Pretty Windows Ltd

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 01/04/2004 Inspector Name Denise Elliott

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Pretty Windows Day Nursery Setting Address 9-10 Avenue A Gedling Street, Sneinton Market Square Nottingham NG1 1DS

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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

Pretty Windows Day Nursery is situated in the Sneinton area of Nottingham City. It is a short distance from the town facilities and main bus routes into the city centre. The nursery has been registered since 1997. It is registered to receive 75 children aged between six weeks and eight years. The children are grouped according to ages and divided between five rooms; a baby unit, toddler rooms and nursery rooms for older children. The premises are based on ground and first floors. The outside play area is safely enclosed, and houses a large selection of play equipment. The nursery is in receipt of nursery grant funding for 3 and 4-year-olds, and presently there are 69 children on the register and 22 of these children are funded 3 and 4-year-olds. Children with special educational needs and English as an additional language are accepted. There are 15 staff, and 9 of these hold recognised early years qualifications in childcare and education.

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Information about the setting

The nursery is open Monday to Friday 07.30 until 18.30, all year except for the bank holidays and Christmas.

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How good is the Day Care?

Pretty Windows Day Nursery provides good quality of care to children overall. Staff are suitably qualified and experienced in caring for babies and children. The organisation of the nursery works effectively providing a caring environment for children and babies in designated rooms. Staffing ratios are good throughout the nursery, which provides good opportunities for children and babies to receive individual care and support. Staff are competent and confident, they work well together, attending regular staff meetings ensuring a consistent approach to the routines. The nursery is well resourced with sufficient nursery equipment and activities to sustain children's play inside and outdoors. There is a very welcoming environment to all and the premises are maintained well. Documents and records

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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 are securely maintained and organised to ensure safe management of the setting. There are comprehensive systems to monitor safety practices and procedures. Hygiene and food safety procedures are carried out effectively. Arrangements for nappy changing and feeding babies are well planned and suitably managed. The staff have attended training and maintain a knowledge of the child protection procedures, although details of current child protection procedures are not shared with parents. Children and babies receive fresh healthy snacks and meals at regular intervals throughout the day. Activities are planned which encourage children and babies' interest and curiosity, enabling them to learn and develop in a stimulating environment. Resources are well

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How good is the Day Care?

organised and readily accessible to the children, who can freely select activities and initiate their own play. Staff have an appropriate knowledge of individual needs and interests. They relate well to the children and value good behaviour. Relationships with parents are effective, and good information is exchanged with them about children and babies' progress and care.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the nursery agreed to; improve the arrangements for sleeping children; improve the safety arrangements for emergency evacuation and health and safety procedures; and ensure prior consent is gained to administer medication. The nursery has improved arrangements for sleep by better use of space and organisation, children can sleep without disturbance. Health and safety arrangements have improved by attendance to training, staff carrying out effective risk assessments and ensuring records contain all the required information. These ensure the health and well-being of children are on-going.

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What is being done well?

• The attention to safety matters and procedures is high. Procedures are clearly understood by staff and implemented and ensure children and babies are safe within the nursery environment. • The individual needs of babies and children are carefully met. Staff plan and organise the day so that children receive appropriate care and support through one to one meetings and small group activities. • A warm and welcoming environment is provided for children and families. The nursery effectively displays a wealth of children's art work and actively greets children and families on arrival. • A wealth and variety of interesting play and activities ensures children and babies are stimulated, babies and children are making good progress in their development.

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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?

• the arrangements to inform parents of the current child protection procedures.

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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 13 Ensure there are arrangements to share current child protection procedures with parents.

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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?

Pretty Windows Day Nursery provides good quality education where children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. In five areas of learning, children are making very good progress. The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a good knowledge of the early learning goals and the Foundation Stage, which enables them to plan and provide a broad, balanced and stimulating curriculum. Staff are well organised and provide an environment which is suitably resourced, well presented and where children can freely explore and initiate their own play. Staff know children well and make regular observations. They maintain assessments of children's progress, although this only informally influences the planning for children's next steps. The programme for mathematical development has some gaps and this area lacks challenge for some children, although overall staff generally plan activities to further children's progress.

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How effective is the nursery education?

