress which means that there is a likelihood that some children may not be progressing as well as others. Children's records and staff details are stored securely and are available for inspection.

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Organisation

There is a positive attitude towards training, allowing the less experience staff to increase their knowledge and experience in order to provide appropriate activities and care for children. Those staff with a Level 2 qualification are all currently working towards gaining a Level 3.

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Organisation

All required policies and procedures are in place, enabling the provision to safeguard the children who attend, nonetheless the attendance register is not always maintained satisfactorily.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provision was judged as being inadequate and therefore, a number of actions were set. These included that the provider ensures that there is a named deputy available to take charge in the absence of the manager and to provide an action plan detailing how supervisors will achieve a Level 3 qualification. Other actions set asked the provider to

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 improve the outcomes for children in relation to nappy changing procedures, ensuring that there is more than one member of staff trained in first aid, up-dating the child protection procedure and carrying out a risk assessment of the premises.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provider has made good improvement in meeting all the actions which were set. There are now two named deputies who are able to take charge in the manager's absence, all staff are working towards a Level 3 qualification and much improvement has been made in regards to nappy changing procedures. A daily risk assessment is carried out and the child protection procedures are now in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. As a result of the improvements made, children's safety and well-being and welfare is no longer being compromised.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection Ofsted received one complaint relating to National Standard 2 - Organisation; National Standard 4 - Physical environment; National Standard 7 - Health and National Standard 8 - Food and drink. Concerns were raised that the provision was operating without a named deputy; that staff may not have adequate training in health and safety or child protection; that there are no facilities for staff to take breaks; that in the absence of the manager there is no qualified first aider and that an accident was not dealt with effectively. Further concerns were raised that food and drink is not distributed appropriately. Ofsted conducted an unannounced visit to the premises and found that the National Standards were being met with the exception of National Standard 2 as the provision did not have a named deputy. As the provider had been set an action for this at their previous inspection, Ofsted

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Complaints since the last inspection

issued the provider with a compliance notice under National Standard 2. A response was received from the provider confirming that a deputy had been appointed a deputy. Ofsted conducted a further visit to the premises to ensure that the provider had complied with the notice and found the provider to be meeting the National Standards. Ofsted are taking no further action in this matter. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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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): • promote the importance of healthy eating by improving the meals and snacks provided for children • reduce the risk of cross-infection by ensuring staff do not use the same hand towel

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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 all children have regular access to outdoor play and that rooms used by children are well ventilated • continue to develop the way in which observations are used to assess children's progress and ensure that staff work in a consistent way when doing so • provide opportunities for children to develop their creativity • ensure that the attendance register is maintained accurately at all times

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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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