Red Hen Day Nursery

Red Hen Childrens Day Nursery & Kidz Crew Out-of-School Club Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY279807 Inspection date 12/03/2012 Inspector Beverly A Kemp-Russell

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Setting address Manor House Farm, Reston Road, Legbourne Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8LS Telephone number 01507 603535 Email redhenkidz@btinternet.com Type of setting Childcare - Non-Domestic 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.

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You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as 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

Red Hen Children's Day Nursery and Kidz Crew Out of School Club opened in 2004. It is privately run and operates from converted farm buildings adjacent to the owners' home on the outskirts of the village of Legbourne, Lincolnshire. There is a fully enclosed central courtyard for outdoor play which can be directly accessed from all the play rooms. There is also a separate mound area with vegetable patch and a further enclosed paddock area where children are able to access animals and nature walks.

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Description of the setting

A maximum of 72 children may attend at any one time. There are currently 119 children on roll attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The nursery is open each weekday from 8.00am to 6.00pm all year round except for public holidays and Christmas week. The out of school club is open 8.00am to 6.00pm during school holidays. The setting is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. It supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. Children attend for a variety of sessions and come from a wide catchment area.

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Description of the setting

The setting employs 21 members of child care staff. Of these, all staff hold appropriate early years qualifications. The owner holds a degree in early years. The setting 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a highly innovative and welcoming environment, where they are extremely well-supported to meet their individual needs. The inspiring and innovative use of space, resources and learning systems enable children to make outstanding progress towards the early learning goals. Children are fully safeguarded and their welfare is significantly enhanced and promoted through robust policies and procedures, which all staff clearly understand. Dynamic and effective partnership with parents, other providers and professionals promotes an integrated, exceptional approach to children's care and learning. Excellent improvements have been made since the last inspection and the setting's appropriate system of self-evaluation is continuing to move the setting forward.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 develop more robust systems to ensure all parents are fully involved in their children's learning and development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded by effective policies and procedures which are rigorously followed by staff. Robust checks ensure staff's ongoing suitability to work with children. Children flourish in the care of the highly skilled and enthusiastic staff group who are committed to developing their own skills through the sharing of best practice and frequent internal and external training. They are effectively supported, motivated and monitored by the dedicated management team who have high aspirations for all. Thorough risk assessments and daily checks ensure that children are not at risk from hazards. A review of policies and procedures, and recent training for staff on child protection/safeguarding issues, ensures staff are well informed as to how they protect children from harm and know what to do should they have concerns about a child. The learning environment both indoors and outdoors enables children to be motivated and

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the early years provision

interested throughout. It is thoughtfully laid out, well equipped with high quality toys and innovative resources, rich with symbols, signs, letters and number and fully accessible to all children. The vibrant provision both inside and outside creates an environment in which children's learning is stimulated at all times. For example, opportunities to investigate the world around them by caring for animals and exploring the great outdoors..

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the early years provision

The setting has a strong commitment to continuous improvement as it strives for excellence. This is achieved through the frequent review, reflection and evaluation of all aspects of the provision and children's learning and includes staff, parents, children and other professionals. Staff are knowledgeable about new initiatives in child development and eagerly implement them with great effect, such as 'keeping children healthy'. Consequently, the setting ensures that children thrive and are assured of the best possible outcomes. Leaders and managers continue to develop robust systems for monitoring and evaluating the early years provision, in order to maintain continuous improvement.

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the early years provision

Children's experiences are enhanced by the staff's responsive approach to the individual needs of children and their families, alongside highly effective partnerships with a wide range of other professionals and providers. Parents are exceedingly complimentary about the setting and are happy to give extremely positive feedback. Parents' knowledge of their own children is actively sought and taken account of, thus ensuring that children settle well and their interests and capabilities are well known by staff when their children start at the setting. They are frequently informed of their children's progress and development through informal discussion and planned meetings. Parents are supported and encouraged to play an active role in their child's ongoing learning and development. This is achieved through a wide variety of opportunities to develop their own understanding of how children learn and practical activities in which they can

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the early years provision

support and promote their own child's achievements. For example, contributing to planning the learning environment, attending parents forum meetings and working closely with key workers. However, robust systems are not fully developed to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensure all parents are fully involved.

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress in their learning and development in relation to their starting points and subsequent achievements. A highly effective key worker system ensures that children are sensitively cared for and their learning is extremely well supported. Staff take full account of children's backgrounds and complex needs and respond in a sensitive manner. Children's progress is frequently observed and assessed; consequently, planning is responsive to children's interests and their identified next steps in learning. As a result, staff plan an exciting environment both indoors and outdoors which is stimulating and challenging to all children. Planned activities include planting, yoga, what makes us strong, where food comes from, hygienists visit, managing own risks and making bread, which support the topic of being healthy.

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and outcomes for children

Staff support children's learning through highly effective use of open-ended questioning to develop independent thinking and choices. Children work cooperatively together and express their everyday experiences as they use small world play such as, the dolls house and train track. Staff skillfully support and extend children's ideas and learning as they develop and include within their play, problem solving, comparison, communication, negotiation, knowledge and understanding of the world and recognition of difference. Children are lively and enthusiastic learners and are eager to try new experiences and thoroughly enjoy muddy Monday. Excellent use is made of information technology equipment and often it is linked to topics. Children take part in experiments to promote, support and develop children's learning and to help them develop skills for the future. Everyday activities are used effectively by staff to promote children's problem

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and outcomes for children

solving and self-care skills, such as dressing themselves in outdoor weather clothing and independently eating and drinking at lunch time.

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and outcomes for children

Children's contributions are highly valued and they delight in viewing themselves in the extensive range of photographs that demonstrate their learning through activities. All staff knowledgeably provide resources and activities that promote skills to support early mark-making and promote an interest in books and print. These include the use of an excellent range of media such as paint, pencils, paper, notebooks and clipboards and the location of topic books to enhance imaginative play.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate high levels of independence, as they spontaneously follow and understand the reasons for very good hygiene routines. Free flow play between the inside and outside, giving daily access to fresh air and exercise is fully encouraged. The outdoor environment is excellent with innovative areas such as, the mound, the gardening and animal area, the messy area, the courtyard and the ponds where children go on nature walks. Well planned use of equipment to develop physical skills and nourishing, balanced healthy meals and snacks promote This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Healthy eating is fully encouraged and the children grow vegetables to eat and collect eggs. All meals are cooked on the premises using fresh ingredients and children contribute to this by making bread each day. All staff support children to manage their own behavior. They

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and outcomes for children

provide positive and enabling role models; consequently, children's behavior is exemplary. Children are supported to evaluate how they keep themselves safe within their environment. For example, children know to stay close to a grown up when going into the nature area. Staff talk to children about the dangers of deep water when walking around the ponds, use a whistle and explain what children must do when they hear it. Therefore children behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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