Apple Wood Children's Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 15/01/2004 Inspector Name Marianne Gascoyne

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name The College Childrens Centre Setting Address The College Of West Anglia Tennyson Avenue King's Lynn Norfolk PE30 2QW

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name The College Childrens Centre Address The College Of West Anglia Tennyson Avenue Kings Lynn Norfolk PE30 2QW

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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

The College Children's Centre opened at the present site in April 2001. It operates from three rooms within a self contained unit on the site of The College of West Anglia, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. The nursery serves students and staff of the college. There are currently 81 children from 0 to 5 years on roll. This number includes fourteen funded three year olds and twelve funded four year olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are currently no children attending with special needs or who speak English as an additional language. The nursery operates five days a week during college term time only from 08:30 until 16:30. Eleven part time/full time staff work with the children all of whom have early years qualifications. Two bank staff are available to work within the provision as well as a cook, lunch time assistant and cleaner. The setting receives support from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. They have recently been awarded

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How good is the Day Care?

The College Children's Centre provides good quality care for children aged two months to under five years. A very attractive stimulating environment is created in each area and the well organised facility ensures a warm welcome. Staff are all qualified and experienced in their area of responsibility and children are eager to attend feeling secure and confident in their care. Toys and equipment are of high quality and developmentally appropriate to promote all areas of development throughout the nursery. Staff are guided by a clear set of policies which are to be updated shortly. Good deployment of staff, the high standard of cleanliness and thorough assessment of potential risks ensures children are cared for in a safe environment.

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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 are learning good hygiene practises through the daily routine; they are well nourished by the excellent meals which are cooked on the premises from fresh ingredients. There are effective procedures in place to ensure any children with special needs who attend are well supported and staff are clear in their responsibility to protect children. Bumblebees provides a range of stimulating activities for the youngest children attending and babies are very secure and happy in their routines. Children in Ladybirds are provided with many interesting, fun play opportunities in which they are eager to take part. In Grasshoppers children are very confident and well occupied by a wide range of activities. All the staff are calm, kind and fully involved

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How good is the Day Care?

in children's learning. The needs of all the children are met. Children are helpful, caring and all are very well behaved responding to high expectations and good role models provided by staff. Clear information is provided for parents through regular newsletters and well maintained notice boards. Parents feel able to talk to staff at any time and share information about their children on a daily basis.

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What is being done well?

• The key worker/practitioner system operates effectively throughout the nursery to ensure children receive very good continuity of care and quickly settle and feel secure in the consistent care given. Personal care of the very young children in the nursery is, wherever possible, carried out by the key worker and good relationships are in place. Parents are well informed regarding their children's progress and feel able to share information about their child and work in partnership with the nursery. • Furniture and equipment made from a variety of materials provide a stimulating environment where children can play, eat or sleep in comfort. Babies have a separate quiet sleep room. Toys and equipment are developmentally appropriate and promote all areas of development throughout the nursery. • Children are provided with very nutritious snacks and meals prepared from fresh ingredients and cooked on the premises. Mealtimes are enjoyable

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What is being done well?

social occasions when conversations are encouraged. • A stimulating range of activities is provided for the children in each area and children are very happy and well occupied throughout the nursery. The staff are very attentive and fully involved in the children's learning; children are secure, very confident and well behaved.

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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 development of the operational plan including policies and procedures to ensure they reflect current practice in the nursery.

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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 14 Continue to develop the operational plan, including policies and procedures, to ensure it reflects current practice in the nursery and provides clear guidelines for staff and 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?

