Cheviots Childrens Disability Service

Cheviots Childrens Disability Service Inspection report for early years provision

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EY342464 Unique Reference Number 28 May 2008 Inspection date Naomi Brown Inspector

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Cheviots Childrens Disability Service, 31 Cheviot Close, ENFIELD, Middlesex, EN1 3UZ

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Setting Address

0208 3634047 Telephone number sue.roberts@enfield.gov.uk E-mail Cheviots Childrens Disability Service Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Out of School care, Crèche Type of care

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Setting Address

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?

Cheviots Children's Disability service provide a crèche, after school club and play scheme. These are run by the organisation Cheviots Children's Disability service. They received registration in 2006, and operate from an adapted purpose-built building. It is situated a large residential area in Enfield within the London Borough of Enfield. A maximum of 12 children may attend the crèche and holiday play scheme and a maximum of 6 children may attend the after school club at any one time. The crèche runs through out the year, the after school club is term time and the holiday play scheme runs for 6 weeks in the summer holidays, 2 weeks in the Easter holidays and 6 days in the Christmas holidays. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. Children come from the London Borough of Enfield. The groups support those children and families who have been referred through social services. The nursery employs 12 full time

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

permanent staff and 70 relief staffs. Twelve of the staff, including the manager hold appropriate qualifications. Two of the permanent full time staff are working towards higher 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 outstanding. Children's excellent health is well promoted as they are cared for by staff who have a extremely clear understanding of the need to keep the environment and equipment clean and hygienic. A daily cleaning team as well as staff rotas help to maintain a high level of hygiene in the setting. The setting cares for children with profound physical and learning disabilities and as a result has to manage the health of children who have very specific needs. As a result staff are particularly rigorous about protecting their health. There is an excellent procedure in place for removing and cleaning any toys to protect the children from cross infection. Staff have also implemented a system for isolating toys used by children who like to explore with their mouths so that there is no cross infection to other children while allowing those children access to an excellent range of toys.

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Helping children to be healthy

A number of the children in the setting need specialist feeding equipment and staff have been securely trained to operate this, allowing them to fully meet all children's dietary needs. Staff sit closely with children at mealtimes encouraging them to be as independent as possible. As a result children visibly enjoy their food which staff discuss with them to increase their enthusiasm and interest in eating. Most children in the setting have extremely specialist dietary requirements and the staff work very closely with parents and carers to meet these needs at all times. The setting has a high regard for the management of any allergies and staff have been thoroughly trained to ensure that they can manage allergies and intolerances to protect children's great health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are protected from harm in the setting as they are cared for by staff who have a good regard for their safety. Minding areas are well managed and organised to ensure that all children can move about them safely. Fire evacuation procedures are well thought out and drills take place with a number of exits in mind ensuring that children can be evacuated swiftly in the case of an emergency. Fire systems in the setting are checked regularly as is all electrical equipment and this supports the good safety of all those in the setting. The high staff ratios that are in place at all times also promote the good welfare of children as risks can be well managed for all children. Risk assessments are thorough and cover both outings and setting based activities to anticipate any issues that may arise. This helps to protect those who attend this setting in a number of scenarios.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All consents and information that relates to medications that need to be given to children both on a regular and irregular basis are in place and are periodically updated. However records of accidents and medications are not signed by parents in all cases. This impacts on the settings ability to communicate all medications given to children to parents and has an affect on their ability to prove that they have communicated any accidents that children have had in the setting that may have further health implications. However, as many of the children are returned directly to their homes from the setting and into the care of a parent or an adult sibling, carers are able to communicate anything that has happened on a daily basis and records of discussions with parents and carers are maintained in children's files. The manager is implementing a system that ensures that all parents will be able to sign records consistently in future and as a result

