Hill West Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 16/12/2004 Inspector Name Hazel Christine White

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Hill West Nursery School Setting Address Clarence Road Four Oaks Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B74 4LD

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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

Hill West Day Nursery opened in 1999 and operates from two single storey buildings with an enclosed grassed and paved area for outside play. It is situated on the campus of Hill West Primary School which is in the Four Oaks area of Sutton Coldfield. It has strong supportive links with the school and is able to use many of its facilities and resources. The setting is also used by "Wagtails" an out of school group between 07:30 until 08:45 and 15:15 until 17:45. A maximum of 26 children may attend the nursery at any one time. This number includes children who attend out of school sessions. The nursery is open each weekday from 08:45 until 15:15 term time only. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. There are currently 47 children from 2 to 5 years on roll. Of these 37 children receive funding for nursery education. Children come from the surrounding residential area and the majority will attend the school. The nursery currently supports children with

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Information about the setting

special educational needs and who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs six staff. Five of the staff including the manager hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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How good is the Day Care?

Hill West Nursery provides good quality care for children. Staff are motivated and clear of their roles and responsibilities, a key worker system is in place throughout the nursery. Security is good and children are cared for in a safe environment. Staff provide a very warm, welcoming atmosphere, organise good routines and use space effectively. Children are provided with an extensive range of resources which are used to provide a balanced range of activities for all children and help them to progress in their learning. They have various topics and themes throughout the year which provide interesting and stimulating opportunities. Staff interaction is excellent and children are well supported during play. Staff have a good understanding of their individual needs and ensure that children of all abilities are valued and encouraged

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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 to reach their full potential. Staff's knowledge of child protection needs to be developed to ensure that they are fully aware of the procedure. Children's progress is regularly assessed by their key workers. Staff have good strategies when dealing with behaviour issues and consideration is given to the child's level of understanding and maturity. Safety is addressed well and measures taken are regularly reviewed. Risk assessments need to be developed to include the steps taken to minimise hazards. Children are closely supervised at all times and ratio's are good. Daily routines promote good hygiene practices with the children. Partnership with parents is friendly and relaxed. Their wishes are valued and respected to ensure that the children's individual needs are met. Parents are kept

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How good is the Day Care?

well informed through daily discussions, a comprehensive prospectus and an informative notice board. Records and documentation are well organised, however the child protection policy needs to be extended to include the procedures to be followed if an allegation was made against staff.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Not applicable, as there were no actions raised at the previous inspection.

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What is being done well?

• Staff provide a warm, caring environment where children are happy and settled. They organise activities to meet the children's individual needs. Children of all abilities are encouraged to integrate and participate in new experiences. • There is a plentiful supply of toys and equipment for children of all ages. Staff plan a variety of stimulating activities to enable children to progress in all areas of their development. Resources which reflect equal opportunities positively are readily available. • Good attention is given to the security of the premises. Health issues are well addressed and hygiene standards are maintained. • Staff are skilful in managing the children's behaviour, with good behaviour being valued and encouraged. Children respond well to clear guidance and are aware of staff expectations regarding behaviour. • Staff have a good relationship with parents and ensure that they are well

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What is being done well?

informed by a variety of means. Parents opinions are valued and respected. Staff discuss all aspects of the child's care on a regular basis. • Documentation is well organised and confidentially stored. Policies and procedures are readily available to staff and parents.

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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 • staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection issues • the child protection policy to include procedures for allegations made against 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 6 Develop risk assessments on the premises identifying actions to be taken to minimize identified risks. 13 Develop staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. 13 Extend the child protection policy to include procedures for allegations made against 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?

