Tenderlinks Day Nursery

Tenderlinks Day Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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Tenderlinks Day Nursery

Unique Reference Number EY313089 Inspection date 28 March 2006 Inspector Cheryl Walker

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Tenderlinks Day Nursery

Setting Address 38 Mitcham Lane, London, SW16 6NP

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E-mail

Registered person Lampard Investments 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Tenderlinks Day Nursery registered in 2005. It operates from a building in Streatham within the Borough of Lambeth. A maximum of 38 children may attend the nursery at any one time. The setting is open each weekday from 08:00 to 18:00 all year round. Children have access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 25 children aged from 3 months to under 5 years on roll. Children come from the local community. The nursery supports children with special educational needs, and also supports a number of children who speak English as an

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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 additional language. The nursery employs 7 staff. Including the manager, 4 of the staff hold an appropriate early years qualification and 1 is currently on a training programme. The setting receives support from the Early Years Childcare Service.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is inadequate. Children benefit from healthy meals that are sufficient in quantity and well presented. A range of nutritious meals is freshly cooked on the premises. Food is prepared according to children's abilities and individual needs. For example, food for very young children is chopped or liquidised according to each individual child's stage of the weaning process. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through every day routines such as washing their hands after using the toilet and before lunchtime, but staff do not encourage children to use the liquid soap provided and children have to share one towel for hand drying. This increases risks of cross contamination. There is a clear nappy changing policy, which states that staff must wear disposable gloves when changing children, however, staff do not consistently follow this procedure, which leaves children exposed to dangers of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Currently, no staff have first aid qualifications. Without up to date knowledge, staff may not be in a position to appropriately deal with children's accidents. Older children enjoy daily exercise and fresh air through outdoor play in a secure area. They have opportunities to ride bikes and tricycles and can climb steps to the slide. Children under the age of 2 years have far fewer chances for fresh air and spend much of their time indoors, which does not promote their physical well- being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. The premise is appropriately maintained and made welcoming to children and parents through colourful displays and information boards. Children use a range of safe resources, which are easily accessible to them through mainly low-level storage systems. Staff ensure children's safety by checking equipment and play areas before use. Written risk assessments are used but these are not consistently maintained in all areas. Children are protected from risks of fire because the nursery has a clear evacuation procedure and fire equipment is well maintained. Children's welfare is not safeguarded because staff that have not been vetted are

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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 sometimes left unsupervised with children. Clear policies are in place to make sure that all adults children have contact with are suitable to care for them, but these are not always adhered to. Staff differ in their knowledge and understanding of the procedures to follow if they have child protection concerns. This limits the chances of staff recognising and reporting concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is inadequate. Children are broadly content and settled in the setting. They begin to make relationships with each other and with the adults around them. They help each other by passing the tissue box and smile and laugh together when they play musical instruments to music. However, there are weaknesses in the experiences and quality of activities offered to all the children. Staff have attended training on the Birth to three matters framework, but do not clearly understand how planning activities for young children works to support and improve their experiences and achievements. Children under 2 years have very little opportunity to explore a wide range of natural resources and play equipment every day. Resources and activities for this age group are repetitive and uninteresting. Staff set out similar resources each day, which limits children's choice and opportunities to make decisions. Displayed plans link to the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Birth to three matters framework, but not all staff show awareness of these and therefore plans are not followed. Staff attend appropriately to children's care needs and most interact warmly with the children, for instance, one member of staff smiles and chats to two babies whilst she feeds them and they in return smile, laugh and vocalise back to her. However, some children wander because too little is done to actively engage them in their activities and to provide sufficient stimulation to challenge them. The lack of planning means that children often have to wait, for example, when a craft activity is not prepared in time for the afternoon session, children keen to make a picture are told they can do it later.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from a friendly partnership between the staff and their parents. Most children settle well because parents and children are greeted in a friendly manner. This helps to enhance children's sense of belonging. Parents receive information about the nursery via the notice board; although there is limited displayed information for parents about what to do if they have a complaint. Staff complete daily record sheets that inform parents about their child's day, for example, their sleep pattern and what they may have eaten. There are currently no systems in place for observation and assessment of children, which means that parents receive limited information about children's progress in their development and 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 Children develop positive attitudes towards difference through play with an adequate range of multi cultural resources. Staff respect parents' wishes about children's individual needs. Although no children with special needs currently attend the setting, appropriate systems are in place to ensure children would be supported. Children generally behave well and show awareness of the boundaries within the setting. Staff encourage children to share and take turns, enabling them to interact socially with their peers.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Recruitment and vetting procedures are not robust enough to ensure that children are protected. For example, systems are not in place to ensure that bank staff have had the appropriate checks before they are left in sole charge of children. Staff ratios are not consistently maintained in all group rooms, which means that some children are not well supervised at certain times during the day. Most required policies and procedures are in place to assist in the organisation of the setting but it is not always clear which policies are in use, as some are not specific to this setting. Although some training has been provided to increase staff's understanding of young children's development and planning to meet their needs, there is still insufficient awareness of how to promote positive outcomes for young children. This hinders children's progress. The setting does not meet the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 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.

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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve.

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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 The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • make sure enough staff are trained in first aid to ensure that at least one member of staff with a current first aid certificate is on the premises or on outings at any one time • improve staff understanding of chid protection and the procedures in place to protect children • develop staff's understanding of the Birth to three framework to ensure the activities provided interest, stimulate and challenge children • ensure that staff who have not been vetted are not left unsupervised with children • implement systems to ensure that staff ratios are maintained • review the policies and procedures to ensure they are specific to the setting These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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