Noahs Ark Daycare Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 08/01/2004 Inspector Name Heather Tanswell

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Noahs Ark Daycare Nursery Setting Address 7 Alexandra Road Illogan Redruth Cornwall TR16 4DY

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Noahs Ark Daycare Nursery Address 7 Alexandra Road Illogan Redruth Cornwall TR16 4DY

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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

Noah's Ark Day Nursery opened in 2003. It is privately owned by Mrs G Chapman. The nursery operates from the ground floor of a large detached house near the centre of Illogan village. The nursery serves surrounding towns and villages. There are currently 41 children aged between 3 months and 5 years on roll. This includes 8 funded 3-year-olds. The nursery is not currently supporting any children with special needs or children who have English as an additional language. The nursery is open five days a week all year round, excluding bank holidays and weekends. Sessions are from 08:00 to 18:00. Four full time and one part time member of staff work with the children. All have early years qualifications. The setting receives support from a teacher from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP). It is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA).

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How good is the Day Care?

Noah's Ark Day Nursery provides satisfactory care for children. The nursery is bright and cheerful, comfortable, clean and well maintained. Staff are friendly, warm and welcoming and co-operate to create a happy and relaxed atmosphere. There is a good range of furniture and equipment to support the needs of children under two. However, staff deployment and use of space does not meet the needs of children effectively. There is a lack of low level storage to enable children to chose resources to support child initiated play and learning. Staff are well qualified and experienced. However, induction training is not always used well to re-enforce policies and procedures. Most policies are in place but some need updating. Staff show care and concern for children's emotional welfare. Very good procedures are followed to monitor sleeping babies and young children. The nursery offers a

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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 varied menu of healthy home cooked meals and snacks. Parent's wishes and children's preferences are known and respected. However, staff lack understanding of health and safety legislation, policies and procedures. As a result, proper precautions are not always taken to keep children safe and well. Staff spend all of their time working directly with children and are good role models. They offer regular praise and encouragement. Relationships are very good, children are relaxed and confident. They are respectful, very well behaved, negotiate and take turns. However, children are not able to access resources and initiate activities to build on their natural curiosity as learners and use their imagination. A lack of

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How good is the Day Care?

understanding of equality of opportunity results in few resources being used or made available to promote positive images of others. Relationships with parents are good. Effective record keeping systems ensure parent's preferences and babies home routines are recorded and respected. Key workers share information with parents daily.

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What is being done well?

• Staff are good role models. They work very well together to create a happy relaxed atmosphere for everyone. As a result, children are respectful and very well behaved. Parents feel welcome. • Staff use their knowledge of young children's home routines to ensure children's needs are satisfied and, parents wishes respected. Individual needs for food and sleep take priority over nursery routines. • The nursery provides a varied menu of healthy, home cooked meals and snacks. • Parents have daily, informal opportunities to share information about their child's routines and progress with key workers.

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What needs to be improved?

• the policies, to include a written statement of procedure to follow in the event of a parent failing to collect a child • the deployment of staff to ensure children's needs are met effectively • the induction training of staff, to include health and safety legislation and procedures • the planning and organisation of activities, use of space and access to resources • the staff's knowledge, understanding and implementation of health and safety procedures

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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 availability of at least one member of staff with a current first aid training certificate on the premises or on outings at any one time • the staff's knowledge of equality of opportunity to ensure children have access to a suitable range of resources and activities that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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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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The Registered Person must take the following actions by the date shown

Std Action Date 2 Provide a procedure to be followed in the event of a parent failing to collect a child. 21/01/2004

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by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 2 Review deployment of staff to ensure children’s needs are met effectively. 2 Develop an induction training programme that includes health and safety legislation and procedures. 3 Evaluate planning and organisation of activities, use of space and access to resources to encourage children to use their imagination and build on their natural curiosity as learners. 6 Improve (staff’s) knowledge, understanding and implementation of health and safety procedures. 7 Develop and implement an action plan detailing how at least one member of staff with a current first aid certificate will be on the premises or on outings at any one time. 9 Develop (staff’s) knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities to ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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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?

