Child's Play Day Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 26/11/2003 Inspector Name Marianne Gascoyne

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Child's Play Day Nursery Setting Address Sawyers Yard Wolferton KING'S LYNN Norfolk PE31 6HA

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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

Child's Play Nursery has been open for five years. The nursery operates in purposely converted premises in the village of Wolferton near King's Lynn. The children who attend come from surrounding villages and the local town. There are currently 41 children on role none of whom have special education needs. A small number of the children speak English as a second language. There are two four-year-olds and twelve three-year-olds in receipt of funding. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 07.30 until 17.30 throughout the year. There are eleven members of staff who work with the children with a mix of full and part-time. The majority of the staff are qualified.The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Child Care Partnership.

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How good is the Day Care?

Child's Play Day Nursery provides good quality care for children aged birth to under five years. The welcoming, childcentred premises and good supervision and support from staff ensures children feel secure and are eager to attend. The available space is well organised and an appropriate range of furniture and equipment provided to enable children to play, rest and eat together. However, there is a lack of resources to encourage children to extend and develop their play, for example, dolls but no prams in the top room. The policies and procedures do not always reflect practise in the nursery. Effective procedures are in place to ensure children are kept in a safe environment both inside and outside the premises. They are learning good hygiene practises and clear procedures are in place to reduce the risk of cross infection except when playing with musical instruments. The lack of organisation and opportunity to

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How good is the Day Care?

develop independence at mealtimes means children sit unoccupied for extended periods. Babies and toddlers are well stimulated by the interaction with adults who use their

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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 sound relationships to support children's play and build language skills. Their individual routines are respected and children are able to sleep in comfort when required. Good relationships are in place with the older children. An appropriate range of activities is provided to help children develop well. Children respond to good role models and the calm atmosphere created by staff, are well behaved and get on well together. Good procedures are in place to provide information for parents. Written details of individual children's development and well-being are shared with parents on a daily basis to ensure they are well informed.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

At the last inspection the nursery was asked to write action plans to show how play opportunities and first hand experiences to build on children's natural curiosity as learners would be provided and how staff would be deployed to support their learning. They were asked to make arrangements for all staff to complete form DC2 and ensure adult:child ratios were met at all times. Staff understanding of good hygiene practises was identified as an area for development together with the inclusion of the outside area in the risk assessment. Staff are now appropriately deployed and a range of activities provided to build on children's curiosity as learners. Statutory checks have been completed for all and required staffing ratios ratios are met at all times. Procedures are in place to ensure good hygiene is practised and the outside area checked for safety before use.

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What is being done well?

• A colourful, attractive environment is created with displays of children's artwork and photographs of themselves. A designated quiet sleep room enables children to sleep in comfort. • The nursery has effective procedures in place to ensure staff are aware of children's individual needs. Written records and information available in each room ensures children's individual routines for sleep and play are met. Children are settled and confident. • There are good relationships in place between children and adults. Babies are well stimulated and adults talk and listen to children and provide a balance of activities.They provide good role models and children respond to positive encouragement and behave well.

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What needs to be improved?

• the organisation of mealtimes to ensure children are not sitting waiting and unoccupied for long periods • the policies and procedures to ensure they clearly reflect current practice in the nursery.

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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

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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 Make sure the organisation of mealtimes does not involve children sitting unoccupied for long periods. 14 Update policies and procedures to ensure they reflect current practice in the nursery.

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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 Child's Play Nursery is generally good. It enables children to make generally good progress towards the early learning goals in their personal, social and emotional development, communication, language and literacy, physical and creative development but there are significant weaknesses in mathematics and knowledge and understanding of the world. The quality of teaching has significant weaknesses. Staff interact well and use positive behaviour management strategies to build good relationships with children. Activities for the children are presented in an enthusiastic and lively manner but they are not always developed to provide sufficient challenge. Time is not used effectively throughout the day and opportunities for children to self-select are limited. Planning is in place and a new assessment process is currently being implemented to ensure it informs the planning. However not all staff have the underpinning

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How effective is the nursery education?

knowledge of the early learning goals to be able to implement the planning to full potential. Leadership and management is generally good. The manager provides clear leadership and is committed to raising the quality of the child care and education provided. She ensures staff appraisals are carried out and staff given opportunities to update their knowledge. However, staff changes and a lack of involvement by the owner means the issues raised at the previous inspection have not been effectively addressed and the effectiveness of the provision is not fully evaluated. Partnership with parents is generally good. Displays in the entrance hall provide easily understandable information about the Foundation Stage. Parents feel welcome. A recent parents evening proved popular and is to be repeated which, together with informal contact, keeps parents advised of children's progress. They are involved in some activities to assist their children's learning but do not contribute

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What is being done well?

