Springfield Nursery, Childcare, Marwood Logo
Springfield Nursery, Marwood, Nr Barnstaple, North Devon
Springfield Nursery, Marwood, Nr Barnstaple, North Devon: Child care for children aged 3 months to 8 years

Springfield Nursery - Osfted Reports

Photo: Ofsted Report for Springfield Nursery, Child Care, North Devon

We take the Ofsted inspection procedures and feedback very seriously and use it as part of our policy of continuing improvement.

The report below is our first dated 14th October 2004

COMBINED INSPECTION REPORT
URN EY229837
DfES Number: 541672

INSPECTION DETAILS
Inspection Date 14/10/2004
Inspector Name Rachael Williams

SETTING DETAILS
Day Care Type Full Day Care
Setting Name Springfield Nursery
Setting Address Springfield Farm
Marwood
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4DT

REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS
Name Springfield Nursery

ORGANISATION DETAILS
Name Springfield Nursery
Address Springfield Farm
Marwood
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4DT

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.

Information about the setting
Springfield Nursery opened in 2002. It operates from Springfield Farm in Marwood near Barnstaple, Devon. The nursery operates from one open plan room and has various outside provision including a pets corner and a climbing area. The nursery serves the local community and feeds into several schools.

There are currently 87 children on roll aged from birth to five years. This includes 24 funded three-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. At present the nursery supports a number of children with special educational needs.

The nursery opens five days a week all year round with the exception of one week at Christmas. The nursery commences care at 08:00 until 18:00 daily.

Nine members of staff work directly with the children. Of these, eight holds NVQ level three qualifications or equivalent in early years. An administrator is also employed.

The nursery currently receives support from a teacher from the Early Years Development And Childcare Partnership (Zero/14 -- Plus).

How good is the Day Care?
Springfield Nursery offers a good standard of care for the children.

The friendly and approachable staff welcome the children to a spacious and well-organised environment which includes a pet's corner and a sensory area. A clear and descriptive operational plan is effectively used to ensure the smooth running of the setting. However, child to staff ratios are not effectively monitored during lunchtime provision.

Well qualified and experienced staff plan a good balance of activities for the children which are supported by a good range of accessible resources and toys. Staff interact with the children well, listening to them and engaging them in relevant conversations to extend their learning. Staff have a good knowledge of the children and ensure activities are flexible and can include all children through their understanding of what works well for particular children. Praise and positive reinforcement are used well to encourage children. Appropriate strategies and good explanations are used to manage behaviour effectively.

Staff deploy themselves well, supervising the children to ensure their safety. However, an effective risk assessment of the premises has not been completed. Parents and children are greeted by a member of staff and there are good arrangements for the safe collection of children through a password system. Health and hygiene is promoted well and includes good nappy changing arrangements. There are effective procedures to ensure children are protected from illness. However, some registration forms do not include emergency contact details. Healthy, nutritious snacks and water are provided regularly.

A communication book is used well to pass on information from parents to key worker and vice-versa. Parent evenings are beginning to be used effectively to provide parents with relevant information for example, the use of play to support learning.

What has improved since the last inspection?
not applicable

What is being done well?
The open plan nursery provides a spacious and well organised environment for the children. It provides good opportunities for children to be involved in varied activities especially in the outside provision for example, the sensory garden, a fixed climbing frame and a pet's corner where children have the opportunity to feed the ducks and chickens and collect their eggs. Well qualified and experienced staff interact well with the children to extend their learning and provide a good balance of activities. Behaviour is managed well with appropriate strategies. Praise and positive reinforcement are used effectively to encourage the children. Health and hygiene is promoted well for example, through good nappy changing arrangements and effective procedures to protect children from illness and infection. A communication book keeps parents well-informed of daily routines and the activities their child has participated in.

What needs to be improved?
child to staff ratios during the lunchtime period risk assessment of the premises identifying actions to be taken emergency contact details for all children.

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?
The Registered Person should have regard to the following recommendations by the time of the next inspection Std Recommendation
2 Ensure staff ratios are maintained during the lunchtime period.
6 Conduct a risk assessment on the premises identifying actions to be taken to minimize identified risks.
7 Ensure emergency contact details are consistently included on children's registration forms.

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

How effective is the nursery education?
Springfield Nursery provides good quality education for the funded children. Through interesting experiences children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals (E.L.G's). High priority is given to personal, social and emotional development and physical development where children are making very good progress.

