The Brambles

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 Brambles Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY239478 Inspection date 28/05/2009 Inspector Cordalee Harrison

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Setting address Singleborough, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0RF

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Telephone number 01296 715955 Email tracey@bramblesnursery.com 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 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

Brambles Nursery was registered in 2002. It operates in a converted house near the village of Singleborough, outside Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. A private company manages the nursery. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The premises are compromised of nine rooms for children's use, including a sleep room and nappy changing, washing and toilet facilities. There are also a kitchen, office and staff room as well as a securely fenced rear garden for children's outdoor activities. The nursery is registered for 37 children, currently there are 57 children on roll, they are all in the early years age range. The nursery supports children with learning difficulties and or disabilities and children for whom English is an additional language.

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Description of the setting

The nursery is opens 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday 07.45 to 18.30. The setting employs eleven staff, 10 of whom hold qualification in childcare and education. The manager holds a degree in teaching and one other member of staff is qualified to level 4, other staff are qualified to NVQ levels 3 and 2.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. The homely nursery environment is warm and welcoming to children. All areas are organised to reflect and accommodate the overall and individual needs of the children who occupy them. A well established settling-in procedure, ongoing observations of children and the exchange of good quality information with parents ensure that the correct support, strategies and resources are in place to meet children's individual needs; this promotes inclusion for all children. The setting continues to gain improvement for children. Since the last inspection, most of the recommendations have been met and the setting continues to support staff to increase their experience and training in childcare and education; the setting maintains a high level of qualified staff.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop children's observation records to include the next step for every child, to ensure that the setting plans consistently to support each child to make timely progress in their learning and development according to their individual stage of development.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 inform Ofsted of change to the premises and make sure that the newly erected extension to the nursery complies with local building regulations. 11/06/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Leadership and management of the setting focuses on helping all children to make to good progress in their learning and developing and promoting their welfare. The setting maintains a stable team of core staff who know the children well. They make close links with parents and work effectively with other providers to achieve coherence and consistency for children. For example, discussion with parents and key people, at this and other settings that children attend, coupled with reviews of documentation, policies and resources, enables management and staff to make suitable provision for all children, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. This ensures planning for inclusion is central to the setting’s admission policy and equips the provision very well to meet individual children’s learning, development and welfare needs. Through the process of self-evaluation, the setting identifies some strengths and areas for improvements. For example, the

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provision

setting recognises that improvement to the garden will make for a better learning environment for children, to allow them to make effective use of the outdoor space, to support and extend learning across all areas of the curriculum. Work is in hand to gain this improvement in a timely manner for the benefit of all children. However, the setting’s self-evaluation is not comprehensive, it is not recognised that the next step in all children’s learning is not recorded systematically in all areas. Some aspects of safeguarding children are achieved to a high standard. For examples, good recruitment and induction procedures ensure that all staff are properly vetted and that their induction is comprehensive. Staff therefore have clear understanding of their role to protect children from abuse and neglect. They are clear about lines of communication to deal with concerns about child protection matters. In addition, all documentation required to safeguard and promote

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provision

children’s welfare is in place, relevant, accurate and up to date. However, the setting has not notified the registering authority of significant changes to the premises; this is a breach of regulation, which prevents the registering authority from carrying out its role to ensure that the correct procedures are in place to safeguard and promote children’s welfare in regard to the suitability of the premises whilst such work takes place.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Across the setting children experience activities that are appropriate to their stage of development. They promote all areas of their learning in fun and interesting ways, for example, music and movement is an activity that is differentiated well to help all children to promote different aspects of communication, physical development, knowledge and understanding of the world as well as explore their creativity. Children clearly enjoy theses activities, they laugh aloud to show their excitement and pleasure. The well set out physical environment enables the children to increase their independence; they move around freely according to their stage of development, select resources and use them independently. Staff supervise children closely and give them their time and attention in play and conversation. This helps children to understand that their needs are important and encourages them to initiate play. Staff's skilful support of child-initiated activities

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 help children to maintain their focus and extend their activities. Regular observations of children, that are securely linked to the expectations of the early learning goals, take place for every child. However, staff do not consistently record the next step for every child to be confident that they plan consistently to support each child to make timely progress according to their stage of development. Most aspects of children's health and hygiene are promoted very well in all areas of the setting; this helps children to have high expectations for their health and personal care. Children are clean and comfortable, because staff attended to their personal hygiene needs promptly and in a caring manner. Older children are beginning to take some responsibility for their personal needs, such as using the toilet independently and remembering to wash their hands. Children eat healthy meals,

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

which are prepared with a range of good quality ingredients that includes foods from all of the main food groups. Children are well supported at meal times; this helps all children to enjoy their meal. Staff hold babies, who feed from the bottles, cuddle them close and make eye contact. The warm personal interaction between staff and children helps children to develop secure attachments, a sense of belonging and positive ideas of themselves and others. Children use modern resources, they develop skills for the future as they build and construct, involve themselves in role-play, work together and share resources. Children behave well; this creates a calm environment where consistent boundaries are effective in helping children to understand right from wrong and to begin to develop an understanding of personal safety. They further develop this area of learning through practical activities, such as practising evacuation of the premises.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is 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? 2 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 3

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 2 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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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: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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