Adventure World Childcare Centre
- St Albans Main
St Albans Page
Soon after the dismal
OFSTED report
was published LC sought to increase the childcare fees by almost
50%. In July 2004 it was announced that the Crèche would be closing at
the end of March 2005. Local people have repeatedly asked for a fuller
account as to what has prompted the closure - see www.savethenusrery.co.uk
The council have said it is "out of keeping" with the authority's other leisure facilities.
I asked St Albans
council under Freedom of Information for copies of reports prepared for
Council managers, councillors or council meetings relating the 2004 OFSTED Report that assessed
the Adventure World nursery as "unsatisfactory" and any subsequent reports on standards in this facility.
The reply from the Council's FOI Co-ordinator dated 2 March 2005 says that with
respect to this nursery "We do not hold the information covered by this
point." There was no indication as to where such information might be
held.
It concerns me
that the answer suggests that the Council has either lost papers relating to this matter or assumes
no responsibility for recording and reviewing a worrying failure by its
contractor to provide satisfactory childcare.
The timing of the
closure may be a coincidence but another worry is the possibility that the
shutting of the nursery of is in part motivated by a wish to hide the embarrassment to LC and the council of the OFSTED report
and events that preceded it. PB 6.3.05
OFSTED COMBINED INSPECTION REPORT
Full Report available at
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=ccreportHTML&id=64801
Areas of concern are highlighted.
Inspection Date 01/03/2004 Inspector Name Anne Dowse
REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS Leisure Connection Ltd.
First Adventure Nursery operates within Adventure World Childcare
Centre and opened in 1994. The nursery also operates a Crèche, however
this was not in operation at the time of the inspection. A soft play
climbing area is available within the building which children from the
daycare have access to, out of public hours. The whole centre is
managed by Leisure Connection and is situated in the village of London
Colney
...
The facility is currently registered to take 48 children aged 0- 5 years. There are currently 40 children on roll...
The group opens 5 days a week all year round. It opens at 08:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Six full time staff and and five part time staff presently work directly with the children.
The centre have three agency staff working for them at the present time. There is an acting manager in place at the moment.
A new manager is presently in the process of being appointed. The
nursery has additional domestic staff for cooking and cleaning. Over
half the staff have early years qualifications to NVQ level 2 and 3.
Three staff are currently working towards a recognised early years
qualification...
How good is the Day Care?
Adventure world Childcare Centre provides unsatisfactory care for children aged 0-5 years.
The children are
grouped in age appropriate groups, but staff are not deployed
effectively within each room, particularly in the room for 0-1 year
olds.
Staff generally
demonstrate a lack of understanding of children's development and are
not meeting the children's individual needs effectively, particularly
for children aged 2-5 years.
Safety issues in the
crèche area and outside garden have been identified. Hygiene throughout
the building is poor and staff are failing to promote the health of the
children and take positive steps to prevent the spread of infection.
Some practice is inconsistent with the written policies.
Consistent routines take place throughout the nursery and children are offered a varied and nutritious diet throughout the day.
Children aged 2-5 are
offered a limited range of activities. These are not always age
appropriate, and do not extend the children's learning. Toys and
resources are available but are not made accessible and the rigid
timetable of moving from one activity to another, prevent the children
making independent choices. An adequate range of resources are
available for babies aged 0-1, although the range of imaginative toys
throughout the nursery is limited.
Staff speak to the children and listen to what they have to say. The
key worker system enables staff to form relationships with the
children, but
the staff's understanding of behaviour management strategies needs to be reviewed.
Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of caring for children with
special educational needs, and routines ensure they are fully included
in activities. Close links with outside agencies have been developed to
ensure the care and welfare of children with special educational needs
are met.
The nursery work in partnership with parents and keep them informed
through discussion, notice board, documentation, regular forums and
consultations.
What has improved since the last inspection?
At the last inspection the nursery were asked to ensure that minimum
staffing ratio's were met at all times and that all staff have
completed relevant checks. The nursery have had some staffing issues.
Agency staff are being employed and procedures are in place to appoint
a new manager and ensure that all relevant checks are carried out. An
action has been raised re. the deployment of staff within the nursery.
The nursery was asked to ensure that a clear record was maintained of
accidents and incidents occurring each day, which were signed and dated
by the parents. This is now in practice using corporate Leisure
Connection forms which parents are required to sign.
Staff were also asked to ensure they had an awareness of relevant
procedures to follow in the event of an accident, and that policies on
child protection, equal opportunities, managing behaviour, special
educational needs, are reviewed and in line with current legislation.
All the policies are currently being re written and staff have to
ensure they have read and understood them.
