Seesaws Penn

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 30/09/2003 Inspector Name Lesley Jane Bott

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Seesaws Day Nursery Setting Address 1 Riley Crescent Wolverhampton West Midlands WV3 7DR

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Seesaws (Erdington) Ltd Address c/o BDO Stoy Hayward Mander House Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 3NF

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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

Seesaws Day Nursery opened in September 1998. It operates from seven playrooms for the children, a communal imaginative play area and two enclosed gardens. Facilities also include a kitchen, laundry, toilets, office and staff area. The nursery serves the local area. There are currently 120 children from 3 months to 8 years on roll. This includes 11 funded 3-year olds and 2 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The group opens five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 08:00 to 18:00 hours Monday to Friday. All staff have early years qualifications to NVQ 2 or 3. The setting receives support from a teacher/mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

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How good is the Day Care?

Seesaws Day Nursery provides good care for children. The staff provide a warm, welcoming environment to parents and children. Staff ensure that the available space is well organised giving children opportunities to move around rooms within the nursery, including the imaginative room. Staff give high priority to ensuring children are safe inside the nursery, however, a risk assessment is not carried out for outdoor activities. Staff consistently carry out the procedures outlined in their comprehensive policies although some policies need slight amendments. There are procedures in place to ensure staff have a consistent approach to their work, such as induction training, supervision and team meetings, as well as internal audits.

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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 Children in all rooms are provided with an interesting range of activities both inside and outside the nursery. Children appear to be happy and settled and have good relationships with each other and the staff. The nursery demonstrates a committment to meeting children's individual needs. Additional staff support the required staff:child ratios and all staff are qualified. Children's health and dietary needs are met. Children are well behaved and respond well to requests to help clear away activities and set out the room. There is a good relationship between staff and parents. Detailed information on the daily activities of their child is provided by way of newsletters and a parents notice board.

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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?

• All staff hold a relevant qualification appropriate for the care of the children. Ongoing training is available to maintain staff skill levels. • Children have the opportunity to be involved in a suitable range of activities. They are given choices and their interests are taken into account. • Good use is made of available space both indoors and outdoors. The rooms are laid out to allow the children easy access to toys and equipment. Frequent use is made of nursery's imaginative room. • Good hygiene routines are in place with the children. There is a procedure in place if children should become ill to ensure that the child is well cared for. First aid training is held by a high proportion of staff. • Children enjoy well-organised mealtimes and regular drinks and snacks, with all individual dietary needs being met. • There are good relationships between staff and children. Behaviour management is discussed with parents and children.

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What is being done well?

• The equal opportunities policy is well written and implemented and reinforced by a wide range of resources. • Parents are provided with detailed written information on the nursery's operation and activities. Parents receive written reports on their child's progress every six months and share information on a daily basis.

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What needs to be improved?

• the procedures for checking hazards in the outside area • the inclusion of Ofsted's name and address in the complaints procedure • the procedure to include child abuse allegations made against staff

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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 procedure for uncollected children.

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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 2 Develop a procedure to be followed in the event of an uncollected child. 12 Ensure Ofsted’s phone number and address appears on the complaints procedure. 13 Ensure the child protection policy includes the procedure for allegations made against staff. 6 Conduct a risk assessment on the outside play area to identify action to be taken to minimize hazards.

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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?

Seesaws Day Nursery provides a happy, secure environment where children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the foundation stage curriculum and the early learning goals. Opportunities for children to learn at routine times are very good. Resources are of good quality and are organised to encourage children to become increasingly independent. Staff question and challenge children to develop their thinking and learning skills during planned and spontaneous activities. Children behave well in response to the high expectations and support of staff. Activities are managed well, however they sometimes lack opportunities for children to develop their mathematical language and their understanding of different cultures and beliefs. Staff keep records of children's development and progress through ongoing

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How effective is the nursery education?

assessment and observation. A detailed curriculum is produced after consultation and contributions from all staff members and nursery manager. The leadership and management of the nursery is very good. Staff are clear about their roles and work well together as a team. An internal audit system is in place to monitor the quality of teaching and to identify and address any training needs. Partnership with parents is very good. Parents are kept well informed about the nursery and their child's development. Staff are available to talk to parents at any time. Opportunities are provided to enable parents to be involved in their child's learning, fundraising, interactive displays and notices.

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What is being done well?

• Relationships between children and staff are good. Children are developing self-confidence and are keen to learn. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and children behave well. • Staff work well together as a team to provide a warm, friendly environment. They work in partnership with parents to support children's learning and development and extend their language. • Children are becoming increasingly independent and able to take care of their personal needs.

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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 do not always provide children with sufficient questioning to enable them to learn about different cultures and beliefs through exploration and investigation • children are not sufficiently challenged and introduced to additional mathematical language during planned activities.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery has made very good improvements since the last inspection. All three key issues have been addressed. The nursery involves children in child led play and encourages children to be creative in producing individual pieces of work and develop their senses. The room has a writing table which is set up for children to access any time of the day.

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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 interested and motivated to learn. Children are well behaved and have increasing personal independence. They are making good relationships with staff and beginning to show care and consideration towards each other. Children's independence is fostered through familiar routines.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children make very good progress in their communication, language and literacy. Children enjoy singing a variety of songs. Children can write their own names and recognise letters and labels. Children enjoy using books and listening to stories. They communicate well with each other and adults.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in mathematical development is very good. Children are becoming familiar with number rhymes and exploring in practical ways the concepts of simple addition and subtraction. Children use various tools and resources of measuring and comparing shape, position and size. Planned activities do not always sufficiently challenge children or introduce mathematical language.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is very good. Children are developing a sense of time and can describe significant events about family and friends. They have opportunities to explore their surroundings, and the local environment. They show an interest in information technology and are developing IT skills. Children have few opportunities to begin to learn about other cultures and beliefs.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's progress in physical development is very good. Children move confidently when playing inside and out. Children are aware and able to judge body space in relation to the room available. They are learning to control tools and equipment with increasing skills. They are developing an awareness of good hygiene and keeping healthy.

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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 Children's creative development is very good. Children use texture, colour and various materials to develop a sense of smell, touch and feel. Children recognise sound patterns and are confident to match movements to music and rhymes. Children are becoming confident when using creative materials and enjoy seeing their work displayed.

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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: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideraqtion should be given to improve the following: • provide children with sufficient questioning to enable them to learn about different cultures and beliefs through exploration and investigation; • extend and challenge children to develop mathematical language during planned activities.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

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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