Little Ark Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 04/02/2004 Inspector Name Geneen Yvonne Hulse

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Mega Nursery Setting Address The Mega Centre Bernard Road Sheffield South Yorkshire S2 5BQ

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Hope City Church 10525858

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Hope City Church Address Hope City Church The Mega Centre, Bernard Road Sheffield South Yorkshire S2 5BQ

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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

Mega Nursery is a community nursery, which opened in January 2003. It Is accommodated in The Mega Centre, which is a large community centre linked to the Hope City Church, in the east side of Sheffield. The building is a refurbished disused factory. The group offers child care to the local community, the wider areas and has a partnership agreement to provide places for Dixon's employees. It provides full day care for up to 57 children aged three months to five years, Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18.00, for 50 weeks a year. It offers sessional places, 08:00 - 13:00 and 13:00 - 18:00. The nursery offers occasional crèche services to support events at the centre. The building has a large play room divided by low partitions into a quiet area, creative / dining area, pre-school area, toddler area, physical area and office space. There is a separate baby room and all appropriate facilities including toilets, kitchen

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Information about the setting

and storage space. There is a secure outdoor roof play space. There are currently 81 children on register, 13 are funded three year olds and seven non funded three year olds. There are 10 funded four year olds, five children for whom English is an additional language and four children with special educational needs attending the group. The nursery has 15 staff working on a full and part time basis. Eight staff hold a recognised early years qualification, three are working towards qualifications and four are unqualified. There are four ancillary workers and an administration assistant. The nursery are members of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and Community Nurseries Network. They receive input from the community teacher and Sheffield Community Childcare Network. There have been major staff changes since the nursery opened.

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Information about the setting

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 good is the Day Care?

Mega Nursery provides satisfactory care for children. They meet the national standards in all areas of their work. Staff establish warm, caring relationships with the children and know them well. Planning systems are in place to offer children a wide range of play and learning opportunities. They are able to use their imagination and explore their own creativity in a safe and secure environment, however the older children could be offered a more flexible routine to make choices and develop their independence. Under 3's are offered stimulating and interesting activities appropriate to their stage of development. Children's behaviour is very good and staff sensitively help children make positive choices and develop acceptable behaviour and social skills. All children are valued and included and they are encouraged to respect each other. The staff team work had to promote positive inclusive practice Parents are welcome to contribute and their input is valued. They receive good

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How good is the Day Care?

information about their child's time at nursery and are offered many opportunities to discuss concerns and exchange information. Staff demonstrate a good level of safety awareness and good practice, talking to children about keeping safe. They role model good hygiene practice and there are established procedures in place to support everyday practice. There are good organisational procedures in place and the nursery has a high commitment to staff training and the development of nursery practices. The new staff team are committed to producing and reviewing a wide range of policies and procedures that support the day to day practice and organisation of the nursery.

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What is being done well?

• Environment created and activities provided for children under three years offer stimulating, challenging and warm experiences. • Methods of promoting good behaviour are effective and children are offered praise and encouragement to develop good social skills, and learn to respect each other. • Establish good relationships with parents, sharing information in a two way process. • Identify individual staff and nursery training needs producing action plans for how these needs will be achieved

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• planning of the daily routine to ensure it is flexible to respond to the needs of the older children to develop their independence, • use of the creative area and outdoor roof garden, • organisation of snack and meal times for older children, • staff's knowledge of child protection issues and new legislation.

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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 roof garden and creative areas are used as part of daily routine and accessible for all children. 8 consider the organisation of snack and meals times 13 continue to keep staff updated on child protection issues and new legislation. 3 ensure that planning is flexible enough to meets the needs of older children

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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?

Mega Nursery offers generally good provision overall. The nursery offers a warm and welcoming environment where children settle well. Children are offered a wide range of opportunities and are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas of learning. Teaching is generally good and staff have a good knowledge of the early learning goals. Staff are developing systems to provide stimulating and challenging activities, however the daily routine can restrict children's opportunities to make independent choices to develop and extend their own learning. They know the children well and build good relationships with them resulting in children's behaviour being good. Staff sensitively identify concerns, promoting inclusion and offering good support for children with special educational needs and those who have English as an additional language Leadership and management is generally good. There is a newly constituted

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How effective is the nursery education?

management team who are in the process of ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities. The provision is working with support agencies to develop new planning and assessment procedures. Staff are encouraged to identify and access all training opportunities offered. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are well informed about the setting and demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with the provision. Parents are actively encouraged to share knowledge of their children and contribute to life of the group. They take all opportunities offered to talk to staff informally and formally.

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What is being done well?

• Interaction with the children is good and staff plan interesting and challenging activities within a broad based routine. • Methods are in place to encourage children to be confident, sensitive and show respect for others. The children co-operative together, listen to each other with interest and demonstrate good turn taking skills. • Partnership with parents is very good. Communication systems are in place to ensure parents and kept informed and their contributions valued.

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What needs to be improved?

• opportunities for children to develop their independence and follow projects through to conclusion. • more opportunities to practice and progress their ability using the written

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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 word and numbers. • access to natural world and outdoor resources.

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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 are confident, happy, curious and interested. They express their needs well and form good relationships with adults each other and visitors. Children they do not receive sufficient opportunities to extend and develop their independence at snack time and choice of activities can be restricted by the daily routine. Children are sensitive to the needs of others and have good turn taking and sharing skills. Behaviour is very good and the children understand and respect limitations.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children are very confident talkers; developing language skills and extending vocabulary. They listen and respect the contributions of others and are able to express their feelings, use language to ask questions, and use responses to progress ideas. Children are starting to form letters, however they do not always receive sufficient opportunities to practice and progress their competency and consolidate what they know. Children use books well, self selecting and progressing simple storylines.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children are developing an awareness in number, shape recognition and mathematical language. However they do not always receive sufficient opportunities to record and practice number and build on what they know in everyday activities. Children are developing an understanding of number, shape, size and problems solving within the day to day routines and planned activities.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children confidently construct simple models alone in and in small groups. Children competently use modern technology following simple instructions and completing programmes, but do not have the resources to produce an end product when working with computer programme. Children demonstrate an understanding and awareness of their own environment, however they do not always receive sufficient opportunities to use and explore real living things to extend their understanding of the natural world.

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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 confidently indoors and out, showing good self control, negotiating obstacles, and are spatially aware. They use their bodies competently and enjoy running, jumping, crawling, cycling and climbing, although they do not receive appropriate opportunities to develop their ability to use the outdoor space. Children handle small equipment well and are developing safe use and increasing control. They use tools and materials to undertake and achieve a range of practical tasks.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children explore colour, shape and texture with interest and enthusiasm. They are starting to develop their creativity using art materials, however do not always receive sufficient opportunities to progress their learning and independence and demonstrate what they know, as access to creative materials is limited by the daily routine. Children express themselves well using their imagination by initiating role-play scenarios to follow simple stories and good resources to support their imagination.

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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

• Key Issues • ensure children are offered more opportunities for children to develop their independence and follow projects through to conclusion. • ensure children are offered opportunities to practice and progress their ability using the written word and numbers. • ensure children are able to access the natural world and outdoor resources. 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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