Parsonage Farm Day Nursery Limited

Parsonage Farm Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Parsonage Farm Day Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY276134 Inspection date 24 January 2006 Inspector Liz Margaret Caluori

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Parsonage Farm Day Nursery

Setting Address Parsonage Farm, Wardsbrook Lane, Ticehurst, East Sussex, TN5 7DL Telephone number 01580 201263

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E-mail

Registered person Caron Trohear Type of inspection Integrated Type of care Full day 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 good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Parsonage Farm Day Nursery is a privately owned provision which became registered in 2004 . It operates from a single storey converted building in a rural area of Ticehurst and has two fully enclosed outside play areas. The group serves the local area and surrounding areas. A maximum of 40 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round. Children attend on a

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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 sessional or full time basis. There are currently 76 children on roll aged from 6 months to 5 years; of these 14 receive funding for nursery education. The group is able to support children with special needs and those who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs 10 full time staff, 7 of whom hold appropriate early years childcare qualifications. The group receives support from the local authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a variety of nutritious and well-balanced snacks and meals. Mid-morning snacks consist of a drink, a biscuit and a piece of fruit and cooked lunches are brought in from outside caterers. Jugs of water are available at all times in each room. Children are learning about the benefits of eating healthily through the support of staff. Very good hygiene procedures protect the children from the risk of infection. Toys and equipment are regularly washed and good nappy changing procedures are followed. Children are developing very good personal hygiene. They routinely wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet and are learning how to blow their noses. 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

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Helping children to be healthy

appropriate. However, there are minor weaknesses in the maintenance of written records. Children enjoy very regular opportunities for physical play. They make good use of the enclosed outdoor play area to run around, play with balls and use ride-on toys. They move with control and are developing good co-ordination. The emotional well-being of all children is very well fostered through the praise, supportive contact and cuddles they receive from staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a well-maintained environment with good security arrangements. This allows older children to move around the setting safely whilst developing a very good level of independence. Toys and equipment are kept in very good condition and are stored so as to be easily accessible to children. The nursery has clear fire procedures in place and these are prominently displayed.

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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 However, at times, some fire exits are obstructed by toys and equipment which compromises the safety of children, staff and visitors. Appropriate fire fighting equipment is present although the fire blanket in the kitchen is not correctly mounted. Children are learning to keep themselves safe through the on-going advice and support of staff. Even the very youngest children are well supported to understand basic safety precautions such as not running too close to furniture. One member of staff acts as the child protection co-ordinator and has a thorough understanding of the procedures to follow if any concerns are identified. She is supported in this role by the provider and both have recently attended training. As a result, children’s welfare is protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very warmly welcomed into the nursery; they come in happily and settle easily. They form very good relationships with staff and with their peers. As a result there is a very friendly, warm atmosphere throughout the whole setting. Staff have recently begun to use the Birth to three matters framework to plan for the younger children. This is working very effectively, particularly for the children under 2 years. Children enjoy a wide range of activities, skilfully aimed at addressing their individual needs. They are making good progress and are very well supported by staff who use effective systems to assess and monitor their development. Children are stimulated, engaged and enthusiastic. On a typical day they will choose from free play activities including arts and crafts, construction, puzzles, role play and physical games. In addition they look at books and enjoy story times, singing

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

sessions and other adult lead activities. Nursery education The quality of teaching and learning is good. One member of staff has recently been appointed to co-ordinate the daily pre-school sessions for all 3 and 4 year old children in receipt of education grant funding. She has a thorough understanding of the foundation stage and has begun to implement a very competent system of assessment and planning. Children’s individual developmental needs are being clearly identified and they are provided with a good level of challenge. The organisation of the pre-school session often results in the staff member working alone with children. Whilst she is very good at engaging their interest, this arrangement does not support her to effectively implement planned activities. As a result of discussions during the inspection, the provider has re-organised the session to include a small number of non-funded 3 year olds and an additional member of

