Bright Horizons Cambridge Science Park Day Nursery and Preschool

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 19/04/2004 Inspector Name Emma Louise Bright

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Kids Unlimited At Cambridge Science Park Setting Address 319 Science Park, Milton Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 0WG

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Kids Unlimited Address Westhead 10 West Street Alderley Edge Cheshire SK9 7EG

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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

Kid's Unlimited at Cambridge Science Park opened in 2000. It operates from a purpose-built, two storey building on the Science Park in Cambridge. The nursery serves parents working at the Science Park and the local area. There are currently 208 children from 5 months to 4 years on roll. This includes 50 funded three-year-olds and 13 funded four-year-olds. Children can attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery currently supports a number of children with special needs. The nursery opens five days a week all year round, except bank holidays. Sessions are from 07:30 until 18:00. There are 13 part time and 40 full time members of staff working with the children. Over half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 or 3. There are 15 members of staff currently working towards a recognised early years qualification.

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How good is the Day Care?

Kid's Unlimited at Cambridge Science Park provides good quality care for children. The nursery provides a particularly attractive and welcoming setting for children in their care. Children can move about freely and choose from a broad range of interesting activities and resources, which ensures they are busy and active throughout the day. However, children have access to fewer resources that reflect equality of opportunity. The staff work well together and children benefit from being cared for by a committed staff team. With the support of the clear management structure, this ensures the smooth running of the provision and children are safe and well-cared for. All policies and procedures are in place and are clearly implemented by the staff. The staff are active in ensuring children's understanding of safety and health issues and security is very good. This means that children can play safely, both indoors and

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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 outdoors. The nursery provides children with a particularly well-balanced range of meals, snacks and drinks, which help children to understand about healthy eating. Children with special dietary requirements are well-catered for. Children's behaviour is good; staff are consistent and use praise and encouragement effectively. This reinforces the children's good behaviour and promotes the children's confidence and self-esteem. The staff interact well with the children, they talk and listen respectfully to them and support the children well in their activities. The staff are very supportive of children with special needs and this enables them to participate in activities at their own pace. The staff develop very good relationships with the parents. Comprehensive

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How good is the Day Care?

information is both gathered and shared with the parents so that children feel secure within the nursery. Parents are kept well-informed about the planned activities and are encouraged to approach the staff at any time.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection, the nursery agreed to produce a written statement on child protection. A clear, detailed statement is now in place and made available to parents.

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What is being done well?

• Children are provided with an interesting environment in which they can explore, play and learn. Staff support children well and this helps to extend their growing skills. • Safety issues are well-addressed; staff are particularly vigilant and safety conscious. They talk about the dangers with the children to help them understand about keeping safe. • Children with special needs are welcomed and are actively involved within the group. There is good communication between the staff and parents and this means that the children's individual needs are met. • The partnership with parents and carers is very good and ensures that children are cared for according to parents wishes. Parents are given excellent information to keep them informed of their child's progress.

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What needs to be improved?

• resources, to provide additional resources for all children that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Outcome of the 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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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 9 Provide additional resources for all children 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?

The provision for nursery education at Kids Unlimited at Cambridge Science Park is of good quality overall. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in their physical and creative development, and generally good progress in all other areas of learning. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff plan well to provide an exciting and stimulating environment for children's learning. Resources and activities are interesting and accessible so that children are motivated to participate and to learn. Staff develop warm, trusting relationships with the children and effectively promote their confidence, independence and social skills. There is an appropriate system in place to support any child with special educational needs. Most staff have a secure knowledge of the Foundation Stage curriculum, but some are not always clear about the planned learning intention at an activity.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Comprehensive planning ensures children are offered experiences in all areas of learning. However, although there is an assessment system in place, this is not yet used to identify and plan for the next steps for children's learning. Leadership and management is generally good. There are sound systems in place to monitor the educational provision, both within the nursery and from Head Office. Regular staff meetings and planned non-contact time for senior staff enable good support to be given to trainees, and help staff work well together. The partnership with parents is generally good. Parents are well informed about the nursery and the curriculum, through good written information and through the "Moving On Up" meeting at entry to the Foundation stage. Staff produce regular reports to inform parents about their child's progress, and parents are encouraged to comment on their progress at home.

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What is being done well?

• Activities and resources are well-presented and exciting, so that children are keen to participate and motivated to learn. • Children's progress in physical development is very good. They have very good planned opportunities to develop their physical skills and co-ordination. • Children show high levels of personal independence and are confident within their environment. • Children's handwriting skills are very good. • The programme for creative development is very good.

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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?

• staff's support of maths in the daily routine, particularly counting and early calculating skills • opportunities for children to ask questions about why things happen and how things work • the knowledge of some staff of the planned learning intention behind activities • the use of assessments to plan for the next steps for children's 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 form warm relationships with staff and approach staff easily for support. They are confident in choosing their own activities and in trying new things. Children are interested and excited in the resources around them, and are able to concentrate and persevere for extended periods, for example, when investigating the cornflour mix. Children show a very high degree of personal independence.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good An extensive programme to develop children's writing skills means that the handwriting of the four-year olds is very advanced. Children are also developing a good knowledge of sounds and rhymes in spoken words, and they are beginning to relate these to written letters of the alphabet. They enjoy the stories staff read to them, listening attentively and talking about what might happen next.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good There are good planned opportunities to look at shape, size, measure and weight. As a result, children's mathematical language is well-developed; they spontaneously talk about shape and size during the play, for example, when telling each other about the shapes they can see in their drawings of houses. However, staff miss opportunities during play to encourage children to count or to solve simple number problems.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Generally Good Children have good opportunities to design and make, using a wide range of tools and materials, and they enjoy creating complicated structures with construction toys. They talk articulately about past events in their lives when doing their newsbooks with staff. Children have good opportunities to look at the features of living things, particularly when growing plants both indoors and out, but they have less opportunities to examine manmade objects and to ask questions about how things work.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are provided with a wide range of experiences to enable them to develop their movement skills, control and co-ordination, for example, they participate in yoga sessions and follow the "Soccertots" programme. They enjoy moving imaginatively during outdoor play, and negotiate the indoor space well when moving between activities. Children show good fine manipulative skills in their design work and in building with construction toys, for example, when building the marble run.

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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 can use their imagination in their art work, for example, when painting on the free expression wall or when making a "fire" collage. They play imaginatively in the well-equipped role play area and when making up stories with the small world figures. Children have good opportunities to explore different media and materials, using all their senses. They show deep concentration and an imaginative vocabulary when exploring the yellow cornflour, or when adding glitter to the green water.

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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

• ensure all staff are clear about the planned learning intention behind activities, in order to support and challenge all children. • use the assessments of children's progress in order to plan for the next steps for their 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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