Tiny Town Nursery

Tiny Town Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY273031 Inspection date 31/05/2011 Inspector Carol Johnson

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Setting address 960 Broad Lane, Coventry, West Midlands, CV5 7FH

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Telephone number 024 76 422233 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as

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you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Tiny Town Day Nursery was registered in 2003. It is one of two nurseries run by the present owner. It operates from a large extended detached bungalow in Broad Lane, close to the border of Berkswell. Children are cared for in four playrooms depending on their ages. The group serves the local community. The group opens five days a week all year round between 7.30am until 6pm. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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Description of the setting

The nursery is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently 66 children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. A maximum of 60 children may attend at any one time. The nursery provides funded early education for three and four-year-olds and supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Description of the setting

The nursery employs six permanent members of staff who work directly with the children. All staff hold a relevant childcare qualification. The setting also employs a cook and uses regular relief staff to provide additional cover. The nursery receives support from the local authority.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and enjoy a wide variety of activities that are satisfactorily planned and implemented to meet their individual needs and help them to develop and learn. Partnerships with parents and others are satisfactory and contribute to consistency of care for children. Some legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage have not been met and outdoor areas are not used to their full potential. Systems used for observation, planning and assessment and self- evaluation are not yet effective but the nursery demonstrates a sound capacity for improvement.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 take all reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children are kept to a minimum; this specifically refers to the use of resources outside and trailing wires in outdoor area (Suitable premises, environment and equipment)(also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 07/06/2011

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further?

 ensure that a daily record is maintained of children's hours of attendance (Documentation)(also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 07/06/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop systems used for self-evaluation in order to identify strengths and weaknesses and to maintain continuous improvement  develop the outdoor environment to improve opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors and to offer children more freedom to explore, use their senses, and be physically active and exuberant  develop systems used for planning, observation and assessment to effectively identify aspects of children's learning and development and plan for their next steps  explore ways of encouraging parents to contribute to the planning, observation and assessment cycle.

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the early years provision

Children are suitably safeguarded. Staff demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of reporting and recording procedures should they have safeguarding concerns. The setting's safeguarding policy has recently been reviewed and has been shared with staff and parents. Staff carry out daily visual safety checks of all areas of the premises and appropriate risk assessment records are maintained. However, potential risks in relation to wiring in one of the outdoor areas and the use of outdoor equipment and have not been identified. Consequently, children's safety is at potential risk. All adults in the setting have been suitably vetted and all new staff undergo an induction to ensure that they are familiar with the setting's policies and procedures. On the whole, documentation is maintained appropriately. However, the nursery is not meeting legal requirements with regard to maintaining a daily record of children's hours of attendance.

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the early years provision

Suitable systems are not in place to ensure that children's arrival and departure times are consistently recorded and this potentially compromises children's welfare.

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the early years provision

There have been a number of staff changes over recent months and this has had an impact on the effectiveness of leadership and management. The owner and her staff team appreciate that there are still areas for improvement and are constantly reviewing and refining practice. However, systems for self-evaluation are still in their infancy and are not yet fully effective in evaluating the provision as a whole. For example, management show a general appreciation of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the nursery but have few strategies in place for effectively gathering the views of all people connected with the nursery. Some improvement has been made with regard to recommendations set at the setting's last Ofsted inspection and various action plans are in place to improve practice further. The setting has recently received a capital grant and this funded some improvements to the outdoor play areas, for example, safety surfacing, several canopies and

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the early years provision

some outdoor resources. However, management are aware that these areas could be improved and used more effectively. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children have sufficient space to play and rest. A variety of resources are safely stored in ways that they are easily accessible to children and this allows children to make some independent choices about their play and learning. Positive images of diversity are evident throughout the nursery, for example, in books and displays, and these help to raise children's self-esteem and awareness of the wider community. Also, a range of religious and cultural festivals are explored in meaningful ways.

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the early years provision

Relationships with parents are friendly and keyworkers regularly exchange information with parents about children's welfare and some of the activities they have taken part in. Attractive displays of children's work around the nursery help to create a welcoming environment and add to children's self-esteem. Each child has been appointed a key person and this helps children to settle and provides parents with a main point of contact. Staff suitably work in partnership with parents and others to benefit children and provide coherence and consistency. For example, regular communication is maintained between the local area Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and various other health professionals, and a diary is exchanged between the nursery and another early years setting, that some children attend.

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and outcomes for children

Overall, children make steady progress in their learning. Staff demonstrate a sound knowledge of the needs and interests of individual children and provide a variety of experiences that excite and interest them. They are aware that children learn in different ways and at different rates and thoughtfully adjust activities to suit children's individual needs and preferences. Children enjoy a suitable balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities and these include those that help them to gain some of the skills they will need in future life. Older children are learning to recognise and write their names and name various shapes and colours. Babies and young children show an interest in their surroundings and are provided with a wide range of resources that encourage them to explore and investigate using all of their senses. For example, they show excitement and curiosity as they play with 'Treasure Baskets' and musical instruments. Children are learning to show care and

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and outcomes for children

concern for others and to share and take turns in their play. Staff adopt a range of positive strategies for managing children's behaviour and these include setting a good example and offering plenty of praise and encouragement for effort and achievement.

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and outcomes for children

Staff observe children on a regular basis and record some of what they see and discover. Each child has their own book called a 'Learning Journey' that contains examples of their work, photographs of them involved in play and some observation records. They also have separate assessment record books. These records are maintained by each child's keyworker and are available for parents to view. However, systems for carrying out observations, assessing children's progress and planning for the next steps in their learning are not yet effective. For example, staff do not always use their observations to consider where children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 need to move on next and there are no clear strategies in place for involving parents in the planning, observation and assessment cycle.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and having fun. They show through their actions that they feel safe in the nursery and they are happy to go to staff for comfort, reassurance and support. Children's good health is promoted well. They adopt good hygiene routines and, through everyday discussion and activities, are gaining a good understanding of the benefits of healthy eating. Food provided by the nursery is healthy and nutritious and drinking water is easily accessible to the children. Children enjoy regular opportunities to participate in physical activity and exercise. They take part in regular 'Monkey Music' sessions and these engage children and help to introduce them to music and movement in a fun manner. Outdoor areas are used by all children on a daily basis and include a range of resources that help to increase children's physical skills and all-round learning. However, outdoor areas are not resourced or used to their full potential and this means that children's

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and outcomes for children

welfare, learning and development is somewhat impeded. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment, Records to be kept). 07/06/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment, Records to be kept). 07/06/2011

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