Buttercups Nursery

HMP / YOI Eastwood Park

Inspection report for early years provision

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HMP / YOI Eastwood Park

Unique Reference Number EY266411 Inspection date 21 December 2005 Inspector Karen Elizabeth Screen

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HMP / YOI Eastwood Park

Setting Address Falfield, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8DB

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E-mail

Registered person HM Prison Service Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care, Sessional 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 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?

Buttercups Nursery opened in January 2004. The nursery operates from a purpose-built mother and baby unit, within Eastwood women's prison, in Falfield, South Gloucestershire. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The unit provides daycare for children aged from birth to 18 months of age. They are open from Monday to Friday between 09.00 and 12.00, and 14.00 and 17.15. Three full-time staff are employed. The manager holds a Level 4 management qualification and an Early Years degree. The remaining two staff hold Level 3 qualifications in childcare. A fourth member of staff is employed as a part-time cook

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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 and relief assistant. The setting receives support from the Local Authority. There are 7 children on roll aged between 3 weeks and 5 months old.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Babies enjoy close, warm, relaxed and supportive relationships. Their emotional well-being is further promoted, through the strong working relationships that are quickly established between their mothers and the staff. Staff have an excellent knowledge of children's individual needs and are also well informed and sensitive to the mother's own needs. They are currently working with the visiting health visitors and the prison management to find better ways to support breast-feeding mothers. Babies are cared for in a clean and tidy environment, where staff undertake thorough daily cleaning of the toys and resources, in order to help prevent the spread of infection. Babies are learning to appreciate foods which help them to grow and thrive. A wholesome range of healthy meals and snacks are offered during the day, for example puréed casserole. Staff have an excellent understanding of healthy eating

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Helping children to be healthy

which they share with the babies' mothers. They work closely with the mothers to ensure that they are fully involved in the choice of foods offered to their babies. Children's growth and development are fostered by staff who know the babies very well and respond quickly to their needs. Opportunities for babies to become skilful in large motor movement are very good. Babies enjoy playing on the floor exploring their environment both indoors and outdoors. They also enjoy whole body exercise, for example swimming at a public pool. Babies are also afforded excellent opportunities to practice fine motor control, such as when they are given the opportunity to fully explore the properties of 'mud', made from cocoa and cornflour. The garden is inviting and the babies are making use of this readily available space on a regular basis. Preliminary planning is underway to further improve the garden through the introduction of a sensory area.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Staff take positive steps to promote safety inside, outside and on outings. For example they ensure that babies are able to move around the floor free from hazards and harm; and that they enjoy individual attention on swimming trips. Risks to children from fires have been minimized through well thought-out emergency evacuation procedures. Babies are also very well protected by staff who are clear about child protection procedures. They are aware of the possible signs of children at risk and of their responsibility to report their concerns for a child's welfare according to local Area Child Protection Committee procedures. Additional support is easily accessible through the prison service. All staff attend regular training and one member of staff has undertaken additional multi-agency training.

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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 Babies' health is well protected within an environment where staff have a clear understanding of the treatment of minor injuries and the administration of medication. The sick child procedure works very well in practise because the policy messages are regularly re-enforced and visual reminders such as a list of incubation times for various diseases, is prominently displayed. The environment is warm and welcoming with comfortable seats including a rocking chair for staff and mothers to use when feeding or cuddling the babies. Up-to-date photographs of the children engrossed in a wide variety of activities and experiences, adorn the walls. Many well-chosen and good-quality toys, books and resources have been purchased since registration, for example sensory and music making materials.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

