Summary

Meadows Day Nursery is an established nursery in the village of Little Shurdington outside Cheltenham.

The nursery has a large garden available to the children providing opportunities for outdoor play, gardening opportunities and nature walks.

The children are cared for in small groups according to their age and ability, which enables the physical care and emotional needs of the individual children to be addressed.

There is an activities plan which allows plenty o time for creative development of all the children.  Evidence of the children's individual work is displayed on the walls within the playrooms.  The premises are safe and secure.  Any maintenance required is carried out promptly.

There is a good staff group who work well together as a team, providing a warm, caring and stimulating environment for children.

Introduction
The annual inspection assesses the quality of provision for children, by looking at aspects of staffing, the physical environment, care, activities, relationships, and records.  Not all aspects are covered in detail each year.  This year's inspection includes a focus on creative activities, provision for children's physical and emotional needs, and a full safety check.

This report indicates the extent to which at the time of the inspection the nursery met the standards expected under its Children Act registration, and any further actions that were required or recommended to meet these standards.  The report does not aim to describe what the nursery provides for children, nor any developments and changes in the nursery since the time of the inspection; the nursery should make this information available for parents.  The report does not replace the need for parents to visit the nursery; it is important for parents to observe the facilities currently offered and to discuss their needs with staff, before deciding for their child.

The standards required or expected are set out on the Nursery's Registration Certificate and in the "Full Day Care Standards and Guidance" document available at the nursery.  Cross-references to key standards are given in this report.

The report has been prepared by the Registration Officer and is based on observation of the nursery, discussion with the owner/manager and some of the staff, and examination of records made available before and during the inspection visit.

Registered Person

Breda Howard

Name of Facility

Meadows Day Nursery

Address

Little Shurdington, Cheltenham.Glos.GL51 4TX

Telephone

01242 862040

Opening times

8.00am to 6.00pm.

Owner

Playworld Learning Centres

Officer-in-Charge of day care

Breda Howard

Manager (if different)

Current Registration Details:

            Maximum Number of Children

48

            Ages

0 to 5 years

            Any Special Conditions

None.

Date first registered

July 1996

Date of previous annual inspection

17th July 1998.

Date of Inspection Visit

22nd July 1999

Time of visit

from 9.30am to: 1.45pm

Inspecting Officer

Carole Price and Mim Brown.

Date Inspection Fee Received

21st May 1999.

a. Maximum number of children as on Registration Certificate

48

b. Current numbers on the books:

75

Children's group name

Age group

number of children present

number of care staff present

number of care staff required

Minimum standard met?

0-1

6

2

2

M

1-2

4

2

2

M

2-3

6

3

2

M

3-5

6

1

1

M

Total

22

8

7

M

d. Other staff present, not included in adult:child care ratios

(e.g. manager, officer in charge, students, catering, domestic):Manager, Deputy and cook.

Minimum Standards Met?

e. Care Staff-child ratios:

            - mornings

M

            - lunch times

M

            - afternoons

M

f. Manager present in addition to care staff when required?

M

g. Appropriate support staff present?

M

h. Total number of children is within maximum allowed?

M

i. Children's ages are within ranges allowed?

M

Comments
The Manager is always supernumerary and the Deputy is also supernumerary most of the time.

Minimum standards met?

Minimum standards met?

a.General Plans

M

k.Sufficient resources

M

b.Structure of the day for full-time children

M

l.Range of resources

M

c.Structure of the day for part-time children

M

m.Multi-cultural resources

M

d.Activity Plans

M

n.Access to resources

M

e.Interactions between staff and child

M

o.Use of resources

M

f.Child involvement in choosing activities

M

p.Outings

M

g.Activities for individual children's needs

M

q.Visitors

M

h.Provision for special needs

M

r.Displays

M

i.Choice of activity

M

s.Children's progress records

M

j.Range of activities

M

t.Evaluation of activities

M

Creative

Activities

yes or

no

yes or

no

u.Singing

yes

x.art

yes

v.Dancing

yes

y.craft

yes

w.Music

yes

z.other (state) Cooking.

yes

Comments:
The children's day is well balanced with a variety of activities available for all children whether full or part time.  The creative activities allow for the individual development of children.  The walls are used for displaying the children's work.

Minimum standards met?

Minimum standards met?

a. Personal health & hygiene

M

f.Diet - range and balance provided

M

b.Nappies/toiletting

M

g.Adequate supervision through the day

M

c.Feeding

M

h. Child grouping arrangements

M

d.Sleep routine

M

I. Continuity for children through the day

M

e.Sleep environment including bedding

M

j.Consistency of care:key working/key persons

M

Comments:
The children are grouped according to their age and also their ability.  This means that children are not held back in a group if they require more stimulation and are not forced on if they are not emotionally ready.

Minimum standards met?

