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...