These are attractively displayed for babies to 'request' or to select for themselves. There is also an excellent supply of well maintained equipment for babies and toddlers, such as cots, highchairs, pushchairs and a gazebo for protection from hot or wet weather. Staff have well thought-out plans for making the most of the available space including the garden which is used on most days.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Babies are curious and have a positive approach to new experiences. Their concentration is good and they are encouraged and well supported to use all of their senses to test different materials, such as wood, ice, soft fabrics and coloured couscous. Staff offer effective support through well-judged interventions, such as knowing when to assist and when to leave babies to explore on their own. Babies confidence and self-esteem are raised by staff who are sensitive to their needs and know them well. They make their needs known, for example indicating whether they want more milk, by either pulling the bottle closer, or by pushing it away. Staff are warm and attentive and the babies respond by smiling when they make eye contact. Babies demonstrate that they know how to gain attention and make contact; listening and paying attention to the staff. In turn the staff are alert to their attempts to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

communicate for example by picking up a dropped toy, when the child cries very briefly. The plans and patterns within the day and the weekly routines are well established. This helps babies to begin to predict what will happen next and to extend their skills in a secure environment. Plans are used as a basis for the day, but they are not rigid and are subject to change according to the babies interests, needs and other variables such as the weather. Staff are using the Birth to three framework to help support their work with the babies. They recognise that it is a useful tool in planning appropriate experiences and tracking babies' progress, but do not always use it to the best advantage, as a tool for planning individual babies' development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Excellent relationships between the staff and mothers, contribute to the babies'

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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 confidence in the staff. Close partnership with the mothers is achieved through the high quality information provided about the activities, experiences and their purpose. This strong link is also achieved through the daily exchange of verbal and written information regarding many aspects of the babies lives whilst in the nursery and also whilst in their mother's care. Initial contact between the mothers and the nursery is a positive experience. Mothers are greeted by friendly staff and provided with very useful and concise information about the nursery facilities. Staff ensure that the mother's views are regularly sought and acted upon, for example through a six monthly questionnaire. Mothers are also invited to make suggestions for improvements at any time, either by speaking to a member of staff or by using the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

suggestions book. Babies are developing a sense of belonging through the very warm welcome extended to their whole families, for example the babies' siblings and grandparents are encouraged to visit the nursery regularly. Staff are very good role models, through their calm and polite manner. Babies experience and seek closeness through regular routines such as nappy changing, where they mirror the facial expressions of the staff, as they talk and sing nursery rhymes. Staff have a 'can do' attitude towards finding solutions to any difficulties affecting the inclusion of all children. In addition, they attend regular special needs training and have undertaken Makaton workshops for beginners. In conjunction with the Area Special Needs Coordinator, they organised 'We Are Going On A Bear Hunt', a sensory workshop arising from a book about a bear hunt, and attended by mothers and their babies. Some babies will continue to benefit from many of the sensory

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Helping children make a positive contribution

experiences, such as the 'snow storm' made with bubbles, because their mothers are keen to repeat these at home. Babies are beginning to learn about the different activities and the people involved in their rural community. They take part in numerous visits to the wider community, for example they ride in their pushchairs to the local shops and undertake trips further afield to places such as Westonbirt Arboretum. All babies are valued as individuals and the staff work hard to ensure that all babies can be involved in any activities on offer. Babies learn to appreciate and value each other's similarities and differences, for example staff use books and resources especially chosen to reflect diversity and acknowledge cultural differences.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides. Staff share a clear sense of purpose and a commitment to continual improvement. All are involved in devising their own training plans to enhance their practice and have recently completed several short courses on specific approaches to learning and child development issues. The nursery strive to continually improve the quality of their provision and gained the South Gloucestershire quality assurance award 'For One and All Children' in 2005. Babies are supported by an effective team, who use their time efficiently to organise space and resources. The manager makes sure that she and her staff are deployed

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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 to the best advantage to ensure that babies receive superb adult attention; but recorded observations are not always evaluated for use in planning babies progress. Babies' welfare is promoted through well organised and well maintained paperwork. Personal information and specific permissions are obtained before the children attend and filed securely for each child. Policies and procedures have been developed specifically for the nursery, to ensure the efficient management of the provision, such as the lost child policy.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. The provider is required to keep a record of the 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): • ensure that the written observations made of the babies' development, are used in planning their individual progress

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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