Minimum standards met?

a.Encouraging social development

M

f.Encouraging self-esteem

M

b.Socialising at snack/lunch times

M

g.Showing warmth to children

M

c.Encouraging language development

M

h.Responding to child's emotional needs

M

d.Encouraging self-help skills

M

i.Encouraging positive behaviour

M

e.Encouraging creative development

M

j.Encouraging multi-cultural awareness

M

k.Providing equal opportunities for boys and girls

M

Comments
The children are encouraged to do things for themselves where possible.  The staff all sit with the children during lunch and snack times, this encourages social and self-help skills.  The staff demonstrate a genuine affection for the children and through example demonstrate respect for others and the environment.

Minimum standards met?

Minimum standards met?

a.Child registration details

M

h.Incident reports

M

b.Child attendance records

P

i.Child collection details

M

c.Staff attendance records

P

j.List of approved staff displayed

M

d.Annual staff declarations

M

k.Vehicle tax/MOT/Insurance cover

N/A

e.Medication records

M

l.Registration Certificate displayed

M

f.Public Liability Insurance adequate, & displayed

m

m.Fire drills (date of last drill:)March 1999

M

g.Accident reports

M

n.Fire drill records

M

Comments:

The children's and staff sessions are recorded however the times of attendance must also be recorded. 

The list of approved staff forms part of the Registration Certificate and must be displayed.

Minimum standards met?

Minimum standards met?

a.New building work and equipment

N/A

h.Security

M

b.Safety check of premises and equipment (for list of items checked during visit, see "Pre-Visit Form 2")

P

i.First aid box (date last checked:)

M

c.Room temperatures

M

j.Telephone available

M

d.Food hygiene

M

k.Outside play area

P

e.Appointed person for Health and Safety

M

l.Regular equipment safety checks

M

f.Appointed person for checks and maintenance

M

m.Fire/emergency evacuation procedures displayed

M

g.Sufficient toilets and hand basins

M

Comments:

The safety check highlighted that extra bark is required around the sand pit area in order to meet the required minimum standards.

a.Manager/deputy is suitably qualified and experienced?

M

j.Appropriate arrangements for staff selection and recruitment?

M

b.Annual declarations by owner, manager and deputy:all clear?

M

k.Staff have attended in-service child care training in last year?

M

c.At least half of minimum care staff present each day are qualified/experienced?

M

l.Adequate arrangements for staff cover (holiday/sickness/lunch breaks)?

M

d.A person is always present with recent training in child protection?

M

m.Nursery policies complete?

M

e.Currently qualified first Aider always present?

M

m.Nursery policies complete?

M

f.All staff have been checked and approved?

P

n.Nursery policies reviewed in last year?

M

g.Adequate supervision of staff?

M

o.Staff are aware of nursery policies and procedures?

M

h. Appropriate use of volunteers/students?

M

p.Nursery policies are reflected in practice?

M

i.Cooks have food hygiene training?

N/A

q.Staff are aware of individual children's needs?

M

Comments:

Forms must be submitted for the new staff who have just started.  These staff must not be left alone with the children until forms have been approved.

yes or no

yes or no

a.Written information on nursery?

yes

g.Complaints procedure?

yes

b.Written agreements/contracts?

h.Notice board for parents?

yes

c.Regular reports to parents on child's progress?

yes

i.Previous inspection report displayed/available to parents?

yes

d.Arrangements for regular feedback from parents?

yes

j.Poster on this inspection displayed?

yes

e.Opportunities for informal discussions with parents?

yes

k.Comments received from parents for this inspection?

yes

f.Open evenings/parent's meetings?

yes

l.Appropriate action taken on comments from parents?

yes

Comments:

The parents questionnaire raised suggestions which the nursery are considering but mainly praised the good quality care provided and the friendly staff.

Actions required

Dates for completion

Minimum standards now met?

Staff attendance to be added to the register.

14th August 1998.

M

Leaders form required for the Deputy.

21st August 1998.

M

Recommend dates are added to the children's progress records.

M

Comments:

The staff sessions of attendance are recorded, however the times of attendance must be recorded.

date

concern

outcome

None.

Most recent inspection:

inspection date

Action taken following inspection?

yes or no

Fire Safety inspection

3rd April 1998

Yes

Environmental Health inspection

Not known by RO

Building control inspection

April 1998.

OFSTED inspection

July 1998

Comments:

The action plan following the OFSTED  inspection has been implemented and is working well.

None.

Actions Required

Date for completion

Relevant requirement (Registration Certificate Para. no.)

Times of children's attendance to be recorded.

26th July 1999

14 1)b)

Times of staff attendance to be recorded.

26th July 1998.

14 iii)

Impact absorbing surface to be increased to sand pit area to meet the minimum requirements.

31st August 1998.

1

List of approved staff to be displayed.

On receipt from Reg.Team.

18

Police and Health declaration forms for new staff to be submitted.

26th July 1998.

9

Further Actions Recommended

Date for completion

"Standards and Guidance" reference

Update the child information sheets.

Ongoing.

Any proposed changes to registration conditions, showing reasons:

Maximum of 9 children to be aged under 1 year at any one time.

Upstairs to be out of bounds.

Kitchen to be used by children only when an approved adult is physically present.