The Woodside Centre

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. The Woodside Centre Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY281084 Inspection date 30/09/2008 Inspector Sara Bailey

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Setting address Lea Road, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6SU

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Telephone number 01884 243712 Email woodside@pre-school.org.uk Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

The Woodside Centre opened in 2004 and operates from a purpose built, open planned building run by the Pre-school Learning Alliance as part of a Neighbourhood Nursery project. It is located next to shops in a residential area of Tiverton in Devon. There are three designated play areas within the building for children to be grouped according to age with a large indoor communal area, which is used by all ages. An adjoining room is used for the Out of School club for eight children aged five to eight years. This is not currently operating so was not included in the inspection. There is access to a fully enclosed outdoor play area.

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Description of the setting

The nursery is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of 48 children can attend the setting at any one time, of which nine may be under two years. There are currently 78 children aged between birth and five years on roll. The provision is open each week day from 08:00 until 18.00 all year round.

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Description of the setting

The nursery employs 11 staff of whom one holds a level 4, six a level 3 and one a level 2 qualification in early years. Many of the staff are also working towards higher level qualifications including foundation degrees.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The Woodside Centre does not provide effectively for children within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as staff do not adhere to the nursery policies and procedures, which impacts on children's welfare, learning and development and their ability to make continuous improvement. Leadership within the nursery does not ensure effective monitoring of staff to promote children's health, ensure children are safeguarded and their individual needs are met. Staff's lack of understanding in promoting inclusive practice means that children's activities do not meet their stage of development and nor do they receive adequate support in their daily routines.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 ensure children engage in activities that build on what they already know and can do and that reflect their individual interests (Organisation)(also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 30/10/2008  ensure that outdoor and indoor spaces, furniture, equipment and toys are regularly and thoroughly checked to ensure that any potential hazards to children are identified and action taken to minimise the risks 14/10/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register)  improve procedures to promote children's good health, take necessary steps to prevent the risk of cross infection and improve levels of hygiene throughout the nursery (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 14/10/2008  obtain prior written permission for each and every

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further?

medicine from parents before administering medication to children (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to the Childcare Register) 14/10/2008  ensure effective monitoring of the implementation of the policies and procedures required for the safe and efficient management of the setting and to meet the needs of the children and families (Organisation) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 30/10/2008  ensure separate risk assessments are completed for each type of outing (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 14/10/2008

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provision

There is currently an acting manager in post who has sought the views of the staff team in completing a self evaluation. However, it is not comprehensive at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the provision, although the manager has begun to introduce staff meetings to identify areas for improvement. Lack of monitoring of staff's knowledge and implementation of the EYFS means that new or unqualified staff are responsible for key activities and routine tasks beyond their understanding. For example, two year olds are expected to sit for long periods of time and take part in a name recognition activity, which is totally unsuitable for their stage of development. Children have access to a wide range of potential risks as staff do not routinely identify these and take the necessary action to reduce them to ensure children are appropriately safeguarded. Other aspects of safeguarding such as security of the premises and staff checks are effectively

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provision

At the previous inspection, recommendations were raised relating to planning, assessment and supporting children's next steps of learning and development. Although planning for all ages is carried out and tries to build on children's interests, this is not successful. For example, babies enjoy putting on staff's shoes, however play resources for dressing up are only available once a month and do not include these items to build on their enjoyment. Staff expectations of children do not match children's individual age and stage of development. For example, older able children are not always sufficiently challenged and young children spend long periods of time sat down with limited age appropriate resources, which results This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in them being bored and inappropriately told off. A recommendation relating to documentation, implementation of policies and management of the premises was

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provision

previously raised. However, these all remain significant issues for improvement. For example, records relating to health and behaviour incidents are not effectively organised or stored confidentially and not all outings have written risk assessments completed.

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provision

Staff complete daily diaries for the younger children, however lack of detail means that parents are not fully informed of basic care such as how much food has been eaten. Staff are inexperienced in dealing with parents who share information of significant events in children's lives, therefore their individual needs are not understood or met. The recent introduction of informative notice boards and parents' evenings is beginning to improve partnership with parents. However, links are not yet forged with other provisions used by the children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The setting has failed to recognise the changes within the EYFS with regard to welfare requirements relating to Suitable premises, environment and equipment, Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare and Organisation. For example, there are weaknesses with health and hygiene, risk assessments, monitoring the provision, supporting and meeting individual children's needs. Children's development is hindered as staff do not have effective systems in place to support independence. For example, able children are lifted over fencing which acts as a room division rather than teaching them to open gates and walk through. Children struggle to access toilet roll from the floor or top of the cistern as the holders are not used. Young children are expected to scrape their plates into a swing bin at lunch time, which is beyond their capabilities. Children's nappies are generally changed once in the morning and once in the afternoon at a designated time.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children who wear pull-ups are not routinely encouraged to progress in their potty training.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's health is compromised as systems do not support obtaining prior written consent for each and every medicine administered to children. For example, the nursery keep their own supply of Calpol, which they administer as required with only verbal consent from a variety of carers. Squash is available to children although they are at risk of cross infection through use of shared beakers as they are not sufficiently supervised. Staff attend to children's toileting needs and wipe their noses, sometimes returning to lunch time duties without washing their hands. Children walk about in bare feet at lunch time, standing in food remains. They leave the tables without routinely having their hands and faces cleaned. Some children later have their faces wiped with flannels, which are left on the floor by staff after use. This means young children can freely access unhygienic flannels, which puts them at further risk of cross infection. The nursery furniture is of good quality and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

meets individual needs through a wide range of different sized tables and chairs. However, babies sit on a plastic floor mat at snack time where staff place pieces of fruit directly onto the uncleaned mat.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Although there is a written risk assessment for one outing, another has not been This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 considered to ensure children are safe. Lack of implementation of daily checks fails to identify many risks to children. For example, children access used latex gloves from the bin and put them in their mouth, plastic carrier bags, nappy sacks and cleaners are stored within easy reach of children, which impacts on their safety.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from free-flow outside play whatever the weather. They splash in puddles and dig in the soil using real tools. However, the deployment of inexperienced staff in this area impacts on children's learning. Staff do not ensure children play purposefully or support their language, which impacts on children's ability to make as much progress as they can. Staff fail to recognise that the premises, environment and equipment are dirty and do not encourage children to treat these with respect. As a result, toys are damaged in the muddy puddles. Although each age group has a designated base area, the resources available to them are not always suitable. For example, the babies have access to pencils, which is potentially dangerous, the toddlers have a very adult-led clay activity where they are expected to make models of fruit, which takes them away from more exploratory play. When an older child asks to participate in the activity he is not

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

allowed. In addition, young children are provided with small plastic bottles of milk for snack time but staff do not think to take the lids off to enable children to access, which leads to another long wait for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

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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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? Inadequate The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement. Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well are children safeguarded? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? Inadequate How well are children helped to be healthy? Inadequate How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? Inadequate How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare, Suitable premises, environment and equipment and Organisation) 14/10/2008

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare, Suitable premises, environment and equipment and Organisation) 14/10/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider, or Ofsted, to take any action.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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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