Wilnecote Junior Academy

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 23/03/2004 Inspector Name Pauline Nazarkardeh

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Laurel Way Playgroup Setting Address Nansen Villiage 21 Woodside Avenue London N12 8AQ

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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

Laurel Way nursery is a privately run group which has been open since 1992. They moved into their current premises four years ago. The premises are purpose built,formerly used for a school nursery class. The nursery has use of one main room that can be sub-divided and a small art room. There is a securely fenced outside area with a paved space, safety surface, mature trees and shrubs. The nursery serves an urban area in the London Borough of Barnet. There is a good cultural mix in the area which is reflected in the nursery's intake. The nursery is open from 9am to 3pm each day for 36 weeks of the year. Children attend either full or half day sessions. There are 39 children on roll from two to five years of age. There are 17 three-year-olds who receive funding and 11 funded four-year-olds. The setting currently supports children with special needs, and who speak English as an additional language. There are six staff currently working with the children. The manager holds a level 3

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Information about the setting

qualification and over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. A member of staff is currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP)

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How good is the Day Care?

Laurel Way Nursery provides a good standard of care for children. The staff know and understand the children they care for and ensure children's individual needs are met. The premises are warm and welcoming and provide excellent opportunities for children to play using a wide range of toys, resources and equipment, which are available and accessible. The staff have a clear understanding of how to provide a safe environment for children. There are systems in place to ensure the safe arrival and departure of the children.

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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 The range and quality of activities offered is excellent. The staff show an in-depth knowledge of individual children' s interests and stages of development. They provide interesting opportunities for children to develop and learn. Children's independence and respect for each other is encouraged. Parents are provided with written information about the nursery in the form of policies and procedures. Staff spend time exchanging information with parents about their children each day. The practice to introduce a new parent to the nursery is very good with all areas of play and learning explained and ample time provided to answer parents questions. Documentation is well organised with established systems in place to record and

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How good is the Day Care?

hold written records. A clear child protection procedure is in place but this needs extending to cover the procedure to be followed should an allegation be made against a member of staff. The information needed from parents to provide care, which meets each child's individual needs, is in place.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good improvements since the last inspection. Actions made then in relation to packed lunches has been effectively addressed and a new policy has been put into place regarding storage of food. Paperwork has been updated and safety issues have been put right with a risk assessment of the premises now in place.

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What is being done well?

• The range and quality of activities and the way in which they are presented is excellent. • There is a strong emphasis on listening and respecting what the children say and do, children are confident to voice their opinions and to say how they feel. • The encouragement of good behaviour and the management of behaviour in general is very good.

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An aspect of outstanding practice:

The organisation of the premises and activities is excellent, with children having access through out the day to all areas. This allows children to have access to a wide selection of appropriate activities for example children going outside in a hail storm to listen to the hail stones bouncing on their umbrellas. Resources and equipment to support and extend on these activities are organised to be accessible to children. This results in children being independent in their play and learning, the children experiment freely with paints and have opportunity to mix paints independently. It provides them with opportunities to use their own ideas and to practice and refine their skills. Standard 3.

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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 • The policy for child protection in relation to if an allegation is made against a member of staff.

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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 13 develop the policy for child protection issues to identify what procedure would be followed should an allegation be made against a member of staff.

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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?

Laurel Way Nursery offers high quality nursery education where children enjoy learning through an excellent range of interesting activities. Children make very good progress toward the early learning goals in all areas of learning. Teaching is very good. Staff are calm, gently spoken and the children are happy and co operative. Staff's knowledge of the foundation stage enables them to plan a stimulating and appropriate range of activities suitable for children's individual stages of development. All children are encouraged to be independent and demonstrate confidence in the way that they select their own activities and concentrate on their learning for extended periods of time. Group activities and one to one work enhances children's knowledge. Leadership and management are very good. The manager has a clear vision and an effective staff team who work well together. Staff share a good understanding of

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How effective is the nursery education?

early years practice and are committed to developing the quality of the provision through ongoing evaluation and training. Partnerships with parents are very good. Parent's are well informed about the curriculum and their children's achievements which allows them to support and extend their children's learning.

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What is being done well?

• Children's personal and social development is excellent. They are confident and very well behaved. Their levels of independence is exemplarily. • Assessment of children's achievements is closely linked with curriculum planning. Staff therefore have sound knowledge of children's abilities and as a direct result they are able to plan activities which are suitably challenging for children and encourage them to move forward with their learning. • Strong leadership creates a shared ethos of very good early years principals. Staff are enthusiastic about their work and endeavour to further their skills and knowledge through additional training.

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What needs to be improved?

• The manager has clear plans in place for the development of the outside play area under the six areas of learning.

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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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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good progress since the last inspection. An action plan identified how planning was extended and how staff knowledge of specific areas of learning was improved.

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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 Children's personal, social and emotional development is very good. Children are well behaved, confident individuals who are extremely independent. They are very in control of their environment, they select their own play materials and resources to support their activities. They are motivated and enthusiastic learner's who settle into the nursery routine well. They negotiate, take turns and share, showing concern for each others feelings.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in this area. They are confident communicators, and discuss their ideas freely. Children can access a sections of books independently. Children's knowledge of letter sounds is been well developed in interest areas and when taking part in a self-registration activity. Children are developing their written skills well, some can write their own names. They are provided with opportunities to write and mark make in a variety of play situations.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are making very good progress in mathematical development. They are learning to count through a range of practical activities. Number songs, stories and rhymes are used to support and extend their knowledge and children use mathematical language effectively. Within practical activities children develop their mathematical knowledge well in the use of large blocks this includes learning about 3D shapes.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are making very good progress in this area of learning. They talk about themselves and remember past events. They learn about people living in the community, having regular visitors and trips out to local events. Children have opportunities to build with a range of construction equipment. There are many opportunities for children to learn about every day technology such as with computers, tape recorders and cooking activities.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are making very good progress within the programme for physical development. They use a range of equipment, both in and outdoors, which promotes and develops skills such as; throwing, catching, balancing and climbing. They are confident movers and demonstrate a good understanding of spatial awareness. They are taught the importance of good hygiene. Children use tools and malleable materials with increasing control.

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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: Very Good The children are making very good progress in the area of creative development. They are able to participate independently in a wide variety of activities and to use a range of resources to explore colour, texture and shape. The children have good opportunities to listen to, and respond to music they are able to follow a tune and can sing songs from memory. Children are confident and imaginative in their use of role play equipment.

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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 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

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • Point for consideration • Continue with plans to develop the large outside play area 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

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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