Oldfield School

Whitehall Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Whitehall Nursery School

Unique Reference Number 109333 Inspection date 02 November 2005 Inspector Liz Margaret Caluori

p.1

Whitehall Nursery School

Setting Address 15 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2EE

p.1

E-mail

Registered person Rosemary White Type of inspection Integrated Type of care Full day care

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Whitehall Nursery School opened in 1982 and is privately owned and managed. It operates from three rooms in a large detached house in the centre of Hastings. It serves families from the local community. The group has use of three play rooms, a kitchen and toilet facilities. There is also a fully enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 18 children, aged from 2 to 5 years, on roll. This includes 11 children in receipt of nursery grant funding for 3 and 4 year olds. Children attend for a

p.2

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 variety of sessions. The setting is able to supports children with special needs and those who have English as an additional language. The nursery opens five days a week during school term times with sessions are from 8:45 until 15:00. Four members of staff work with the children. Three are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a mentor from the local authority. The registration also incorporates a summer play scheme, which can include children up to eight years.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children play in a clean environment. They understand the importance of personal hygiene, for example they know that they must wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Children recognise the needs of their own bodies and this is well reflected in the toileting arrangements within the nursery. Older children visit the toilets independently and younger children confidently approach staff for support. Staff with first aid qualifications are present at all times which ensures that children are appropriately cared for in case of an accident. Similarly, procedures relating to the care of sick children and the administration of medicines are appropriate. Children receive a mid-morning snack which is provided by the nursery and which includes a drink, a biscuit and a piece of fruit. They bring in packed lunches from home and staff remove some items for refrigeration. Children are developing an

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

understanding of the importance of healthy eating through the encouragement given for them to eat the most nutritious items in their lunch first. They also benefit from annual visits from the dentist who talks to them about the importance of brushing their teeth and the potential problems caused by eating too many sweets. Children enjoy opportunities to develop their physical skills through activities provided each day. When weather permits, they use the large outdoor play area to play running games, use ride-on toys and climb on the equipment. In poor weather children exercise indoors, moving expressively and with confidence.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well-maintained, safe environment. They move freely between the three play rooms and are able to access resources easily. Children’s safety is considered a very high priority by staff. This is demonstrated by the arrangements in place to ensure that they arrive safely at the nursery. Each day a member of staff takes on the role of ‘lollipop person’ to safeguard the children as they

p.3

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 cross the road outside the nursery gates. There are also a number of effective safety precautions in place within the nursery, for example safety gates are used to restrict children’s access where appropriate. Weekly checks are undertaken to ensure that the environment and all toys and equipment are well maintained. Arrangements in place to evacuate the premises in case of a fire or other emergency are well thought out and children take part in regular practice drills. They are learning to keep themselves safe through the on-going advice and support of staff. In addition, visits are made annually by the fire service and the police. As a result, children learn about fire safety and the potential dangers posed by strangers. Children’s welfare is protected by the setting’s child protection procedures. These are

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

clear, comprehensive and understood by all staff.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are welcomed individually on arrival and settle easily. Younger children approach staff readily for cuddles and supportive contact. Older children clearly appreciate the patience and good humour of staff; they confidently shares jokes in the relaxed, friendly environment. Staff listen to all children with genuine interest and are very skilful at supporting them to explore their ideas. There is a key worker system in operation and all staff have a very good understanding of the individual personalities and developmental needs of the children in their key group. This knowledge is shared between staff and as a result, all children are cared for in a way which takes account of their likes, dislikes and individual learning style. Activities set up for free play are child led with staff providing a very good level of support and encouragement for children to explore and make decisions for

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

themselves. These activities are well resourced, attractively presented and appropriately adapted to be accessible to children of all ages. In addition, each day children take part in short periods of adult directed activities in their key groups. For children who receive funding for their nursery education this time is used to focus on their progress through the foundation stage of the National Curriculum. For younger children this time is also spent on focussed activities aimed at developing their concentration. These sessions are also very well received and children contribute enthusiastically. Nursery Education The quality of teaching and learning is good. Staff have a sound knowledge of the foundation stage and competently assess and monitor children’s progress through observations and written records. This information is used to identify what children understand and what they need to do next. This enables staff to focus their teaching