The nursery was asked to demonstrate how parents will have access to
corporate policies and to ensure that staff are informed of any
relevant staff changes. A parents forum has now been implemented which
takes place once a month to share information and ideas and a parent's
whiteboard is in place where staffs names are written.
The nursery were asked to inform Ofsted of any relevant changes. This is now taking place.
What is being done well?
The nursery takes steps to
promote the welfare and development of children with special
educational needs within the setting. They work in close partnership
with parents and other parties to meet the Childs individual needs
(standard 10)
Healthy eating is promoted through offering a wide and varied menu.
Meals and snacks are healthy and nutritious and take into account
children's individual dietary requirements (standard 8)
What needs to be improved?
the deployment of staff to ensure the safety, welfare and development of children (standard 2)
the organisation of resources so that children are able to make independent choices (standard 3)
the safety and supervision of children both indoors and outdoors and protection from hazards (standard 6)
the policies and procedures to promote children's health and preventing the spread of infection (standard 7)
the management of children's behaviour which promotes their welfare and development (standard 11)
the staff's training programme to meet the children's needs effectively (standard 2)
the range of toys and resources which are well maintained and appropriate for their purpose (standard 5)
Outcome of the inspection
Unsatisfactory...
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT?
The Registered Person must take the following actions by the date shown
Std Action Date
2 Std 2 Demonstrate that staff are deployed effectively within the
premises to ensure the safety, welfare and development of children.
12/03/2004
2 Std 2 implement a staff training programme to meet the children's needs effectively 08/06/2004
3 Std 3 Organise resources so that they are freely accessible to children to make independent choices. 12/03/2004
5 Std 5 Provide play materials which are well maintained and appropriate for their purpose. 08/04/2004
6
Std 6 Ensure that children can play safely inside and outside through a
combination of supervision and protection from hazards. (This refers to
cable wires, rubbish situated in the playhouse, uncovered electrical
sockets and wall mirrors in the crèche area). 12/03/2004
7 Std 7 Promote the good health of children and take positive steps to
prevent the spread of infection. (This refers to children's bedding,
used potties, nappy changing, dummies and children's cups).
12/03/2004
11 Std 11 Manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development. 12/03/2004
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 Adventure World Childcare Centre is
acceptable but has some significant areas for improvement. Children's
progress towards the early learning goals is poor in mathematical
development and is limited by significant weaknesses in all other
areas.
The quality of
the teaching has some significant weaknesses. Staff have limited
knowledge of the early learning goals in order to move children forward
to reach the end of the Foundation Stage. Staff's knowledge and
understanding of providing a suitable and effective learning
environment clearly limits children's ability to learn. Children are
unable to access activities independently during the sessions and have
limited scope and resources to challenge them sufficiently. Planning is
in place but not clearly understood by all staff. Some
activities are planned which the children enjoy, but most children are
not sufficiently stimulated or challenged. Staff encourage children to
listen and speak and they communicate confidently. They become absorbed
in story time and select books for themselves. Interaction between
staff and children is meaningful during group times and meal times.
Staff do not use observations regularly to evaluate and record
children's development.
The leadership and
management of the nursery is poor. Due to recent staff changes there
are no systems in place to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching
and provision for nursery education. Staff training is insufficient and
deployment of staff in the room is generally inadequate. However staff
do work well together, supporting each other as a team. This is a
positive strength of the nursery.
The partnership with parents and carers is generally good. Parents are
welcomed into the setting. Staff are friendly and approachable offering
both formal and informal discussions about the children's progress.
Parents are invited to attend forums and consultation evenings to share
information.
What is being done well?
Children are confident and will initiate conversation with others, talking freely about home and personal experiences.
Children show an interest during story time and sit for long periods
absorbed in the story. They connect ideas and experiences, for example,
while reading Peter Pan the children discussed that they can not fly
like Peter Pan but have to go on an aeroplane. Children have developed
a growing interest in books and handle them well seeking out adults for
one to one support for reading and carefully select books to take
home.
Children's large motor skills are well developed with the use of the indoor and outdoor areas and equipment.
What needs to be improved?
staff's knowledge and
understanding of the Foundation Stage, and how to implement these
effectively to help children make progress in all areas of
learning
the range of activities and resources available to the children in
order to provide them with a stimulating and challenging environment to
learn, and opportunities to access resources independently particularly
in mathematical and creative development, literacy skills and
developing fine motor skills.
staff's expectations of the children and what they can learn. To
develop good teaching strategies and techniques to help children
learn
opportunities for children to ask questions, talk about their work and
use their own initiative and independence to develop ideas in all areas
of learning
the system to develop children's assessments to ensure staff regularly
observe and record children's progress and achievements and to use this
information to develop future plans.