Hill West Day Nursery provides an environment where children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. Children make very good progress in mathematical development, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical development and creative development. They make generally good progress in personal, social and emotional development and communication, language and literacy. Teaching is generally good. All key staff have attended Foundation Stage and Curriculum Planning training. They use their knowledge to plan a curriculum, which helps children progress along the stepping-stones in most areas of learning. However, support for younger children during large groups is not always effective and opportunities for children to practise early writing skills are limited. The daily routine is well balanced; themes are linked to daily activities, many of which are freely chosen and encourage creativity and imagination. Good systems for

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How effective is the nursery education?

observation and assessment are used but they do not yet inform planning of individual children's next step of learning. Staff have very good strategies for getting children to listen and children are well behaved. Relationships are fostered well and the use of praise and encouragement is given high priority. Leadership and management are very good. Staff work as an effective team and they are supported well by the provider. There are good systems in place to assess the strengths and weaknesses, to make changes and improve care and education. Partnership with parents is generally good. They receive good, clear information about the setting and the foundation stage curriculum. They are able to meet with key workers to discuss their child's progress daily and at open days twice a year. They contribute what their child already knows but are not yet able to become involved directly in their child's learning.

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What is being done well?

• Children's personal, social and emotional development is good. They make good relationships with each other and adults and they are excited and motivated to learn. • Children's behaviour is good as a result of effective strategies used by the adults to get children to listen and consistent management of children's behaviour. • Children are confident speakers. They use a wide vocabulary and their language is extended by staff's constant interaction and effective use of questions. Children are learning a second language and children with English as an additional language are supported well.

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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 • Children have many opportunities to find out about the natural world. They explore and investigate different materials and use computers and programmable toys with confidence. • Children's creativity is encouraged and supported. They choose freely from a wide range of creative activities, join in music and dance and use their imagination well. • Resources provided for children are good. They access a good range of planned and freely chosen activities both indoors and outside.

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What needs to be improved?

• the use of recorded observations to inform future planning of children's next step of learning • the organisation of large group times to meet the needs of the younger and less able children • the opportunities for older and more able children to practise early writing skills during every day activities • the systems to enable parents to become involved in their child's learning

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What has improved since the last inspection?

There were two key issues at the last inspection. Staff agreed to finish and implement their new assessment system ensuring that it covered all six areas of learning. The assessment of children's learning is now fully operational. Assessments are completed regularly from observations made by staff and they cover all six areas of learning. Staff needed to ensure that planned activities were suitable and appropriate to the learning needs of all children, especially younger members of the group. All children have planned and free choice activities, which are suitable and most challenge children appropriately. Some large group situations do not always fully support the needs of the younger children.

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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 make good relationships with adults and other children. They are excited and motivated and enjoy new and familiar activities. Staff engage well with children, they receive praise and they learn to share and take turns. Children's self confidence and personal independence are developing well. Most talk confidently about their families and important people in their lives. Younger children are not always supported appropriately during some long large group sessions.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Most children are confident speakers and use a wide range of vocabulary. It is extended well by adults during groups and activities and new words are added daily. Children with English as an additional language are supported well with good resources. Most children enjoy listening to stories and they link letters to sounds. They use resources available to make marks during free play but opportunities to recognise their name and practise writing do not sufficiently challenge four-year-olds.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have daily opportunities to count and practise counting during small and large group activities. Some children count spontaneously during their play and confidently count to ten and beyond. Children compare groups of objects to numbers and adults introduce simple calculation during planned activities and through songs and rhymes. They make sequence patterns, can match by size and shape and use positional language during their play.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children have planned activities, which help them learn about the natural world and how things grow and change. They use construction materials and make recognisable models. They use the computer and other programmable toys with growing confidence. Children are able to talk about features of the environment and home. Through a programme of planned festival celebrations and resources used in every day activities, they are beginning to develop an awareness of culture and belief.

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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 engage in activities, which help them to be active. They climb, balance and travel over and under objects and use wheeled toys with growing co-ordination. They have planned and spontaneous music and movement sessions and they are developing a sense of space. Through planned topics they learn about keeping their bodies healthy. They use a varied range of tools, small and large equipment with confidence and growing control.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have daily opportunities to select materials and media, which enable them to create pictures and make models. Most activities are freely selected and planned activities stimulate children's creativity. Children spontaneously sing and join in familiar songs and action rhymes with enthusiasm. They use resources in the domestic play area to re-create familiar experiences. They respond well to new experiences and are beginning to express their own ideas.

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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

• Improve the organisation of large group time to meet the needs of younger children and extend the opportunities for older and more able children to practise early writing skills. • Use recorded observations to inform planning of children's individual next step of learning.

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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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