St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 09/09/2004 Inspector Name Patricia Mary Champion

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care, Out of School Day Care, Sessional Day Care Setting Name Little Treasures Setting Address 148 Electric Avenue Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 9NJ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Westcliff Elim Christian Centre 251549

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Westcliff Elim Christian Centre Address 148 Electric Avenue Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 9NJ

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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ABOUT THE INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality and standard of day care in accordance with the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding; and that the nursery education for funded three and four year old children is of an acceptable quality. Inspection of nursery education also identifies strengths and weaknesses so that providers can improve the quality of educational provision and help children to achieve the early learning goals (elgs) by the end of the Foundation Stage. This inspection report must be made available to all parents. If the setting has been inspected previously, an action plan will have been drawn up to tackle issues identified. This inspection, therefore, must also assess what progress has been made in the implementation of this plan.

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Information about the setting

Little Treasures Child Care Centre opened in 1991. It operates from converted church halls located in a residential area in central Westcliff, within walking distance of schools and shops. The nursery, pre-school and out of school centre serves the local community and surrounding areas. There are currently 245 children aged from 3 months to 11 years on roll. This includes 17 funded 3 year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions, full day care or out of school care. The setting supports a small number of children who have special needs or who have English as an additional language. The child care centre opens five days a week all year round. Operating times are from 07:30 until 18:00. Nineteen staff work with the children. Eighteen staff hold early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. Four staff are currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and

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Information about the setting

Childcare Partnership (EYDCP), Pre School Learning Alliance (PSLA) and National Day Nurseries' Association (NDNA).

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How good is the Day Care?

Little Treasures Child Care Centre provides good quality care for children. Key workers are used effectively to provide support and good adult: child ratios provide for the individual needs of children. The staff are well qualified and they enjoy their work with the children. They work hard to make the premises attractive by displaying the children's artwork and there are plans to renovate the toilet facilities. Although sufficient child sized furniture is provided within the nursery, children attending the pre-school are using both child and adult sized furniture. Documentation is extremely well organised with a high regard given to confidentiality. Children's welfare and safety is a paramount consideration and staff undertake comprehensive risk assessment inside the premises. Although staff are vigilant

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How good is the Day 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; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 about security, the record of visitors is not always maintained. Staff sensitively promote good hygiene procedures and provide meals, snacks and drinks with regard given to children with allergies or special diets. There are appropriate systems in place to deal with child protection issues. There is a wide range of accessible, stimulating activities to promote children's overall development. Resources reflect positive images of culture and gender. Relationships between staff and children are very effective with individual needs being sensitively met. An effective system is in place to support children with special needs and there is a clear policy that covers equality of opportunity. Good behaviour is always valued and encouraged. The children in the out of school scheme are

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How good is the Day Care?

encouraged to think about and then devise rules regarding how they behave. Children enjoy their time at the centre; they interact well with each other and are settled and confident with their carers. The parents have full access to information about the setting and are kept informed about their children through daily contact with staff and access to their records.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The management have worked hard to improve the safety and welfare of the children attending Little Treasures. Following the last inspection a new central heating system has been installed to ensure that the cot rooms are maintained at an adequate temperature. Additional fencing has been erected to ensure that children are not able to leave the garden unsupervised. Outside drains have been covered and the toilet door locks in the hall have been made inaccessible to children. The system for managing access to the premises has significantly been improved. An intercom and touch pad entry system has been installed and there are no longer tenants living in the accommodation above the hall. The registered provider has also addressed actions raised at subsequent visits made by childcare inspectors. The management now know to notify Ofsted of any significant incidents or events as soon as reasonably practical. Staff are all made

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What has improved since the last inspection?

aware of the individual needs of the children including any allergies and they make sure that the sleeping arrangements for babies are safe. The registration system is now organised to give an accurate record of the children in each room.

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What is being done well?

• High quality documentation required for the efficient and safe management of the nursery is in place. An extensive operational plan has been devised and the records kept promoting the welfare, care and learning of all children are well maintained. • There is a well-established partnership with parents. They received good verbal feedback and written daily diary sheets are completed for all children attending for full day care. A wealth of information is displayed in the entrance hall to the nursery. Several parents were spoken to; they were all

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What is being done well?

