Our Lady of Pity Annexe Pre School

Our Lady of Pity Annexe Pre-School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Our Lady of Pity Annexe Pre-School

Unique Reference Number 306444 Inspection date 04 October 2005 Inspector Sylvia Cornock

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Our Lady of Pity Annexe Pre-School

Setting Address St Catherine's Church, Birkenhead Road, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 5AF Telephone number 0151 632 6336

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E-mail

Registered person Our Lady of Pity PreSchool Com Type of inspection Integrated Type of 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Our Lady of Pity Annexe Pre-School has been registered since 1994. It operates from the St Catherine's Church Centre in Hoylake, Wirral. It is an independent organisation run by its own committee. Also on the site and sharing some facilities is the reception class annexe of Our Lady of Pity Primary School in Greasby. The pre-school uses one main room, hall and reception area. A maximum of 24 children may attend at any one time. lt is open five mornings and four afternoons term time

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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 only. Children have access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 29 children aged from 3 to under 5 years on roll. Of these all receive funding for nursery education. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are currently no children with special educational needs or who speak English as an additional language. Five staff work with the children. The manager holds a degree in Early Years Practice, and all staff have qualifications in early years care and education. The setting receives support from a mentor teacher from the local authority and the reception class teacher.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children develop a very good awareness of the benefits of a healthy diet, through the varied activities. For example, topics such as healthy eating and tasting food from other countries. They have good access to drinking water and fluids throughout the pre-school session. The children are involved in preparing and enjoy a broad and varied range of well balanced snacks, which meet children's individual needs well and is of good nutritional value. For example, a variety of fruit and vegetables. The children learn about the importance of being healthy through effective hygiene practices and clear, consistent routines. They are aware, for example, of washing their hands before snack time and after messy play. The children confidently use paper towels when drying their hands and talk about germs. There are well written procedures in place for the administration of medication and protecting children from

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Helping children to be healthy

the spread of infection. Comprehensive records of medication and accidents are clearly maintained. However, there is not a member of staff with a current first aid certificate, as all have recently expired, this compromises children's safety and well-being. All dietary needs are well documented. Very good practices and high standards of hygiene throughout the pre-school significantly enhance children's health and well-being and prevents the spread of infection. Children show excitement and enjoy outdoor play with the excellent range of equipment and natural materials to help develop their physical skills. They benefit from the very good access to a well maintained outdoor area and activities that promote their large physical development and co-ordination. They are given wide and varied opportunities to freely choose from equipment to stimulate development, such as ride on toys, imaginative toys, balls and hoops. Children have daily exercise

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Helping children to be healthy

through participating in various activities, such as, joining in with the reception class children, using the large parachute in the hall, this promotes their health and physical skills.

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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 provision is good. Children learn some sense of danger and knowledge about how to protect themselves from harm, because staff have a very good understanding of how to achieve a balance between freedom and setting safe limits, and how to involve children effectively in organising their environment. Risk of accidental injury to children are minimised because staff are extremely vigilant and use thorough risk assessments to reduce potential hazards. Children learn to keep themselves safe through discussion with staff. For example they understand about the importance of being aware of others around them when running in the designated outdoor play area, because of the danger of hurting themselves or others. The pre-school uses space well and provides a welcoming atmosphere, which

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

enhances safety and helps children settle. Children's work is displayed helping to develop their sense of belonging. The room is arranged extremely well to provide different areas for play, rest and snacks. Children are able to move around safely in the well organised environment. They have access to a very good range of clean, safe and well maintained equipment in each learning area. Toys and equipment are of a very high standard and are suitable for different ages and abilities, meeting children's needs effectively. Children develop independence as they select from the easily accessible equipment. Children have a clear understanding of the importance of evacuating the premises through regular discussion and practise, this enhances and supports their safety and well-being. Staff understand their responsibilities to maintain a safe environment and have a good understanding of the procedures to be followed regarding child

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

protection. This helps to ensure that children are well protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children show excitement as they eagerly arrive and enjoy their time in the pre-school, they are extremely confident, motivated and self-assured. They achieve well because staff are highly skilled and use their exceptional understanding of early years guidance, such as Birth to three matters and the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage, to provide high quality care and education. Staff establish positive relationships with children, helping those who are new to settle, making them feel secure and showing sensitivity to their individual needs. Close and caring relationships increase children's sense of trust and help them develop a strong sense of self. Early communication skills are extremely well supported through high quality adult-child interactions. Children begin to make sense of the world and express their ideas as they join in a diverse range of exploratory and sensory experiences, for example, talking about

