Letchmore Infants' and Nursery School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 23/03/2004 Inspector Name Karyn Yarnold

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Roundabout Day Care Centre Setting Address Embankment Road Plymouth Devon PL4 9HP

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Roundabout Day Care Centre

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Roundabout Day Care Centre Address PLymouth Christian Centre Embankment Road Plymouth Devon PL4 9HP

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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

The Roundabout Day Care Centre opened in 1986. It operates from several rooms within the Plymouth Christian Centre, situated close to the centre of the city of Plymouth. The nursery serves the local area of Plymouth but also accepts children from outside of the area. There are currently 135 children from birth to 5 years on roll. This includes 39 funded 3-year-olds and 7 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend a variety of sessions. The setting supports children with special needs. All children currently attending speak English as their first language. The group opens Monday to Friday all year round. Care is provided from 07:30 until 18:00 and children can attend half days. There are 11 full-time and 11 part-time staff who work directly with the children, plus 4 trainees. All of the staff have an appropriate childcare qualification to level 2 or above. The nursery manager is qualified to level 4. In addition a cook, secretary,

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Information about the setting

housekeeper and an administration officer are also employed. The nursery is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association

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How good is the Day Care?

The Roundabout Day Care Centre provides good quality care for children. The management and organisation of the setting is good and babies and children are well cared for with individual needs being met. Good use is made of space within the setting and children of different ages are suitably cared for in peer groups. There are colourful displays in every room and informative parents’ notice boards provide a warm and welcoming environment where children and parents are made to feel welcome. Babies in particular are provided with an extremely good selection of age appropriate, colourful and stimulating baby toys and furniture, which are clean, and in good condition.

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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 Procedures are in place that ensure that children are safe and regular risk assessments and fire drills are undertaken, however there is no established procedure in place regarding the logging of any fire safety checks or recommendations. Staff generally follow good hygiene procedures particularly in the preparation and serving of lunches, which are prepared on the premises. An excellent menu is offered that alternates weekly. Meals are varied, wholesome, nutritious, healthy and attractively presented. Staff in most areas of the provision produce worthwhile plans and provide a wide range of interesting activities for babies and children to enjoy. However some planned activities in the toddler area are not age appropriate. Older children take

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How good is the Day Care?

part in an appropriate curriculum that contributes towards their progress towards early learning goals in all areas of learning. There is a very good partnership between parents and staff. Parents are offered comprehensive information on the provision and are given regular up-dates on their children's care and education whilst attending the setting.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the setting was given a number of actions. The majority of these have been put into place resulting in babies and children being provided with a safe and stimulating environment and with more polices in place for parents to feel confident about the setting's practice.

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What is being done well?

• The setting is well managed and organised and there is a thorough procedure for appointing, vetting and appraising staff. • Babies and children are offered a wide variety of interesting activities including those reflecting diversity and toys that are clean and well maintained. The routines and activities in the baby room are particularly good. • There are good safety procedures in place for the dropping off and collecting children. • Children are offered an excellent variety of main meals, which are wholesome and nourishing.

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What needs to be improved?

• the structure of some of the planned activities in the toddler area • safety of children when sitting in low chairs in the toddler areas • recording of fire safety measures

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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 • knowledge and understanding of Individual Education Plans for children with special needs • the child protection policy, to include a procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse against a member of staff or volunteer.

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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 6 Ensure that any recommendations of the fire officer are complied with and appropriate records maintained. 3 Ensure that activities in the toddler area are age appropriate. 10 Develop staff's knowledge and understanding of Individual Education Plans.

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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?

Roundabout day nursery provides a generally good level of nursery education. Children are making very good progress in personal social and emotional development. They are making generally good progress in the other five areas of learning. Children come confidently into the setting. They know where resources are kept and are able to select what they need. They understand the expectations for behaviour and respond appropriately. Children are keen to participate in the wide range of activities and planned play opportunities that are available to them. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a clear understanding of the early learning goals. Plans are developed using appropriate stepping stones for the age and stage of development of the children. Staff make good use of praise. They encourage the children to attempt new activities. Excellent strategies are employed for managing behaviour. For example, during circle time children only speak when

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How effective is the nursery education?

holding an elephant toy; and traffic light coloured spoons are used in PE and Music. Staff record regular observations of the children. These observations are transferred to the Plymouth recording document used by the setting. Staff use this information to inform planning. The leadership and management of the setting are very good. The church committee is keen to ensure that the nursery is well managed. The manager oversees the running of the nursery, assesses its strengths and weaknesses and monitors the nursery education provision. The manager is aware of the areas that need developing and is putting strategies in place to support these. The setting is committed to giving staff opportunities to train and to develop as practitioners. The partnership with parents is generally good. There is a good quality prospectus. Parents receive some information each week about what has taken place and the progress of their child. They are encouraged to write their own comments in

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What is being done well?