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 extremely happy with the care of their children. • A wide range of activities and outings are provided within the out of school club. Children attend before and after school and during school holidays. The staff promote healthy activities and visits are made to local parks, beaches and nearby attractions such as Southend Pier. Good use is made of venues such as Earls Hall swimming pool and Southend United football ground. • There are effective and well-organised procedures for delivering and collecting children from school. Children are rewarded for taking part in the walking bus scheme. • Mealtimes are social occasions enjoyed by all the children; menus are well planned and healthy nutritious food is prepared and cooked on the premises.

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What is being done well?

The staff have an extremely good awareness of allergies and special diets. • All staff have attended recent behaviour management training. The staff are consistent and work calmly with children. They have positive strategies and promote respect by sharing and turn taking. Children behave well and have a clear understanding of the boundaries.

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An aspect of outstanding practice:

The staff have put considerable time and effort into improving the quality of care for babies and children aged under three years. They have enthusiastically taken on board new initiatives by attending training and incorporating the Birth to Three Framework when planning activities and developing the assessment records.

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What needs to be improved?

• the provision of suitable child sized furniture in the Clever Clogs setting • the arrangements for recording when visitors are present.

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CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION

All registered persons must comply with all conditions of registration included on his/her certificate of registration. As a result of this inspection conditions of registration have been imposed / varied / removed and a new certificate of registration will be issued.

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WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT?

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 5 Ensure that there are sufficient numbers of child sized chairs and tables to allow flexible arrangements for groups of children to play and eat together. (This refers to the furniture used within the Clever Clogs setting.) 6 Keep a record of all visitors.

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by the time of the next 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; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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How effective is the nursery education?

The provision for nursery education at Little Treasures Child Care Centre is good. It enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in their knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development and generally good progress in all other areas of learning. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff plan a stimulating variety of practical activities and have an understanding of what children learn from them. Detailed assessments are made to monitor progress and identify the next steps in children's learning. Children's behaviour is good; they are learning to work co-operatively. The staff use the premises flexibly and imaginatively; a designated area for messy play has been created. However they are not making full use of the outdoor area to enhance children's opportunities and experiences in all areas of learning. Very effective systems are in place to support children with special needs.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Leadership and management is generally good. Major staff changes have been made following the last inspection. There is now a dedicated management team who work closely with an enthusiastic and caring staff team. The manager delegates and involves staff in playing an active role when planning activities for the children. The setting is fully committed to the improvement of care and education for all children. Appraisals for all staff apart from the manager have been organised. The partnership with parents and carers is very good. Parents are given the opportunity to talk informally with staff and attend open evenings to obtain details of their child's progress. Detailed written reports linked to the children's progress towards the early learning goals are shared. There is information provided for parents to keep them informed of activities and themes, to enable them to support and extend learning.

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What is being done well?

• The key worker system is well organised. Staff have developed comprehensive planning, assessment and monitoring systems to ensure all children are fully supported and challenged. Children receive ample supervision and attention which enables them to progress. Staff have established positive relationships with the children and know them well. • There is an excellent programme to promote information technology. The children can freely access the computer during everyday play. It is positioned where children can take initiative and practice their skills with confidence. • An excellent range of activities are planned to develop the children's creative skills. A well-balanced programme of adult-led and child-initiated art, music and imaginative play is offered. Children incorporate their own ideas into making collages and models and are delighted with their individual pieces of

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What is being done well?

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 work. There are stimulating opportunities for children to explore paint and malleable materials such as play dough and shaving foam, independently with no desired end result.

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What needs to be improved?