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

artists, comparing pictures and paintings. They are excited and vibrant as they engage in designing concentric circles on a round table with a selection of coloured paints. This gives children optimal challenges.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Nursery Education. The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Staff communication skills are excellent, they support children in their learning through inspiring and innovative activities which helps children make very rapid progress. The well planned programme of activities ensure children's individual learning potential is developed and assessed with the utmost priority, significantly enhancing all aspects of learning and their progress. Children are captivated and actively contribute to the wide range of varied and interesting activities planned, for example, children confidently talk about their chosen item they have brought in from home, such as a frog, camera or a doll. Children are extremely articulate in their explanations, with all children listening,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

interested and asking questions. Children are extremely imaginative. They make sense of the world around them in the stimulating outdoor area and create exciting, individual art and craft work. They are inquisitive: as they use a wide variety of natural materials, including logs, stones, bamboo and plastic piping to create their designs of circles to complement the current theme. This promotes their understanding of the world about them and their physical skills. Children are secure in the routines of the pre-school and co-operate with enthusiasm as they engage in role play. They are becoming extremely confident as they talk and express ideas at news sharing time. All children use marks readily to represent their ideas and older children are adept at writing their own names. Excellent use of visual symbols and labelling develops children's understanding of letters to form words. Children enthusiastically select a book from the well resourced book area. They listen

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to stories well showing extreme confidence and self-assurance as they contribute their ideas to the story. Children work well together. For example, younger children learn how to put on aprons with the guidance of the older children directing them to ensure they do not get paint on their clothes. Children show great skill and use the computer equipment exceedingly well. They gain confidence in using numbers in their play and respond enthusiastically to challenges to extend their mathematical vocabulary and skills on planned activities and daily routines. Children's physical skills are developed extremely well through regular use of the excellent attractive and innovative range of outdoor and indoor equipment. Staff are extremely confident and self-assured, they work exceedingly well together, know each others strengths, where they are to be deployed, which contributes to the vibrant and superb running of the daily routine, inspiring and enhancing all aspects of

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children's learning. Staff are perceptive to children's interests during self-initiated play and they use questions very successfully to challenge children's thinking and language skills. They use highly effective assessment systems and are rigorous in the observation, monitoring and recording of children's achievements and plan experiences that help children take the next step in their learning.

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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 The provision is outstanding. All children are welcomed into the pre-school, they play a full part in the pre-school because staff value and respect their individuality and the family context for each child. They have extensive opportunities to learn about themselves, each other and the world around them. This is achieved through planned activities, visitors to the pre-school including integration of children from a local special school and their carers every other week. This positive approach ensures children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered appropriately. Children's behaviour is exemplary, they are polite, caring of one another, they help each other, share and take turns. Staff act as first class role models, they consistently give children praise and well done stickers which support their efforts and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

achievements, showing respect and consideration for children and each other. They have high expectations and set boundaries which helps children to negotiate with others and take responsibility for their own behaviour. Children's understanding of right and wrong is increased as they respond to gentle reminders to care for their environment, the pre-school resources and each other. Partnership with parents and carers is outstanding. An excellent partnership with parents contributes significantly to children's well-being in the pre-school. Parent's views about their child's needs and interests are actively sought before the child starts the setting, and on a regular basis throughout their time there. They are given superb information on the curriculum guidance and areas of learning. Good written information, posters and displays give a wealth of information enabling parents to read them on a daily basis, this gives them an excellent insight into the activities and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

what children are learning. Children benefit greatly from the involvement of their parents in projects and parents evening's. This highly effective communication between parents, carers and staff helps to promote children's learning and progress towards the early goals along with their overall development and well-being.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation is good. The leadership and management is outstanding. Children's care is greatly enhanced by the exceptional quality of organisation and the outstanding leadership and management of nursery education. Children benefit from highly qualified and skilled staff who are effectively inducted and who regularly, reflect, monitor and improve the quality of care and education. The excellent relationships between the committee and staff ensure the pre-school offers a rich, varied and imaginative environment for all children. The committee are extremely supportive and approach their duties with utmost priority. This ensures that children are cared for in a rich learning and caring environment. All staff are highly qualified and have a wealth of experience, they are extremely well motivated, vibrant and continue to attend many training courses. This has a positive effect on children's learning and welfare. Staffing levels are organised to ensure that

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Organisation

they are in excess of the required ratios, as a result children benefit as they are given

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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 excellent attention and support. Children are safeguarded as the provider makes rigorous checks to ensure staff suitability before they are employed. The excellent appraisal system ensures that the pre-school's comprehensive polices and procedures are consistently applied. All staff are committed to continuous improvement and development. The high quality of the provision means the pre-school meets the needs of the range of children who attend extremely well.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The previous care and nursery education inspection recommended that the pre-school review and increase staff knowledge of child protection procedures and to develop the role of all staff in making written observations for the assessment process. They were also asked to further develop the monitoring of the education provision through a written record of the quality assurance process. The manager has undertaken additional training and developed clear written procedures for child protection, these are shared with all staff. They have developed systems which ensures all staff are involved with the recording of their observations of children's achievements and they evaluate the education provision through written assessment of the activities. The improved understanding of child protection and the recording of observations and assessment has greatly improved children's care, well-being and progress.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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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 there is at least one member of staff with a current first aid certificate

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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 for infants and young children on the premises or on outings at any one time.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of nursery education are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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