The Beacon Day Nursery

The Beacon Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY394335 Inspection date 13/01/2010 Inspector Cynthia Walker

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Setting address Sure Start Bradley & Whitfield, The Beacon Centre, Maurice Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7HS Telephone number 01282 612086 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

The Beacon Day Nursery is privately run and was registered in 2009. It operates from an annexe of Sure Start, Bradley & Whitfield, The Beacon Centre, in Nelson. Children have access to two playrooms, a secure outdoor area and supporting facilities on the ground floor. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year.

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Description of the setting

The nursery is registered on the Early Years Register and a maximum of 40 children may attend. There are currently 51 children who attend the nursery throughout the week. Children attend from the local area and wider community for a variety of sessions. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, as well as children with English as an additional language. There are 11 members of staff who work within the nursery and the majority of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery liaise closely with a member of staff from the adjoining children's centre, who holds qualified teacher status. The nursery provides funded education for three and four year olds.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children enjoy their time in the nursery and make good progress in their learning. Overall, staff provide interesting learning opportunities to meet all children's needs. The nursery effectively promotes the children's welfare, which includes clear safeguarding procedures. Good links with parents and carers enables the nursery to ensure the needs of all children are met, by valuing each child as a unique individual. The nursery has an accurate understanding of its effectiveness and targets to secure further improvement are clearly identified.

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further?

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

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further?

 review the methods for recording the planned activities, to ensure this reflects the key worker group activities and consistently identifies children's interests  review the organisation of resources within the creative area, to ensure that every child recieves an enjoyable and challenging learning and development experience.

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the early years provision

The provider and staff work as an effective team, to ensure children make good progress in their learning and development, effectively promoting their welfare. Documentation which is required for the safe and efficient management of the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 nursery is effectively organised, to promote most aspects of children's needs. The majority of staff have completed training and have a good understanding of child protection, to enable them to effectively safeguard the children in their care. Procedures are in place to ensure the suitability of the staff is maintained and promotes the children's safety. The nursery is committed to the continued professional development of staff, which is reflected in the staff training file. Clear risk assessments ensure effective action is taken to minimise or eliminate risks to children.

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the early years provision

The nursery has a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and is committed to their ongoing improvement, which is reflected in their detailed self- evaluation documentation. The involvement of parents and carers, the staff team and the local authority provides an accurate analysis of what is needed to secure further improvements. The creative organisation of the nursery actively stimulates purposeful play and exploration, enabling children to instigate their own learning. Overall, resources are skilfully arranged to support most areas of continuous provision, to promote the good outcomes for children. However, there are limited resources to support the older children's creative skills, particularly painting and water play. A number of staff have attended bi-lingual training, to enable the nursery to sensitively support the integration of children into the nursery. There is effective communication between all partners involved with individual children, to

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the early years provision

ensure information is regularly shared and used to ensure that each child receives the support they need.

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the early years provision

Parents and carers are actively welcomed into the nursery and receive effective information as children begin their care, which is updated by regular newsletters. There are interesting displays, particularly in the hall, which reflects the service the nursery is offering. This includes a television programme, which reflects the activities children have recently been involved in. Parents and carers are well informed about their children's achievements, well-being and development, through discussions at regular parents' evenings. A sensitive alternative is offered for parents and carers who cannot attend an evening meeting. Questionnaires to parents and carers give them the opportunity to become involved in monitoring the nursery, which reflects very positive responses.

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and outcomes for children

The staff team have a good knowledge of the learning and development requirements and are effectively promoting children's learning, social, physical and economic well-being. Staff are completing planned and spontaneous observations, linked to all areas of learning, which are analysed and clearly identify the children's next steps in learning. An individual review of the overall learning is completed every three months and shared with parents, which includes opportunities for the parents to make contributions. All this information is efficiently organised within the children's learning journey. Key staff take responsibility for effectively linking the individual children's future learning to the weekly planned programme of activities. Although staff are responding to children's interests, these are not consistently reflected within the planning. Key staff spend individual time with their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

key children on a daily basis, to reinforce and establish relationships, as they participate in activities relevant to the group. However, this time spent with the children and the activities are not reflected within the planning. Staff provide a balance of adult-led and child-led activities, which enables children to have an enjoyable and challenging experience. The nursery provides an interesting and welcoming environment, which reflects the children's backgrounds and wider community.

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and outcomes for children

The staff listen and effectively interact with the children, to ensure they are supported in their learning, both inside and outdoors. Children enjoy their learning and are motivated and interested in a broad range of activities, which enables them to achieve. They confidently make independent choices and are active in instigating their own play and learning. Children confidently initiate interactions with other children and adults, as they use language to share information from home and explain how they are constructing their models. The introduction of 'talking tins' enables children to record their voices, which they listen to with enjoyment and listen to a variety of other sounds to support their language development. Younger children concentrate well, as they listen with enjoyment to a selection of stories and examine the illustrations with interest. Children skilfully operate the computer, which is reflected in computer drawings and negotiate

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and outcomes for children

simple programmes, by successfully matching pairs of cards. Younger children carefully match the triangle into the correct place in a shape sorter. They explore their senses, as they manipulate play-dough, using a variety of resources. Children use plastic straws to make candles on a birthday cake, which they pretend to blow out.

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and outcomes for children

The nursery is effectively promoting the welfare of children, ensuring their good health and well-being is supported. Children are confident with their relationships within the group, which gives them a feeling of security, belonging, happiness and safety. They enthusiastically discuss what they eat for lunch and explain that they made pizzas with the cook that morning and had made the bread buns for the lunch the day before. This effectively contributes to their understanding of healthy eating. Access to the outdoor area encourages children to be active and understand the benefits of physical activity, as they skilfully control a variety of wheeled toys, negotiate an interesting climbing frame and successfully use the slide. Children behave well and are developing an understanding of their responsibilities, as they are encouraged to share and take turns. They are developing positive relationships and play cooperatively at activities, for example,

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and outcomes for children

sharing the responsibility of the mouse at the computer, whilst other children give instructions. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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Stage

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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