• The planning is excellent. Staff work together to produce a curriculum that meets the needs of all children and is clearly linked to the Foundation Stage curriculum. • Staff regularly observe and record what children do. This is clearly used to help plan the next steps for the children. • Children's personal social and emotional development is excellent. The children are confident, interested and able to work on their own. They understand the expectations for behaviour and respond appropriately to them.

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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 • The children talk very confidently in the setting. They are able to voice their thoughts and ideas. They respond to stories and questions. They are willing to talk to visitors to the setting and they show an understanding of the listener.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to calculate and to use the associated language • aspects of creative development, in particular opportunities for children to explore a range of media in two and three dimensions • opportunities for children to build and construct using a wide range of objects • regular planned opportunities for children to move confidently, imaginatively and safely.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The setting has made very good progress since the last inspection when there were two points for development. These were to plan opportunities to develop knowledge of the sounds of letters during routine and planned activities and to plan to extend opportunities to practice counting during daily activities. Children use a published scheme to assist with learning letter sounds and learning to spell. They are also using a reading scheme, which has a number of interactive components, including computer programs that the children are using. There are opportunities each day for children to develop their knowledge of letter sounds. Children actively participate during sessions in which they link sounds and letters. They seem to enjoy taking part and are adept at linking the sounds correctly. There are now regular opportunities for children to count. They count the numbers of children present and look at the date. There are number lines displayed that are

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What has improved since the last inspection?

used purposefully when discussing number. There are very meaningful activities, such as counting the number of pieces of fruit that the 'Hungry Caterpillar' eats each day. Children are given the pieces of fruit to count and are able to taste them, once they have counted them.

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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: Very Good The children are confident. They know where resources are kept and will select what they need. They participate at circle time and talk about their lives away from the nursery. The children listen to one another. Older children eat in a small group. They lay the table themselves. They thank one another for passing items. All the children recognise the need to share and to take turns. Their behaviour is good in response to the expectations of the staff.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good The children communicate well. They are able to talk in response to something that they have heard or to express their own thoughts and ideas. They are keen to talk to visitors to the setting. They listen to stories and read them for themselves. They have a clear understanding that print conveys meaning. The children are able to link sounds and letters effectively. Children try to write their own names on their work. They are given some opportunities to write purposefully for themselves.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children lay out the correct number of plates for the ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ for the days of the week. They are given pieces of fruit and are able to say how many they have and to match the correct corresponding digit. Some children are able to recognise and use numbers beyond ten. They are familiar with the language of shape space and measure. Children use it effectively in meaningful activities such as cooking. They are not familiar with the language associated with calculation.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children grow sunflowers and beans from seeds. They use bricks to measure how they are growing. The children know that seeds need sun and water to grow. Children use information technology effectively. They are able to manipulate a computer mouse. There is a broad based range of topics that allows for coverage in most areas of knowledge and understanding of the world. Children have limited opportunities to construct.

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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: Generally Good Children move around safely both indoors and out. They use trikes and other ride on toys effectively. They are given hoops, balls, and quoits to use. Children are encouraged to make pathways using the hoops. The children understand the need to wash fruit before eating it, to ensure that all germs have been washed off. The children handle cutlery competently. They are able to cut up their lunch and to accurately scrape the leftovers into a dustbin. Some children take part in a weekly PE session.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children create their own pictures using sponges and a range of paint. They discuss the colours that they are using. They are also able to paint their own pictures. Children use a range of musical instruments. They respond appropriately to requests to play loudly, quietly and to stop. Children access the role play area and talk about what they are doing. However there are limited opportunities for children to explore materials for themselves as many of the activities are adult directed.

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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

• develop children's mathematical skills, in particular focussing on their opportunities to combine numbers and groups and make use of the language associated with calculation • increase the opportunities for children to develop their creative skills and to explore form and to construct using a wide range of materials.

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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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