Lets Play Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 07/06/2004 Inspector Name Kashma Patel

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name LETS PLAY NURSERY Setting Address 25-27 Redstone Farm Road Hall Green BIRMINGHAM WEST MIDLANDS B28 9NU

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REGISTERED PROVIDER 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

Lets Play Nursery opened in April 1995 and is a privately owned business. The nursery is situated on Redstone Farm Road in Hall Green and can be accessed easily from Acocks Green, Olton and Solihull. The accommodation consists of two converted adjoining shops. The main nursery is situated next door and comprises of two play areas on the ground floor and one room on the first floor. Children are divided in to groups according to age and ability. There is an enclosed outdoor play area. The nursery is registered to provide care for a total of 37 children from 0 - 8 years. This includes funded three and four year olds. Children attend a variety of sessions. The setting currently supports a number of children with special needs, and who speak English as an additional language. The group opens 5 days a week all year round. Sessions are from 07.30 and 18.00, The nursery also do before and after school care and escort from Robin Hood J & I

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Information about the setting

School. Over half of the staff have early years qualification to NVQ level 2 or 3. All staff hold a First aid Certificate. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare partnership (EYDCP).

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How good is the Day Care?

Lets Play Nursery provides good quality care for children.

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How good is the Day Care?

Staff offer a warm and welcoming environment where children feel secure and their individual needs are taken into account. Staff know the children well and develop good relationships with them. All documentation is maintained. Staff ensure that children understand about safety in the setting and have taken the necessary precautions to ensure children’s safety. All areas for promoting health and hygiene are satisfactory and are reinforced through the daily routine, however there is insufficient ventilation in some play areas. Children are provided with regular

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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 drinks but children in the pre-school did not have free access to water on the day of inspection. Children are offered healthy and nutritious meals, which meets their individual dietary needs. Staff provide a wide range of interesting and stimulating activities both indoors and outdoors which promote children's learning and imagination in order to give them a wide range of experiences. They plan varied activities for children of different age groups. They spend a lot of time talking and playing with them and helping them to learn. Staff have a good understanding of equal opportunities. There is a range of toys available for children, which promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children. The staff have a good understanding of

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How good is the Day Care?

child protection issues and implement their knowledge into practice. The children are encouraged to behaviour well and the policy is fully implemented. Staff have good working partnerships with parents, which ensures that the children are cared for in accordance with their parent's wishes. A comprehensive welcome pack is available to all parents. Information is shared with parents.

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What is being done well?

• A wide range of toys and activities are available, enabling children to make progress in all areas of learning. They play confidently with a good selection of play equipment from which they choose freely. • Good relationships are promoted between staff, children and within the peer group. Staff know the children well, they are happy and well settled, and staff spend time talking to them and helping them to learn. • Individual needs of the children are met well with Staff giving individual attention, and catering for children's needs through the daily routine. They provides a good range of stimulating activities. • Clear instructions, praise, compliments and encouragement are given to the children and they respond well. Children behave well, take turns and share. • Partnership with parents is good. Staff care for children in accordance with their parent's wishes and makes time to share information every day.

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What needs to be improved?

• ventilation in toddler and pre-school; • free access to water in pre-school area.

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What needs to be improved?

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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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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by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 4 Ensure that the toddler and the pre-school areas have sufficient ventilation, and are maintained at an adequate temperature. 8 Ensure children in the pre-school area have access to water at all times.

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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?

Lets Play Nursery provides generally good quality nursery education. Children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Provision for their creative development and physical development is well-planned and children are making very good progress in these areas. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff manage the children very well, and have a positive relationship with them. They plan a variety of practical activities and have a generally good understanding of how children learn, but do not always maximise the opportunities to extend children's independence. Staff organise the indoor environment and resources effectively which assists children's progress towards the early learning goals. Staff provide limited opportunities for children to use mathematical ideas to solve problems and to develop their self help skills. Children with special needs are given good support to participate in the full range of

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How effective is the nursery education?

activities. They are skilful in extending children asking questions which encourage them to think and talk about what they are doing. Children have access to a writing area, but do not have enough opportunities to recognize and write their names. Staff assess children's learning against the stepping stones and early learning goals and use this information to plan what the children should do next. They keep individual records which provide a clear picture of children's progress to share with parents. The leadership and management of the nursery is generally good. The team work well together and are committed to extending the quality of care and education. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents have a good level of information about the provision and their children's progress and development. Parents are welcomed to take part in their children's play and learning

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What is being done well?

• Children are motivated to learn as a result of the staff's positive interaction and engagement in their play. • Children engage easily in conversations with each other and adults. They enjoy singing, listening to stories and can confidently recall past events in stories and in their personal lives. • Children learn about the world around them by exploring their surroundings and living things. They have a good understanding about their own culture as well as other cultures, through practical and planned activities. • Children enjoy a variety of music and they are able to distinguish sound

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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 patterns and beats in music using various mediums.

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What needs to be improved?

• extend staff's knowledge and raise their awareness of how they can build on children's learning during practical routines and activities, maximising learning opportunities, with particular reference to mathematical thinking and problem solving • extend opportunities for children to write and match their names.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made generally good progress in addressing the issues raised, at the last inspection the nursery agreed to: improve staff's knowledge of children with special needs and the Code of Practice (Cop). There are now 3 SENCO workers in each unit. They receive regular training and support from Area Senco. Planning has also been reviewed and short term plans have been extended to include the 6 areas of learning.

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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 confidently express their needs and ideas, developing strong relationships with each other and with adults. Children concentrate very well during focussed and self initiated activities. They understand what is right and wrong and behaviour is good. Children are not always able to develop their independence through routine activities such as snack times. Children show consideration for each as they take turns and share.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children are confident and fluent speakers and engage easily in conversations with peers and adults. They have a good understanding of the written word through labelling of equipment, displays and a designated writing area. However, children do not have enough opportunities to write and match their names. Children enjoy books during story group time and self initiated play. They are beginning to link sounds to letters within their daily routines.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Four year olds count up to ten and some are able to count beyond ten. They recognise shapes, colours and sizes. Children do not always use mathematical ideas to solve problems, for example the use of addition and subtraction in everyday activities. Children have an awareness of weight and capacity through the use of resources such as the sand and water. Children are beginning to sequence and recreate simple patterns.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children talk readily about past and present events in their lives. At circle times they observe features of the weather and are developing a good understanding of the months and seasons of the year. Activities such as cooking encourage the children to investigate their properties. Children show awareness of the environment through activities such as growing, and looking at minibeasts in the garden.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good fine motor control skills and hand/eye coordination, which they learn and practice at a wide range of activities, such as painting with brushes, using rulers and pencils. They move confidently with coordination when using the large equipment, such as the climbing frame or scooters. During group activities, such as story time and ring games, they are able to move safely and negotiate adequate space.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

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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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children easily differentiate between colours and confidently explore texture and shape, They respond in a variety of ways to what they see, hear and touch and communicate their own ideas through a good range of art materials. Children use their imagination during role play and use expression through dance and movement. Children show an interest in music and enjoy using instruments. They independently build and construct with a range of material to create models.

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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

• extend opportunities mathematical development during routines and activities • extend opportunities for children to write and match their names. 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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