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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 impact on children in the setting is minimal. This also demonstrates the setting's attitude towards consistently improving systems that relate to children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as they are cared for by staff who have a clear understanding of signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. The setting's policy and procedure relating to child protection is well written and contains information that informs staff how to contact the Local Safeguarding Children's Bureau in the case of a referral to ensure that concerns can be dealt with swiftly. Staff are clear about their responsibility to record and report concerns and this ensures that children who attend the setting are protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in the setting as they are cared for by well trained staff who have thorough and secure understanding of their specific play and learning needs. Equipment in the setting is very well thought out to ensure that children with a wide range of needs can catered for. A sensory dark room and a large soft play areas provide many opportunities for children to explore their senses and to test their skills in a safe and stimulating environment. Children benefit from a high level of choice in the setting as staff help them to use a computer programme to plan their individual activities for the day. Children's physical needs are consistently met as they have access to several well equipped garden areas that encourage them to develop their physical skills in a large and safe space. Staff pay close attention to children's particular developmental needs and purchase equipment to meet these needs. They use careful and relevant questioning

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and a wide range of communication techniques to stimulate children's curiosity and imagination. Children thoroughly enjoy a 'tactile story' session as a member of staff tells a story to the group, using a series of props to act out sensory aspects of the story. For example children are able to use a xylophone to represent a spider running up a tree. All children in the group are involved in the story and are encouraged to participate and enjoy the activity in ways that are appropriate to their particular needs. All group activities are designed and implemented to appeal to a wide range of senses. This allows children to engage with activities on a number of levels that are appropriate to their own best methods of communication. Staff are skilled communicators and use a wide range of visual, touch and language methods to allow all children, regardless of ability to interact with equipment, staff and activities. As a result all children in the setting

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

make excellent progress in relation to their starting points.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely happy in the setting as staff take many steps to care for children as individuals and to meet their specific needs. As all the children who attend the setting have specific individual requirements, staff have become extremely skilled at gathering information about their emotional requirements and managing these. Children are typically cared for by one member of staff within the wider group which strongly supports their social development and enables them to develop high levels of security as a member of the centre. Staff and children develop strong and meaningful relationships with each other and these attachments fully support their emotional development while in the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff at the setting have and extremely high regard for the diversity of our wider world and a thorough understanding of principals and practices of Equal Opportunities. As a result children are treated as individuals with their own learning and care needs and this ensures that their

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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 requirements can be met consistently. Resources, literature and displays in the setting are adapted to offer positive images of different cultures, abilities and religions and are all thoroughly interactive to allow a number of sensory interactions. For example a board themed 'people who help us' has a lollipop sign that uses reflective paper and feathers on the handle to enable children to engage in touching the board. This is indicative of the highly inclusive practice that runs throughout all aspects of the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff have been thoroughly trained in different aspects of behaviour management. Staff have to deal with some challenging behaviour in their daily work and have a number of extremely well considered methods to deal with any situations that arise. Parents and carers are always consistently consulted in issues surrounding any methods of behaviour management or any issues that arise. This ensures that all children benefit from clear boundaries and excellent continuity of care. Parents and carers are also actively involved in many aspects of the centre, taking part in stakeholder groups, fundraising activities and individual consultations. The management of the setting have an extremely mature attitude towards communicating with parents and have taken considerable steps to manage communications with those who speak limited English. This ensures that all parents are able to become involved in the setting having

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Helping children make a positive contribution

a beneficial effect upon the care of their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are happy and settled in the setting as they are cared for by well trained, experienced and well vetted staff. The management team work well as a driving force for improvement and allow staff to access a good range of training to continue to improve their knowledge and skill base. Daily activities are run well, allowing flexibility so that children's individual spontaneous interests can be met and responded to. This has a positive impact on their development and enjoyment. High staff ratios have a great impact on children's safety in the setting and this enables the children to take part in a large number of stimulating trips to both local attractions and activities further afield. This compliments their already wide range of positive experiences in the setting.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures that relate to the running of the setting are clearly written and contain all compulsory and much useful supplementary information. Staff are aware of the policies and procedures and take care to implement these when the need arises. Consents and records relating to children's care, with the exception of some accident and medication records are well maintained and all records are witnessed by more than one member of staff and in most cases parents and carers. This underpins children's good safety in the setting. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the setting's first inspection since registration and there are no prior recommendations to report on.

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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 action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints 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 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): • consider improving current records of accidents and medications given to ensure that parental signatures are consistently sought.

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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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