Children 1st @ Toton

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 20/05/2003 Inspector Name Helen Clark

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SETTING DETAILS

Setting Name Breedon House Childrens Centre - Benjamins Setting Address 5 Banks Road Toton Notts NG9 6HE

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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

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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

Children First @ Breedon House Toton, opened in 2001. It is one of several nurseries within the chain of Breedon House Children's Centres. The nursery is situated in Toton and serves the local and surrounding areas. It is close to schools and on a bus route into the City of Nottingham. They are open Monday to Friday 7:30am - 6:00pm throughout the year, closing only for Bank Holidays and one week at Christmas. There are systems in place to enable staff to care for children with special needs. The nursery is registered for 120 children from birth to under eight years including 23 funded three year olds and 5 funded four year olds. The setting also provides Out of School Care. There are 27 nursery staff , 17 of whom hold relevant child care qualifications with other staff currently on training programmes,who care for the children. The setting has achieved the Investors In People award and the National Day Nurseries Association Accreditation scheme

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Information about the setting

"Quality Counts". The setting is also an approved CACHE training centre.

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How good is the Day Care?

Children 1st @ Breedon House Toton, provides good care overall to children aged 0-8years. Staff provide a high standard of care for all children within the setting and particular attention is given to the care of babies and children under two, this is due to well qualified and knowledgeable staff. Effective systems in place to ensure sufficient staff work directly with the children all the time and to provide consistency of care to babies. Equipment is in good repair with an effective maintenance programme in place. The setting is beautifully designed with large spacious rooms providing a child centred environment. A large landscaped outside area is both stimulating and challenging, with herb gardens and wind chimes to stimulate the senses and garden maze and climbing equipment to provide challenge. Clear and effective procedures in place with regards to documentation, ensuring the efficient and safe running of the provision. Staff demonstrate a good level of knowledge

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How good is the Day Care?

relating to health and safety and take positive steps to promote safety within the setting. Meal times are unhurried, sociable occasions where children's independence skills are encouraged and all dietary needs are met. The setting actively promotes equality of opportunity and ensures children with special needs

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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 their families are provided with appropriate care and support. Staff plan effectively throughout the nursery ensuring a broad range of well presented activities are offered inside and out. They show and interest in what children do and ask questions that make them think and extend their learning. A qualified teacher works full time with the preschool children and plans a early years curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Partnership with parents is excellent, many opportunities are provided to share information and parents are fully involved in all aspects of their child's development and nursery life.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

There were no actions raised at the last inspection.

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What is being done well?

There are excellent opportunities for parents to become involved in the care of their children at the nursery. There is an effective partnership policy in place. Parents are involved in steering groups that discuss how to take the nursery forward and a forum to air any concerns. (Standard 12) Meal times are unhurried, sociable occasions where children's independence skills are encouraged. (Standard 8) The setting is beautifully designed with large spacious well lit rooms offering an inviting and welcoming environment for parents, children and visitors. It is decorated and maintained to a high standard both inside and out. (Standard 4) A large landscaped outside area is both stimulating and challenging, with herb gardens and wind chimes to stimulate the senses and garden maze and climbing equipment to provide challenge. (Standard 4) Effective induction system in place for new and promoted staff of all levels. The mentor/buddy system offers support and advice to new staff

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What is being done well?

ensuring adults providing day care are suitable to do so. All staff are deployed into areas of expertise. (Standard 1)

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An aspect of outstanding practice:

Staff work closely with parents to meet the needs of the children, the care of the youngest babies within the nursery is very good. The babies meals are provided in accordance with the child's own routine and mealtimes are unhurried and relaxed. The registered person ensures staff caring for the babies have sufficient knowledge and experience to do so. Staff provide a broad range of activities inside and outside and in particular the landscaped garden provides a stimulating environment where babies can use all their senses to explore and investigate.

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Outcome of the 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

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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

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How effective is the nursery education?

Children 1st @ Breedon House Toton, offers good quality nursery education where children make very good progress towards the early learning goals. Teaching is very good. The setting benefits from well trained, knowledgeable staff who effectively plan a broad, balanced and purposeful curriculum that supports children's learning in all areas. There is an excellent range of equipment available and staff use these in creative ways to extend children's interest. Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve and plan a good balance of adult and child initiated activities. Children's progress is assessed regularly to ensure they are making good progress towards the early learning goals and an effective system is in place to provide good support to children with special educational needs. Leadership and management is very good. Much of the nurseries success is due to a strong management team who

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How effective is the nursery education?

provide support and guidance and good teamwork from staff. There is a commitment to the continual improvement and quality of the educational provision through staff development, training and support. The setting regularly monitors and evaluates what it does, using accreditation schemes to look closely at practice and using parents comments and suggestions constructively, however not all activity plans are evaluated on a regular basis. Partnership with parents is very good. The setting works hard to develop and maintain good relationships with parents realising the positive impact this has on the children. Good quality information is provided for parents about the early learning goals and how well their children are progressing towards them. Parents comment they are very happy with the provision and their children have made very good progress.

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What is being done well?

Children's personal independence is excellent, they dress themselves, prepare their own snack, serve their own dinner and pour their own drinks. Behaviour is very good, children are beginning to understand what is right and wrong and good teaching helps them find solutions to their problems. Children have many good quality learning opportunities to develop mathematical concepts such as calculating, counting and recognising numerals. The setting has very good relationship they are fully informed about their child's progress and information is shared. Children enjoy music and singing they are building a repertoire of songs in both English and French. Children make good use of Information Technology most children confidently work through a computer programme. Staff have a very good knowledge of the foundation stage and plan a broad range of activities that directly link to the stepping stones and early learning goals. Large selection of resources available and

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What is being done well?

used well to support children's learning in all areas.

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What needs to be improved?

the regular evaluation of activity plans to ensure the needs of the individual children

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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 are met.

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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

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's independence is developing well, they dress themselves, prepare their own snack, serve their own dinner and pour their own drinks. Behaviour is very good, children are beginning to understand what is right and wrong and good teaching helps them find solutions to their problems.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children listen and respond with enjoyment to stories, most children concentrate carefully and join in appropriately. Children are beginning to show an understanding of the elements of a book, as they pick out the title and discuss what the author does. Children are beginning to attempt writing for a variety of purposes as they write lists and make signs.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have many good quality learning opportunities to develop mathematical concepts such as calculating, counting and recognising numerals, they are beginning to develop mathematical ideas to solve problems as they measure each other during practical activities.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children make good use of Information Technology, they confidently work through a computer programme with and without adult support. Children respond well to different learning opportunities as they compare feet and hand prints of a child when she was a baby, they discuss what we need to make us grow and look carefully at change.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have a good understanding of the importance of keeping healthy as they explain why they wash their hands and what they need to make them grow. A large selection of equipment available for children to develop their physical skills both inside and out.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children respond well to experiences, they describe what they have seen before as they press each others toes when trying on shoes, they use their senses to describe the texture and smell of the jelly. Children are very imaginative they engage in role play based on first hand and imagined experiences. Children enjoy singing and

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CREATIVE 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 music as they build a repertoire of songs in both English and French.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

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

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CREATIVE 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

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of high quality. Children are making very 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

No significant weakness identified but consideration should be given to the following. evaluate activity plans regularly to ensure the needs of individual children are met.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO 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

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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 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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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

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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

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