What has improved since the last inspection?
The
nursery has made limited progress since the last inspection. There were
five key issues raised, none of which have been addressed successfully.
To improve staff's knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage.
This is an area which continues to be weak and staff's knowledge and
understanding remains limited. To ensure that all aspects of the early
learning goals are included in the educational programme and to
identify what the children should learn from activities. This has been
completed in part. Plans are in place which do include all aspects and
identify what the children are expected to learn. However, these plans
are not fully implemented due to limited understanding of staff and
insufficient resources. To observe and assess children's achievements
and progress on a regular basis. Children's assessments are in place
but have not been completed on a regular basis and observations to
include in the assessments are not carried out regularly. To improve
aspects of communication, language and literacy to ensure children have
regular opportunity to use and enjoy books for stories and as reference
and to use writing materials in play.
Children were seen to enjoy books and story times and a good
range of reference books are in place. However, these are not within
children's reach for independent learning. Children do not have access
to writing materials to use during play. To extend aspects of
mathematics to ensure children develop their understanding of shape,
space and measure and to enable them to use mathematical ideas to solve
problems. Opportunities for children to develop their understanding and
knowledge in all mathematical areas remain limited. There is a good
range of mathematical resources, but these are not used or accessed by
the children.
SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENTS
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Significant Weaknesses
Children are confident and happy in their environment. They seek out
adults and peers to share experiences with and confidently talk to
visitors. Some children are aware of the boundaries and manage their
behaviour well, although others have difficulty learning to share and
take turns. Children often become bored and restless due to limitations
with the range of activities they can independently access for
themselves. Children have few opportunities to develop independence
during meal times.
COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
Judgement: Significant Weaknesses
Children enjoy books and story sessions where they are able to join in
with own ideas and experiences. They handle books well when reading and
choosing new books to take home. Children learn a new letter each week,
although staff miss opportunities to extend and reinforce this activity
and children get little from it. Children lack opportunities to use
writing and mark making skills in planned or everyday play.
Insufficient attention is given to developing children's language
skills.
MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Poor
There is a range of useful mathematical equipment and resources.
However, children cannot access these regularly and have limited
opportunity to use counting, calculation, weighing, measuring and
comparisons or to use mathematical language through planned or play
situations. Children are not sufficiently challenged to extend their
knowledge and understanding in this area. Children did discuss the
shape of the week. However, this is an aimless activity due to it not
being reinforced or extended.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
Judgement: Significant Weaknesses
Children enjoy visits from people who help us and have learnt about
other people in the community. They are gaining some awareness of
different cultures and beliefs. Children have limited opportunities to
learn about their local environment and to explore and investigate
living things, how things change in the natural world or to develop
skills in information and technology. Inadequate resources are provided
for children to use tools or to construct with a variety of different
materials.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Significant Weaknesses
Children's large motor skills are developed with the use of indoor and
outdoor areas. Children enjoy time in the activity centre and
confidently climb, jump, slide and use ropes. Children play with a
parachute creating intended movements as a group. Few opportunities are
available to develop hand and eye coordination and have limited use of
one handed tools to develop fine motor control. Staff cut around
children's work i.e. printed circles, thus giving children less
opportunity to use scissors.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Judgement: Significant Weaknesses
Children enthusiastically take part in adult led craft
activities. However, they do not choose resources independently and
this hinders their self-expression and imagination. Children are
beginning to recognise colours and staff reinforce this through
activities. Children have insufficient opportunity to develop
imaginative play and role play due to uninviting and poorly resourced
areas and limited support from staff. Children enjoy music and movement
sessions and singing at large group time.
Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is not fostered appropriately.
OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION
The provision is acceptable
but has some significant areas for improvement. Children progress
towards the early learning goals is limited by some significant
weaknesses. The next inspection will take place in one to two years
time.
WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT: THE KEY ISSUES
Increase staff's knowledge
and understanding of the Foundation Stage and their knowledge of how to
implement these effectively to help children make progress in all areas
of learning.
Increase the range and balance of activities and resources which are
available to the children to provide them with a stimulating and
challenging environment. Make sure these resources are accessible to
the children to access independently in all six areas of learning.
Develop staff's understanding of what they can expect children to learn
and to develop good teaching strategies and techniques in order to
support and direct children's learning and help them move on.
Provide more opportunities for children to ask questions, talk about
their work and to use their own initiative and independence.
Provide a suitable system to develop children's assessments to make
sure staff regularly observe and record children's progress and
achievements to use this information accurately to inform future
planning.
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...