The provision for nursery education at The College Children's Centre is acceptable and of high quality. It enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals (elgs) in all areas of learning. Teaching is very good. Staff plan purposeful activities and encourage children in self-chosen play situations. They make good use of the excellent accommodation and resources to promote learning in all areas. Staff have clear roles and responsibilities and work well together focusing on the children's needs. They encourage children to converse and behave appropriately by providing positive role models. Good relationships are in place based on mutual respect and staff expect the most from children providing them with appropriate challenges. Staff have a sound knowledge of the elgs and make frequent observations which are used in children's assessments to identify the next steps in children's learning and

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How effective is the nursery education?

ensure they are making progress. Leadership and management are very good. Clear leadership is provided by the manager with the support of the registered person. They recognise and value the skills of staff and support them in their development through access to training opportunities. Weekly meetings enable staff to plan effectively and evaluate activities undertaken. The nursery has recently been awarded the Norfolk Quality Kitemark demonstrating their commitment to constantly improve the care and education for all children attending. The partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive good information and attractively presented newsletters which ensure they are fully aware of activities being undertaken and how they can be involved in their children's learning. Plans are displayed and parents have access to their children's assessment records whenever they wish. The relationship with parents has a positive effect on children's

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What is being done well?

• Children are very confident, well motivated and interested in self-chosen and adult initiated activities. They relate well to each other and real friendships are in place. Children play imaginatively together and share activities, for example, two children draw each other's portrait. • Staff interact very well with children. They are skilled in the use of questioning to encourage children to think. Their knowledge and understanding of the world and vocabulary is being developed through interesting conversations particularly at mealtimes. • Staff are skilled at reading stories and retaining children's attention at group

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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 times. Children are gaining an understanding of the enjoyment and knowledge to be gained from books and are able to handle them with confidence and join in with familiar stories. They readily stand in front of the other children to make their contribution at group times.

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What needs to be improved?

• The encouragement given to children to use calculation in everyday situations.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

No significant weaknesses were identified at the last inspection but the nursery was asked to consider points for development and have made very good progress in achieving these. They included tailoring the planning and assessment to the desirable learning outcomes and analysing whether this has been achieved. Plans and evaluations of focused activities now clearly identify the learning intention and how this is being met. They were also asked to develop ways in which parents and carers can be involved in children's assessments and contribute towards the learning outcomes. Regular newsletters explain ways in which parents can extend their children's learning at home and they are encouraged to contribute to their children's assessments although the nursery has found not many make such 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: Very Good Children's confidence, independence and self esteem are being nurtured through the self chosen activities, daily routine and play experiences and opportunities provided by staff. Children have a very positive approach to learning and are able to concentrate well showing pride in their achievements. Friendships are well developed and children join with each other in play. They respond well to clear but not obvious boundaries, and are learning to manage their own behaviour.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children demonstrate an enjoyment of books and stories, listening attentively and joining in with familiar phrases. They handle books with confidence and read stories to friends. They recognise familiar words and are learning match sounds with letters. Children's language skills are good and they are competent at conversations, sharing experiences with the adults and other children. There are many opportunities to mark make and children are starting to write their names.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have opportunities to count, recognise numerals and learn the language of mathematics through everyday play situations, for example, deciding whether bags in toy shop are big enough. They discuss the size and number of shells when weighing and predict what will make the scales balance. Children are skilled at completing jigsaw puzzles and sort items by colour and size. Opportunities to develop understanding of calculation are sometimes missed when sharing fruit, laying the table etc.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Questions and conversations initiated by staff are encouraging children to understand their environment and think about past and future events. The current project on toys, which includes a visit to the local museum, is developing this knowledge. Planned activities and resources are developing an understanding of other cultures. Children have opportunities to explore, investigate and construct through a variety of activities. They are becoming skilled in the independent use of the computer.

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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 Children have good control over their bodies and are able to follow movements to represent animals. They are able to pedal bicycles with skill adjusting speed and changing direction. They are developing good hand/eye co-ordination when using small tools while playing and eating. Visits to the local playground provide physical challenges for older/more able children. A good understanding of healthy living is being gained, for example, 'I eat broccoli - it makes me grow higher and higher'.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are able to draw, paint and explore texture in craft activities. Materials are available for children to self select. Many children are confident in drawing or painting representational pictures. They talk about what they are doing and show pride in their achievements. Use in displays shows the value placed on creative work. Children enjoy singing and have opportunities to play musical instruments. They role play imaginatively and co-operatively, involving adults and other children.

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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 consideration should be given to improving the following: • extend opportunities for informal learning, particularly in the area of mathematical development, in everyday situations.

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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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