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

staff. This arrangement allows the children not taking part in the adult lead activities to be supported in their free play. Children benefit from good opportunities to learn about a variety of interesting and stimulating subjects. They are keen to take part in activities and ask a lot of

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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 interesting questions. They chat while playing and use a range of very descriptive words. Children are practising writing and are working towards forming recognisable letters. They spend time looking at books and enjoy listening to stories read by staff. Children are developing good creative skills. They use the easel provided to produce expressive and individual paintings. They also enjoy lively music and singing sessions and are beginning to appreciate the differences in sounds. Opportunities for children to engage in role play are limited during the pre-school session. However, those staying for the afternoon have access to the dressing up clothes and home corner in another group room. Children enjoy a range of activities specifically planned to address their mathematical

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

development. They practise skills such as sorting, matching, sequencing and weighing and are beginning to learn the basic concepts of addition and subtraction. Similarly, they are making good progress in their knowledge and understanding of the world. They are particularly well supported in this area by the pre-school co-ordinator. In addition to planning specific activities she increases children’s general knowledge through conversations during activities. She also skilfully captures children’s imaginations during spontaneous activities, for example by studying the ice that had formed in the outdoor water tray. Children have access to a computer and are beginning to use simple programs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. Their individual needs are clearly identified throughout the nursery and given high priority. They learn about different people from throughout the community by taking part in activities to mark different celebrations and special days. However, the range of toys and resources aimed at representing different people from throughout the community is very limited. The behaviour of the children in the nursery is extremely good. They are polite, well-mannered and caring. Whilst there are minor disputes regarding turn taking and sharing, these are consistent with the age and stages of development of children and are dealt with appropriately and patiently by staff. The nursery has good arrangements in place to care for children with special needs. The staff team has a very positive attitude towards meeting the needs of all children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and one member of staff has trained to act as the special needs co-ordinator. Partnership with parents is good. Children benefit from the very positive relationships that exist between staff and parents. This provides a strong link between the nursery and their home. As a result, children feel secure and staff have a good understanding of each child as an individual. Parents are greeted warmly and given a good deal of verbal information. In addition, they have access to a range of written policies and procedures. Parents of funded children are informed of their child’s day through contact books and are free to enter their own written comments. Very good procedures are in place to involve the parent’s of children in receipt of funding. These

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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 include providing termly reports and holding consultations to encourage parents to discuss their child’s progress.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The organisation of the setting is generally effective. There are 10 staff working with the children, of whom 7 hold appropriate childcare qualifications. The provider is also often present, undertaking the majority of the administrative tasks and generally being involved in the life of the nursery. With the exception of the pre-school sessions, the deployment of staff is generally good. Space is also well used to allow children to move freely and safely between activities. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Over the two years that the nursery has been in business the staff team has grown in number and is now complete. In recognition of this, arrangements for staff meetings have been revised to ensure that they take place regularly. There are effective systems in place to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the setting. The provider and senior staff have

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Organisation

produced development plans which they are currently working through. The relationship between the provider and the staff is very positive and effective, creating a harmonious and comfortable environment for children. There are a range of clear written policies in place, many of which are being reviewed and updated to reflect changes in legislation. Additional policies are also being produced to formalise procedures that have evolved as the nursery has grown. All required documentation is maintained; this contributes to the effective management of the setting. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection recommendations were made that the setting provides suitable seating for staff to use when feeding babies and also that improvements be made to the toilet facilities. These issues have both been addressed and, as a result, children's care needs are more effectively met. The provider was also advised that staff records should be kept on site and this is now the standard procedure. This improves children's safety as all the information required to assess staff suitability is readily accessible.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. 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

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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 made to Ofsted.

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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 good.

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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): • improve the fire safety arrangements to ensure that fire fighting equipment is appropriately sited and emergency exits are kept clear • increase the range of toys and equipment aimed at representing different people from throughout the community

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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): • review and improve the staffing arrangements during the pre-school sessions to ensure that there are sufficient staff to enable children to benefit fully from the range of activities provided.

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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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