Staff are successful at promoting an environment which reflects the diversity of the families and community. Leadership and management is very good. There is a clear management structure, with well defined roles and responsibilities. Staff are well supported, particularly in terms of training and development, which has a positive impact on continuing to improve good practice. Effective systems are in place for staff and management to work together as a team to oversee the planning and quality assurance. Partnership with parents is generally good, and staff work effectively with parents overall. There is a regular exchange of information about the planned curriculum and the activities and topics that children take part in. Staff continue to encourage parents to participate in their children's learning. Staff, as key-workers, and parents regularly share their knowledge regarding children's achievements and progress,

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What is being done well?

• Children are motivated to learn and work efficiently independently. They demonstrate much co-operation in their play. Children sustain valuable relationships and show respect and understanding of others. • Children are confident to express their feelings with adults and peers. They articulate and communicate their ideas effectively using newly acquired words. •• Children are stimulated by the creative aspects of the nursery environment. Three-year-olds engage freely in imaginative play and organised creative activities. All children show great interest when exploring media and materials, and actively use all their senses.

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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 • The nursery has an consistant approach towards developing staff and the educational program. The staff have attended a wide range of training events and make best use of these acquired skills and knowledge.

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What needs to be improved?

• the opportunities for 4-year-olds and more able children to solve mathematical problems for calculating, ordering items by size and weight, and developing language for three-dimentional shapes.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The improvements made since the last inspection have been generally good. At the last inspection the nursery was asked to improve: the use of assessment, planning and monitoring, to ensure children's learning needs are identified; and the teaching of reading and writing. Both issues have been implemented well into the nursery practice. Staff now make more effective use of the planning to guide their teaching and use their knowledge gathered from observations and assessments of children's abilities to plan a suitable learning environment which appropriately meets the individual needs of the children overall. Staff continue to develop the procedure for assessment information feeding into planning for individual children's next steps. The teaching of reading and writing has also improved. Staff provided more opportunites for reading by displaying more print around the nursery, for example by labelling photographs and children's work. They also use books and story times to

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What has improved since the last inspection?

develop children's early and pre-reading interest and skills. More resources have been introduced into the nursery to create further opportunites for children to practice and refine their writing skills in a wider variety of situations and many children are eager to attempt writing; some form their letters correctly. Improvements made have had a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning at the nursery.

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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 are motivated learners, and 3-year-olds show good levels of concentration at activity times and in daily routines. All children have acquired high independence skills, used to initiate their own play, and carry out self-care situations with positive effect. Children are confident playing along side staff and peers, and 4-year-olds ably sustain valuable relationships. The children show respect and understanding of others and 4-year-olds foster this through nurturing trusting friendships.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children have good language and listening skills. They use speech to communicate ideas and share information, for example, 4-year-olds sharing stories with each other in small groups. The children enjoy learning new vocabulary and use their knowledge of new words. Four-year-olds show competence identifying initial sounds and letters and relate them to names and characters. Three-year-olds are active mark makers, and some 4-year-olds are writing their own names and simple labels.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy participating in counting games; 3-year-olds ably count up to ten and beyond. More able children and 4-year-olds recognise numerals displayed around the environment. Children use simple language to describe shape and measure, such as big and small, and use positional language effectively. Children copy patterns from printed cards, but do not yet demonstrate use of their mathematical knowledge to problem solve, order items or name three-dimensional shapes.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children show wonder and interest in the environment, using their senses to explore and develop understanding about natural changes, for example when growing mushrooms. Older children have a good knowledge of their community and other cultures, asking questions to further develop understanding. Children discuss past and present events such as holidays and social occasions in groups. They make and deign models skilfully and use the computer and other technological equipment competently.

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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 All children develop large muscle skills to run, skip, and move around each other with confidence. They use large apparatus to climb and balance competently and independently. All children, including the younger ones, handle a wide variety of tools appropriately and construct models with increasing control. They successfully pour and scoop in sand and water play. Children use scissors well and 4-year-olds have more refined cutting skills.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident initiating imaginative activities: they use their experiences and knowledge of others to role-play and 4-year-olds communicate their ideas particularly well. All children use their senses actively to explore different textures and activities with interest, for example smelling and mixing the scented paints. Children use their voices expressively and 3-year-olds recall songs and move their bodies rhythmically to music. They enthusiastically join in puppet and story times.

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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

• further improve the opportunities for 4-year- olds and more able children to develop mathematical skills for problem solving, ordering items by weight and height, and to develop language of three-dimentional shapes.

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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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