Noah's Ark Day Nursery generally offers acceptable quality nursery education but there are some significant areas for improvement. Children are making generally good progress in personal, social and emotional development, communication, language and literacy and physical development. However, their progress in mathematical development, knowledge and understanding of the world and creative development is limited by some significant weaknesses. The quality of teaching has some significant weaknesses. Staff promote good standards of behaviour. The person in charge of nursery education is new, she demonstrates a sound understanding of the early learning goals. She has recently attended training and has developed new plans and assessment systems. However, staff do not use space, time and resources effectively. Plans do not allow for children to engage in activities planned by adults and also those that they plan or initiate

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How effective is the nursery education?

themselves. Sessions do not include uninterrupted time for children to work in depth. There are some significant weaknesses in leadership and management of the nursery. Staff are a newly formed, supportive and committed team. They welcome advice to improve standards within the setting. The staff appraisal system does not monitor progress of teaching. The management structure does not allow for staff to implement changes. Partnership with parents is generally good. They are kept informed about what their children will be learning. Staff have identified the need to provide more formal information regarding children's individual progress. However, there are no systems to collect information from parents, in order to establish what children know, understand and can do, on entry to the setting. There is insufficient information available regarding the early learning goals and about how staff plan for children to

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What is being done well?

• Children are keen and enthusiastic to learn. They participate well in all activities. They sit and listen attentively, they are confident to speak within their familiar group. Children and adults have developed close and trusting relationships, children display high standards of behaviour. • Children enjoy good opportunities to develop physical skills, through planned activities indoors. They have developed an awareness of the importance of maintaining their health through regular exercise, hand washing following use of the toilet and healthy eating habits.

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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 • planning the effective use of space, time and resources to provide suitable opportunities for children to be sufficiently challenged in all six areas of learning, through both child-initiated and planned activities. • the range of freely accessible resources, which will enable children to make progress in all areas of learning, in particular knowledge and understanding of the world, creative and mathematical development. • planning and assessments to identify learning priorities, which can be linked to future planned activities, to provide suitable opportunities for children to make progress. • information sharing with parents, to obtain information regarding children's individual abilities on entry to the setting and to provide parents with

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What needs to be improved?

information regarding the six areas of learning.

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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 keen and enthusiastic to learn and participate well in all activities. They sit and listen attentively. Children and adults have developed close and trusting relationships. Most children have developed an awareness and respect for the different views and beliefs of others and are able to negotiate successfully. However, children have restricted access and are unable to self-select freely from the range of resources available.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Most children have developed good verbal communication skills. They have opportunities to develop their vocabulary further, through adult initiated discussion. All children recognise their written name. They are enthusiastic at story time and listen attentively to adults reading. However, children do not have sufficient opportunities to develop their literacy skills, through a variety of different mediums or through free play activity. Children do not make use of books for reference and support.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children are confident to count to five and are able to associate numbers to objects at this level. However, children do not have sufficient opportunities to explore mathematics fully, through a suitable range of planned and free play activities. Planned activities lack sufficient support materials and resources. Children do not explore the use of mathematics to solve problems and are not sufficiently challenged in this area of learning.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children show curiosity and are confident to ask questions. They use a range of materials to construct junk models and collages. They have daily opportunities to discuss changes in the weather. However, children do not diversify from planned activity, in order that they may explore and investigate freely and fully. There are few opportunities to develop their understanding and awareness of ICT, their own environment, and the wider 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 enjoy good opportunities to develop physical skills, through many suitable planned activities indoors. They have developed an awareness of the importance of maintaining their health. However, children do not have free access to required tools to enable them to develop skills through sustained and challenging free play activity, and they do not experience opportunities to develop specific skills, such as balancing and climbing, through planned use of the outdoor play area.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children are confident to express themselves verbally and enjoy singing songs. They have made three dimension models and collages and enjoy regular use of the sand, paint and water. However, children do not have sufficient opportunities to explore imaginative play. They are restricted during planned activities as to how they are able to express themselves. Children are unable to diversify in order to achieve their own desired outcome.

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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 but has some significant areas for improvement. Children progress towards the early learning goals is limited by some significant weaknesses. The next inspection will take place in one to two years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

• plan for the effective use of space, time and resources, in order to provide suitable opportunities for children to be sufficiently challenged in all six areas of learning, through both child-initiated and planned activities. • extend the range of freely accessible resources, which will enable children to make progress in all areas of learning, in particular knowledge and understanding of the world, creative and mathematical development. • develop planning and assessments in order to identify learning priorities, which can be linked to future planned activities, to provide suitable opportunities for children to make progress. • develop information sharing with parents, in order to obtain information regarding children's individual abilities on entry to the setting and to provide parents with information regarding the six areas 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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