COMBINED INSPECTION REPORT

About the inspection

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.

Information about the setting

Daisy Chain Day Nursery opened in 1990. It operates from a converted bungalow on the outskirts of Peterborough. The children are allocated to one of three rooms, according to their age. The nursery serves families from Peterborough and the surrounding area.

There are currently 33 children from three months to five years on roll. This includes eight funded 3-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are no children currently attending who have special needs or for whom English is an additional language.

The group opens five days a week all year round. Sessions are from 0800hrs until 1800hrs.

The nursery employs nine staff plus a cook and handy man. Seven of the staff, including the manager, hold an appropriate early years qualifications. One member of staff is currently working towards a recognised early years qualification. The setting receives support from a teacher working for the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP).

How good is the Day Care?

Daisy Chain Day Nursery provides a good standard of care for children. The premises are warm, welcoming and homely. It is well-decorated and good use is made of the available space to provide an interesting and stimulating environment for the children. A wide range of equipment is available to the children to cover all stages of development. Low level storage enables children to use their own initiative and develop their independence skills. The nursery benefits from good organisation although hand washing procedures for the older children need reviewing to avoid disruption.

Staff follow detailed policies and procedures, and work well together, to meet the children's needs. The key worker system ensures all children are given individual attention and staff maintain regular assessments on each child. A wide range of activities are planned for all age groups. Good procedures are in place for the arrival, and collection, of children and staff are vigilant about children's safety. However, broken equipment needs to be identified and removed and the fire alarm system reviewed to ensure effectiveness. Children are provided with a range of healthy and nutritious meals. Good provision is made for children with special dietary needs.

Staff actively promote equal opportunities through effective use of activities and resources. They work together with parents, and outside agencies, to support children who may have special needs. Clear rules and boundaries are set for the children. Staff act as good role models and calmly, and patiently, deal with disruptive behaviour.

Very good relationships have been established with parents. They are fully involved with the group through the parent / nursery association. Their suggestions and ideas are valued. They receive a full range of information regarding the provision which includes detailed feedback on their child's day. Well-organised and comprehensive documentation is in place to support the management of the group.

What has improved since the last inspection?

There were no issues raised at the last inspection. The nursery has continued to show a commitment to developing and improving practice through training and by taking part in quality assurance schemes.

What is being done well?

• The premises are maintained to a high standard to provide an interesting and stimulating environment for the children. Children have access to a variety of resources which are stored in clearly labelled, low-level, units.
• Staff working with babies and toddlers effectively use the "Birth to Three" framework in both their planning and assessments. They ensure they are fully informed of children's individual needs to enable them to provide appropriate care.
• Children are provided with a variety of home-made meals which are healthy and nutritious. Staff encourage the children to develop good hygiene habits, such as regular hand-washing, after messy play and before eating.
• Clear policies and procedures are in place which are effectively implemented by the staff. Documentation is well-organised to support the management of the group.

What needs to be improved?

• the procedures for checking and removing damaged equipment
• the facilities for the older children to wash their hands to avoid disruption to other children
• the fire alarm system to ensure all persons on the premises can hear the alarm.

Previous Complaints (This section applies only to inspections carried out from September 2004. The complaint record relates to complaints from the last inspection or 1st April 2004 whichever is later.)

Outcome of the inspection

Good

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.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT?

INSPECTION OF THE NURSERY EDUCATION PROVISION FOR FUNDED THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS.

How effective is the nursery education?
The provision for nursery education at Daisy Chain Day Nursery is of good quality overall. The children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals in their personal, social and emotional development, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development. They are making generally good progress in all areas of learning.

The quality of teaching is generally good. Staff have a good understanding of the foundation stage and interact positively with the children. They interact fully with them, as they take part in the wide range of activities provided, both indoors and outside. Staff effectively help children understand right from wrong. Activities are planned to link into the six areas of learning although short term plans do not clearly identify the expected learning outcome and lack details on resources needed or the staffs role. This and the organisation of the resources, leads to missed opportunities, particularly in relation to communication, language and literacy and mathematics. A comprehensive assessment system is in place which is regularly updated by the staff through observations. This gives a clear picture of individual children's learning.

The leadership and management is generally good. The manager works closely with her staff supporting them in their role. Staff work well together as a team. Systems are in place to monitor the quality of the provision. The group are committed to improving their standards by looking at continued training and future involvement in a quality standards programme.

The partnerships with parents and carers is very good. The staff have very good relationships with the parents who are warmly welcomed into the group. Parents are encouraged to be involved with their child's learning. The children's records of achievement are always available for parents to view and parents are also invited to regular meetings when they can discuss their child's progress towards the stepping stones.

What is being done well?

• Children's personal, social and emotional development is well fostered. Children are very confident and enjoy attending the nursery. They have established good relationships with their friends and are developing a good understanding of acceptable behaviour.
• The staff provide the children with an interesting range of activities which enables them to extend their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They are able to explore and investigate different objects and materials.
• Parents are fully involved with the group and receive very comprehensive information about future events and activities. They are valued by the staff and are given daily feedback on their child's day at the nursery.
• Children's physical skills are effectively promoted through a stimulating range of indoor and outdoor activities. They competently use all their muscles and are able to move with care and control.

What needs to be improved?

• the planning to clearly show the learning intentions, the resources needed and the staff role in promoting the learning,
• the organisation of the resources to effectively extend learning particularly in relation to communication, language and literacy and mathematics.

What has improved since the last inspection?

The setting has made generally good progress since the last inspection and this has had a positive effect on children's learning. Children now have ready access to a range of books and a clear and comprehensive assessment system is now in place. Plans have been revised to link into the six areas of learning although these still lack some clarity.

SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENTS

Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered appropriately.

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.

WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES

Extend the short term plans to clearly show what the children are intended to learn from the activity. Show the resources needed and the staff role. Within the programme provide more opportunities for children to develop their writing skills and extend their understanding of simple addition and subtraction.

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.

SUMMARY OF NATIONAL STANDARDS

STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON
Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.

STANDARD 10 - SPECIAL NEEDS (INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)
The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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