New Beginnings Nursery

New Beginnings

Inspection report for early years provision

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New Beginnings

Unique Reference Number EY309255 Inspection date 23 March 2006 Inspector Samantha Hunt

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New Beginnings

Setting Address 5 New Road, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, SL8 5BQ

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E-mail

Registered person New Beginnings Day Nursery Ltd Type of inspection Childcare 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

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

New Beginnings Day Nursery is the only provision currently owned by the proprietor. It opened in 2005 and operates from 3 rooms within a council owned building. The nursery has sole use of the building. It is situated within the village of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. A maximum of 26 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The Nursery is open each weekday from 08:00 until 18:00 for 51 weeks of the year. Children have access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 35 children aged from birth to under 5 years on roll. The nursery serves the local community and surrounding areas.

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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 The nursery employs 6 staff. There are 3 qualified staff, including the manager, who hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting currently has 2 staff who are working towards a qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have access to fresh air and exercise daily. They access a good variety of equipment, which helps them develop physically. Children pull themselves up, climb, slide, walk and crawl as they access the indoor activity frame. They have opportunities to ride on cars and trikes, kick balls and roll hoops in the garden. Staff promote their physical well being through good support and supervision. For example, they encourage children to begin to walk and hold children whilst they jump up and down. They go out on regular walks into the community to visit the park and feed the ducks. Babies and young children sleep according to their individual need and routine. Sleeping takes place in a comfortable cot in a separate sleep room. All children have individual bedding which is clean and regularly laundered. Staff have high regard for children's health and safety; the room is well ventilated and temperatures are

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Helping children to be healthy

monitored to ensure children do not over heat or become too cold. Children are becoming aware of good hygiene. Older children are encouraged to wash hands after using the toilet and staff wipe children's noses when necessary. However, staff are not always effective at ensuring all hands are washed before sitting down for snacks and meals. Nappy changing procedures are good. All babies have their nappies checked and changed regularly. Staff wear gloves and tabards to minimize risks to children's health and hygiene. Children are well nourished. They have access to drinks when thirsty and staff encourage all children to drink throughout the day. Babies are held by staff while having their bottles and mealtimes are a sociable occasion where staff sit with, and chat to, the children. Children clearly enjoy their food. All meals and snacks provided include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Staff liaise closely with parents to

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Helping children to be healthy

ensure all individual needs are catered for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children have access to an environment that is well maintained and organised. This allows children to move around and play safely. They freely access a good variety of toys and resources. Toys are of good quality and met their needs well. Staff check and maintain all toys and equipment regularly to ensure they are safe and suitable for the children to use and play with. Children benefit from a good range of safety measures to ensure they remain safe.

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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 Security of the premises is good. Staff monitor the main entrance closely when parents and visitors arrive and leave. Good procedures are in place to ensure children are well supervised and all visitors to the building are required to sign in. Staff check and record sleeping babies regularly to ensure their well-being. Children and staff practise the emergency evacuation procedures on a regular basis. This helps children become familiar with the routine in the event of an emergency. Children are protected from possible harm and neglect, because staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of child protection. They have a clear awareness of the signs to lookout for and the procedures to follow. The manager has recently undertaken child protection training and is very clear of the procedures to follow if

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

there is a need to report a concern. All up to date documentation is in place to support the setting including the local authority procedures and contacts. This all contributes to the children's welfare and safety within the setting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. All children benefit from a good daily routine that takes into account their individual needs. All babies eat and sleep when they need to. Children relate well towards one another, staff and visitors. They are happy and settle well within the nursery setting. Staff are attentive to children’s needs and show all children warmth and kindness. This helps the children to feel reassured and settled at all times. Babies happily crawl around and pull themselves up on sturdy low-level furniture. Brightly coloured walls, pictures and mobiles provide stimulation for the less mobile children. Older children initiate their own play well and are happy to request help when they need it. They are beginning to use their imagination, for example, playing in the home corner. Children are comfortably able to make choices and begin to become independent as they access a good variety of toys and books from the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

low-level shelves and boxes. They play eagerly in the garden and enjoy the fresh air. However, less mobile children have a lack of resources to stimulate them as they sit or lay on a rug. Children experience a good variety of activities to aid their development and enjoyment, for example painting, sand, water and simple cooking. They clearly enjoy exploring the texture and taste of the paint when painting. Children listen well to short stories in small groups and begin to join in with actions at song time. Staff extend experiences for the children through positive interaction and questioning to make them think. Children have many opportunities to play throughout the day, with and without support from staff. They benefit from regular cuddles and receive lots of positive praise and encouragement. This helps to build their self-esteem and confidence further.

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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 good. Behaviour is good. Older children show care to younger children, for example, passing a rattle to a baby. Staff set children consistent boundaries, which are age appropriate. Staff are good role models; they speak to children in a calm manner and give lots of praise and encouragement. Children begin to feel a good sense of belonging because of the close relationship they are forming with one another and the staff. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Staff treat all children with equal concern and respond well to their needs. There are clear systems in place to support children with special needs, although none currently attend the nursery. Children begin to become aware of the wider community in which they live. They have access to a sound variety of toys and resources. Planned activities such as celebration

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Helping children make a positive contribution

festivals and visits to local shops help to extend children’s awareness. Partnerships with parents are good. Staff greet parents in a friendly manner and make themselves available to chat. Settling in procedures for new children are good; children visit for a variety of sessions to help them settle before starting. Staff promote children’s wellbeing because they are pro-active in collating information about individual needs when children first start. They liaise with parents on a daily basis to keep up date and discuss concerns with parents as they arise. Parents receive good information, both verbal and written. A daily sheet, notice board, posters and monthly newsletter help to keep parents informed about their child’s care and the provision. This all helps to promote the children’s welfare and wellbeing.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Space is well organised to allow all children to move around effectively. Children have space to explore, play and rest in comfort and safety. They are freely able to access the sensory room, book corner and home corner. Storage of toys is good and enables children to initiate their own play as they select toys from the low-level shelves. Staff work well together and understand their role and responsibilities. They effectively plan the monthly curriculum together to meet the children's needs and help them progress. The manager demonstrates a good understanding of the group’s strengths and weaknesses and works closely with staff and the owner to ensure the smooth running of the setting. Staff show a good understanding of all policies and procedures in place. Monthly staff meetings help keep them up to date. All documentation relating to regulation is in place. All policies and procedures that

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Organisation

contribute to promoting children’s health, safety and welfare are shared with parents. The provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements 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 Not applicable.

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Complaints 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 made to Ofsted. There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve hygiene procedures to ensure children and staff always wash hands before snack and meal times. • extend resources and stimulation for less mobile children when out in the garden.

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The quality and standards of the care

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 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

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