• the use of resources within the daily routine to maximise and enhance the children's learning • the planning of activities for the outdoor area.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The previous inspection was undertaken in July 2000, prior to the current manager and deputies taking up their posts. The key issues raised have been addressed and changes introduced in September 2000 to the nursery education requirements are now covered within the nursery's practice. The programme for physical development has been improved. There are now more opportunities for children to practice and demonstrate their skills when climbing and balancing. An outdoor soft play surface has been installed and additional climbing and balancing apparatus has been provided. Weekly gym classes have been organised at Leigh Village. There are now more planned opportunities for the children to respond to cultural and religious events. Different festivals are celebrated throughout the year and activities are planned to link to the themes and topics. Outings are made to other places of worship. Books, puzzles and other play equipment have been purchased to portray

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What has improved 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; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are eager to try activities and show good levels of concentration in their tasks and pride in their achievements. They cooperate and share resources, showing respect for each other by taking turns. Friendly relationships are formed with their peers and the staff team. Children can freely choose the activities on offer and tidy up. There are missed opportunities for children to show confidence in their self-care by pouring drinks or helping at dinner time.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children's spoken language is developing well. They are building up a vocabulary linked to the themes and reflecting the breadth of their experiences. Children read with enjoyment and handle books carefully. They can recognise their names and clearly labelled displays help them to learn other familiar words. Although planned activities encourage children to practice their handwriting, there are missed opportunities for writing or mark making within role-play.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children show interest in numbers and counting within everyday situations. They can reliably count to ten and much higher with support. Shape, size, volume and quantity are compared through activities such as sand and water play. Good use of resources enables children to confidently recognise numerals and shapes. Although children learn the concept of calculation through the daily routine there are fewer planned activities where children can show an interest in number problems.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children investigate objects such as cameras to find out how they work. They design and make models by assembling bricks and recycled materials. Children have excellent opportunities to learn about information technology by using the computer and by listening to the tape recorder. Work planned around the broad range of themes and topics stimulates the children's interest and curiosity for a sense of time, place and awareness of cultures.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children run and move confidently during games and activities. They show an awareness of space whilst engaged in activities inside and when they are in the garden. Children climb, balance and expertly ride scooters and bikes. They throw and catch beanbags and enjoy taking part in races. Children can handle and explore tools, objects and malleable materials effectively and with safety. Health and bodily awareness is discussed; children are aware that their heart beats faster after exercise.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children enjoy using their imagination and express their ideas through a stimulating variety of different activities and opportunities. Children explore media and materials through colour mixing, combining paint and textures and using collage materials. An excellent range of themed resources allows children to play purposefully within their role-play scenarios and small world play. They take pleasure in singing and use musical instruments with enjoyment.

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Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of good quality overall. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. The next inspection will take place in three to four years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• review use of resources to maximise children's learning within the daily routine; particularly by allowing greater independence at mealtimes and by providing more opportunities for emergent writing within role play and calculation during purposeful planned activities. • consider how the activities for the outdoor area can be planned imaginatively to enhance the children's learning experiences in all areas.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

The provider must draw up an action plan within 40 working days of receipt of this report showing how the key issues detailed above will be addressed. The action plan must be made available to all parents and to the Local Authority if required. An evaluation of the action taken will form part of the next inspection of funded nursery education.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON

Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

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STANDARD 2 - ORGANISATION

The registered person meets required adult: child ratios, ensures that training and qualifications requirements are met and organises space and resources to meet the children's needs effectively.

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STANDARD 3 - CARE, LEARNING AND PLAY

The registered person meets children's individual needs and promotes their welfare. They plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop children's emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.

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STANDARD 4 - PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming to children and offer access to the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote their development.

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STANDARD 5 - EQUIPMENT

Furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are of suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to safety standards.

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STANDARD 6 - SAFETY

The registered person takes positive steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.

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STANDARD 7 - HEALTH

The registered person promotes the good health of children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.

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STANDARD 8 - FOOD AND DRINK

Children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.

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STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.

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NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is

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NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 proactive in ensuring that appropriate action can be taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of the child within the setting in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties.

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STANDARD 11 - BEHAVIOUR

Adults caring for children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development.

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STANDARD 12 - WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND CARERS

The registered person and staff work in partnership with parents and to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group. Information is shared.

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STANDARD 13 - CHILD PROTECTION

The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.

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STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

Records, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, or to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. Records about individual children are shared with the child's parent.

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STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

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 Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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