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to meet each child’s individual needs. Children benefit from very good opportunities to learn about a variety of interesting

p.4

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 and stimulating subjects and are making good progress in all areas of learning. They often instigate and take part in very interesting and complex conversations and are developing a good level of general knowledge. They enjoy looking at books and are beginning to make marks, with some able to form recognisable letters. They are making very good progress in their creative skills. In addition to working very expressively in arts and crafts, they are developing an understanding of the different qualities of a range of musical instruments. They are also making very good progress in their mathematical development. Adult focussed activities aimed at teaching children about counting, matching, comparing and the basic concepts of addition and subtraction are very well delivered. Children confidently use mathematical language

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

in their free play as they explore the concepts they are learning. They also make very good use of the computer and are extremely well supported by staff in this area. As with all areas of learning, the teaching is successfully aimed at motivating children to explore and experiment for themselves. Children move around the setting with confidence. They benefit greatly from the relaxed but effective supervision and are becoming independent learners.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The behaviour of children in the nursery is extremely good. They are polite, well-mannered and caring. They are engaged and interested as they select activities and socialise with their peers. They have good self-esteem and are able to express themselves confidently. Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. They are developing a good awareness of the area in which they live and the different people that live there. To help them develop a sense of community, they visit a nearby residential home at intervals during the year to sing Christmas carols and to celebrate the harvest festival. They also learn about the wider world, looking at different customs and celebrations. They are supported in their play by toys and resources aimed at promoting positive images of people from throughout the community, including those with disabilities. The nursery has good arrangements in place to care for children with special needs.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff team has a very positive attitude towards meeting the needs of all children. Whilst there are steps leading to the front entrance, the nursery owner has identified a way in which to create access for a wheelchair user or anyone with limited mobility. She is committed to making any adaptations reasonably possible to make the premises and activities accessible to all children. Partnership with parents is good. They view the relationships they have with the nursery as very positive and feel confident that their children are happy and developing well. Parents are informed about the life of the nursery through notices, informal conversations and an annual parents evening. However, these arrangements do not provide the parents of older children with sufficiently regular information about their child’s progress to be able to support their child’s learning at home.

p.5

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

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The organisation of the setting is generally effective. Staff ratios are high which results in each child receiving a good amount of adult attention. Three of the four members of staff are in the final stages of the NVQ level three qualification in Childcare and Education and the fourth is booked to begin her training in the next few months. Leadership and management is good. There are very good systems in place to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the setting; the owner and manager make very good use of the support given by the local authority’s early years advisors. Staff work very effectively as a team which creates a harmonious, comfortable environment for the children. Space is well used to allow children to move freely and safely between activities. Whilst activities are generally very well organised to encourage children’s independence, this is not the case during snack time. Children are not routinely

p.6

Organisation

encouraged to help prepare the snacks and are not given sufficient choice. This short part of the day is not used effectively to promote children’s social skills. However, other than this, time is well managed and the routine of the day flows very effectively. Children are given sufficient time to enjoy their play without allowing them to become bored. There are a comprehensive range of written policies and procedures in place. Many of these have recently been updated and good arrangements are in place to ensure that they are understood by all staff. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

p.6

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the need for improvement was identified in many of the areas of learning. The owner, manager and staff team have worked very hard to address these concerns and have made significant improvements in the standards of teaching. As a result children are now making good progress in all areas. In order to achieve this, staff have attended training courses and have introduced new systems for assessing and monitoring children's individual understanding and progress. The setting has also been successful in updating written policies and procedures, many of which are now included in the prospectus. This has helped the staff team to review all areas of their practice. As a result the care given to children is consistent and in line with current requirements.

p.6

Complaints since the last inspection

Concerns were raised on 18.01.2005 relating to National Standard 11: The management of behaviour.

p.6

Complaints since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 An Ofsted childcare inspector made an unannounced visit on 22.02.2005. No evidence was found that any inappropriate behaviour management was used, however an action was set to update the child protection policy to detail the procedures to be followed in case of an allegation against staff. The provider remains qualified for registration. 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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.7

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.

p.7

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

p.7

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): • review the organisation of snack times to create a positive social experience for children.

p.7

The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve the arrangements in place to keep parents and carers informed of their child's progress.

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7