Alpha Nurseries

Alpha Nurseries 3 Darnley Road, LONDON, E9 6QH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/10/2012 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: Not Applicable How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 Young babies settle quickly and are happy and secure; they build strong meaningful relationships with staff who are affectionate towards them.  The nursery environment is bright, well maintained and stimulating. This helps children to learn and develop and enjoy their surroundings.  Children enjoy play in the large and well resourced garden. This supports their physical well-being, freedom and sense of space.  The management team use good systems to monitor staff performance and offer staff time to develop through further training and daily support. Managers model effective practice with staff.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Staff do not consistently offer young babies expressive arts materials to develop their creative and physical skills.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and staff interaction, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector and manager observed a joint observation of a daily routine.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector examined documentation including a representative sample of children's records, developmental plans and staff's suitability records.

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Information about the setting

Alpha Nurseries Ltd is an extension of a chain of Alpha out of school clubs. It opened in 2012 and operates from a large period property in Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney. The nursery serves the local community and is open each weekday between 7.30am to 6.30pm all year round.

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Information about the setting

The nursery is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register There are currently 14 children who attend in the early years age range. There are eight members of staff all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery provides funded early years education for children aged three and four.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 place big sheets of plastic or paper on the floor so that babies can be near or crawl on to it to make marks and provide materials to encourage large motor skills.

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who attend

Children enjoy a full and stimulating range of learning experiences, which cover all areas of learning. This means they make good progress towards the early learning goals. Staff promote learning effectively because they know how children develop. Children are happy and settled and they build special relationships with their key person. They also build strong attachments to all staff who sit and interact affectionately with them. Young babies interact with other babies and explore new situations, such as crawling over to the building blocks to play. They enjoy finding their own nose, eyes and head as they sing action songs during circle time. Toddlers enjoy moving their whole body to sounds they hear from the musical programmable toys. They have a strong exploratory impulse and show this by walking over to new objects in the room. Young babies are interested by adults talking and other children arriving in the morning. They understand single words in

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who attend

context such as 'mummy'. They enjoy babbling and increasingly experiment with using sounds and words to communicate for a range of purposes. They sit unsupported as they play on the carpet. They can pull themselves to standing holding on furniture for support and pick up small objects between thumb and finger. Staff offer young babies creative activities but these are not offered consistently throughout the day to support creative and physical development. Older children run safely using both feet and squat steadily whilst watering the plants. They can feed themselves competently and drink without spilling. Older children are beginning to be independent in self-care. They enjoy outdoor play using all the large play apparatus and enjoy filling up the watering can to water plants.

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who attend

Staff have high expectations of children. They support them in moving on to their next steps of development by observing and assessing what stage they are at when they begin attending the nursery and throughout their time there. Staff are skilled at identifying any special educational needs that children may have and offer effective support to them. They have close links with specialist agencies in the borough to support children to progress. The key person system is effective in building strong relationships with parents to enable sharing of information about their child. Parents are involved in their children's learning and children are helped to progress by parents and staff working effectively together.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Staff act as good models to children and show them how to behave and care for others. They implement boundaries of behaviour by giving children gentle reminders at a level they understand. Staff are deployed well throughout the nursery, so can support children effectively at all times. As a result children feel secure which helps to build their confidence and self-motivation. Children learn about each other's differences through resources, different menus and celebrations of festivals from around the world. Artefacts from the African culture are displayed around the nursery to reflect the background of some children who attend the nursery. This supports children learning about other cultures and backgrounds in a positive way. Children learn to take small risks as they carry and fill large watering cans and carry them from the playroom to the back of the garden. Older children tend to their own personal needs and use the toilet independently. Young

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

baby's physical and emotional needs are met by staff undertaking well- planned care routines, such as nappy changing. Children learn why a healthy diet is important to their growth and well-being. Staff talk to older children about why some foods are good for them and some are not. Children play outside daily, so develop an awareness of the importance of exercise and learn about the natural world around them. The environment is stimulating and well-resourced. Toys are age and stage appropriate and support children's next stage of learning effectively.

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provision

The management team effectively monitor the implementation of the educational programme. This is achieved as they monitor staff's daily work practice and view all children's records. This allows them to assess how effectively staff are supporting children's learning across all areas of the curriculum and to draw up action plans for further development. This means that any concerns or issues are identified and action taken to improve what play experiences children are offered.

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provision

The management team fully understand their responsibilities in the delivery of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. Detailed policies and procedures which staff understand and implement fully helps to safeguard children effectively. All staff undertake safeguarding training to be able to identify concerns and follow procedures correctly. They are vetted by the management team and complete induction training to show suitability to work with children. Staff complete daily risk assessments to remove any possible dangers to children inside and outside. All necessary records are kept, including daily attendance records and accident and medication records. All staff are first aid trained so they can support children should an accident occur. Strong self-evaluation through monitoring of staff practice and feedback from parents helps to improve any weaknesses. The nursery has established strong partnerships with

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provision

parents, other settings and external agencies which benefit children. Parents are fully involved in their children's care and learning through daily chats, newsletters and parents evenings. Staff work closely with the local authority teachers to develop how the curriculum is delivered, which supports children's learning and development.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY426093 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 796239 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 14 Name of provider Alpha Chains Ltd Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 02089852785

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Setting details

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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