The quality of teaching is generally good. Good use is made of the farm environment to provide children with interesting experiences. Experienced and well-qualified staff have good knowledge of the foundation stage curriculum. Planning shows effective linking of areas of learning but does not clearly identify what children will learn from these activities or ensure effective evaluations are conducted to influence future learning. Planning omits some opportunities to successfully cover all areas of learning. Staff interact well with the children listening to their questions and responding appropriately with good explanations. Staff deploy themselves effectively and use appropriate questioning skills to extend learning and vocabulary. Although observations are regularly recorded to share with parents these are not sufficient to show progression towards the E.L.G's. Behaviour is managed effectively with appropriate strategies consistently applied.

Leadership and management is generally good. A strong, supportive team work collaboratively to ensure the provision is of a good standard. Appraisals are used effectively to identify areas to improve and training needs. Relevant action plans are used well to ensure the provision is monitored but these are not effectively evaluated.

Partnership with parents is generally good. Parents are well informed about the setting and it's provision through an informative prospectus and a well used daily communications diary. Good use is made of open evenings to promote play and the foundation stage curriculum.

What is being done well?
The effective teaching methods used help children to progress appropriately. Staff interact well with the children using effective questioning and offering good explanations to the children's responses.

Behaviour is managed effectively. Various and appropriate strategies are used consistently by staff who provide children with good explanations as to why some behaviour is unacceptable. Strategies are discussed regularly to ensure consistency. Professional development is managed well through regular appraisals which are used to monitor staff training needs and areas for improvement to ensure children are provided with a balance of experiences from well qualified staff. Good relationships have been established with parents who are well informed about the setting through an informative prospectus, newsletters and a regularly updated notice board. A communications book is used well to share daily experiences and achievements. Children move well and are provided with a good range of equipment and experiences to develop skills such as climbing and chasing.

What needs to be improved?
planning to include opportunities to mark make and to experiment with writing for different purposes, to develop problem solving skills, to experience early addition and subtraction through combining and separating groups of objects, to develop information and communication technology skills and to develop freely in dance activities planning and assessments to show children's stage of development and their progression towards the early learning goals a rigorous system to ensure the provision and activities are effectively monitored.

What has improved since the last inspection?
not applicable

SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENTS

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children select activities independently and are keen to engage in new experiences showing their curious natures. Through good interaction by staff children are confident and have established good, sharing relationships with their peers. Children behave well and show care and concern for the animals in pets corner. Good use is made of the rural community to encourage a strong sense of self within the community.

COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
Judgement: Generally Good
Children listen attentively in whole group situations for example when listening to a story, and respond well to staff questions. Children have favourite stories and re-enact them well when playing outside for example, 'The Three Little Pigs'. Children are good at listening to instructions and respond appropriately. Children's development in mark making is limited as their are few opportunities to experiment with writing for different purposes for example, in their role play.

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Generally Good
Children recite numbers to 10 well especially when saying number rhymes. Children count for a purpose for example, steps to Mr. Wolf and use numbers well in their play. More able children are able to count objects by saying one number name for each item. Children use comparative language well to describe size, length, distance and mass. The potential to support children's understanding of problem solving and early addition and subtraction is not sufficiently explored.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
Judgement: Generally Good
Children use their senses well to explore and investigate their environment. Appropriate, descriptive language is used well to describe what they see, smell, feel and taste. Through positive experiences children have good understanding of a sense of time and place for example, through farm experiences such as lambing and shearing. The potential for children to develop their information and communication technology skills is not sufficiently developed.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Very Good
Children move freely in a variety of ways and are confident in running and chasing games. Children engage in imaginative games such as 'What's The Time Mr Wolf?' and re-enact the story of 'The Three Little Pigs' well. Equipment, such as the climbing frame, is used well and children show good coordination and manoeuvrability. Tools are handled correctly and children show good hand/eye coordination when using them.

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Generally Good
Children name colours and select them for chosen activities for example, painting the ark. Music and instruments from other countries are shared well for example, an African drum. Instruments are handled appropriately and children explore their sound. Children engage in role play activities well and are good at using the dressing up costumes and storylines to extend their play. However, there are few opportunities for children to develop as freely in their dance. 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
ensure planning includes opportunities for children to experiment with mark making for different purposes, to use their numerical knowledge to problem solve, to combine and separate a group of objects, to develop information and communication technology skills and to develop freely in dance develop planning and assessment systems to clearly show the progress children are making towards the early learning goals and use these to help plan for children's next steps in learning develop an appropriate system to evaluate relevant action plans in order to monitor the effectiveness of the provision for nursery education.

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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