• Children are gaining an understanding that print has meaning through the well labelled displays of children's work, photographs and posters displayed in the setting and planned activities, for example, letters to Santa. • Good relationships are in place and children are confident and play happily together in pairs or small groups. The involve each other in their imaginative play and are helpful and caring towards each other. • Story times are enjoyed by the children. They are gaining an understanding of the value and purpose of books, listen well and join in with repeated refrains.

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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 • Children show good control of their bodies and awareness of space in their free play activities and when taking part in physical play activities and action songs.

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What needs to be improved?

• the knowledge of all members of staff of the stepping stones of progress to the early learning goals • the use of problem solving and calculation in everyday activities • opportunities for children to investigate and explore materials and self-select materials to design and construct.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The setting has made limited progress since the last inspection. Changes in staff and management and loss of the action plan have impacted on the progress made. At the last inspection the nursery was asked to develop the planning and effective planning is now in place. The nursery was asked to give the mathematical programme a higher priority and promote mathematical ideas throughout the day-to-day activities. Mathematics is now included in the programme although some aspects are still not being encouraged. Children's independence was an area which needed to be encouraged and this is still an area requiring development. The need for challenging opportunities for the children to ask questions and about why things happen and how things work and for children to ask thought provoking questions was identified and children are still not being fully challenged in this way. The nursery was asked to develop the assessment records and to encourage parents to

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What has improved since the last inspection?

add their own contributions. New assessment methods are currently being introduced but parents are still not being encouraged to add their own contributions.

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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 Good relationships are in place and children play happily together in small groups and pairs. They are eager to take part in activities and the older/more able children are able to concentrate for long periods. Children involve each other in their imaginative play and are well behaved, helpful and caring towards each other. They are given limited opportunities to practise independence skills and are not encouraged to self select or develop activities particularly in the creative play area.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Generally Good Children enjoy story times joining in with repeated refrains and listening attentively. They are gaining an understanding of the value of books. The environment is rich in print with well labelled displays and children have opportunities for early writing in role play. Children communicate effectively during imaginative play but there is a lack of challenge to help them extend their vocabulary. Children are not being learning to recognise their names by, for example, self registration.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses Children are being encouraged to count, are confident in counting to ten and are learning to recognise shapes, colours and sizes. Their understanding of number is not being reinforced in everyday activities such as sharing out cups at snack times or using subtraction as well as addition when singing action songs. The awareness of weight and capacity is not sufficiently exploited through the use of activities such as sand play. Jigsaw puzzles provided do not always provide sufficient challenge.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Significant Weaknesses The local environment is used to stimulate children's interest in the natural world. They collect leaves and observe the weather, plant and watch things grow. There are planned activities to design and make items. However, they do not have opportunities to select their own resources to become adept at using materials and tools for this purpose. Children's interest in technology is not encouraged and children are not give opportunities to investigate explore and talk about why things happen.

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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 show increasing control over their bodies and awareness of space when playing chasing games and joining in with action songs. They are learning ball skills and demonstrate developing finger control and hand/eye co-ordination as they play with playdough, draw and build with bricks. However, they are not being encouraged to use appropriate tools to feed themselves. There are very limited opportunities to push and pull toys, for example, prams and bikes.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good Children participate enthusiastically in music sessions. They tap out simple rhymes and use musical instruments to distinguish between fast and slow, loud and soft sounds. Older/more able children express themselves in their representational drawings. There is little opportunity for children to explore colour and texture, for example, by mixing paint and choosing collage materials. Children play imaginatively together although the quality of the play varies with support and resources given.

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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

• Develop staff's understanding of the early learning goals to enable planning to be implemented effectively and opportunities maximised for children's learning in all six areas. • Ensure opportunities are provided in everyday situations to develop children's skills in problem solving and calculation. • Provide opportunities for children to investigate, explore and self select materials to develop their design and construction skills.

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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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