Ofsted reports

Bexley Manor Nursery School

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Pictures of the Nursery

Prospectus

Bexley Manor was inspected by Ofsted in September 2007.

A summary of the inspection report is shown below. The full report may be found on Ofsted's website, here.

OFSTED NURSERY EDUCATION INSPECTION REPORT

About the inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage.

The key inspection judgements and what they mean
Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality
Good: this aspect of the provision is strong
Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound
Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

Information about the Setting

Bexley Manor Nursery School was established by the current head teacher, Mrs Waters, in 1984. The nursery school is located in a newly purpose built detached building situated in Penhill Road, in a residential area of Bexley. The nursery school serves a wide community and welcomes children with special needs.

The ground floor comprises three classrooms, a communal hall area, toilets, office and a fully enclosed soft surface outside play area. There are staff facilities and a second office on the first floor. There is a car park to the front of the building.

The nursery school is registered for a maximum of 48 children aged from 2 years to under 5 years. There are currently 102 children on roll of whom 76 are funded three and four-year-olds. Sessions operate term time only, Monday to Friday between 8:45 - 12:45 and 12:45 - 15:50. There are five children currently attending with identified special needs.

Qualified teachers and nursery assistants work at each session. The nursery school receives support from an Early Years Advisory Teacher.

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good.

Children are cared for in clean, well maintained surroundings. Staff implement good hygiene practices to promote children's health and hygiene. Children are learning the importance of good personal hygiene. Children who are unwell are excluded from the nursery to prevent the spread of infection. The nursery has six qualified first aiders and a fully stocked first aid box in each classroom. Parents are asked to provide written consent giving permission for staff to seek medical advice and treatment in an emergency.

Children have good opportunities to play outside in the fresh air and take part in regular physical exercise. Children have access to a good variety of equipment for climbing and balancing and they take part in structured physical education activities in the garden and the hall to help develop large motor skills. Children also use a wide range of resources to help promote their fine motor skills.

Children are provided with healthy snacks and drinks and take part in themes and discussions which help them learn about maintaining a healthy and active life style.

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good.

The environment is warm and welcoming, stimulating and child friendly. The play space is well organised so that children can move around safely and independently. Furniture, equipment and play resources are in good condition and meet the needs of the children. Daily safety checks are conducted by staff to ensure children can play in safe surroundings. There are good procedures in place for the safe arrival and collection of children. The front door is kept locked and visitors are required to sign the visitor's book.

Children are learning about keeping themselves safe.

Children are well protected as all staff are appropriately vetted and demonstrate a good understanding of their role and responsibility for safeguarding children. Most adults working with children have attended or are waiting to attend up-to-date training in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. However the nursery's child protection policy still refers to the Area Child Protection Committee.

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good.

Children are happy, confident and settle well. They enthusiastically take part in a variety of well planned indoor and outdoor activities. Although part of the session is fairly structured, children also benefit from a good range of play resources and equipment. The Birth to Three Matters framework is used for planning and recording for children under three and the Foundation Stage for children three to rising five years. Children are forging good friendships and relate well to adults as they sit with the children and support their play and learning.

Nursery Education

The quality of teaching and learning is good.

Staff work well together as a team. They demonstrate a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and plan a combination of adult led and child led activities which cover the six areas of learning. Activities are interesting and fun. They ask open ended questions to encourage children's language and to think through ideas. An effective key worker system together with good systems for recording and assessing children's progress and development, enables staff to plan for the next steps in their learning.

Children's personal, social and emotional development is progressing well. Children are eager to learn and engage well in activities. They relate well to adults and are forging good friendships with their peers. Children are kind and caring towards one another. Children are encouraged to develop good independent skills. Staff skilfully plan and support activities to extend children's language. Children have lots of opportunities to recognise letters and words and are encouraged to write their names on their own art work. However, opportunities for them to make marks and experiment with writing throughout their play are limited. Children enjoy listening to stories and looking at books. Children take part in a range of activities that help them to develop their early maths skills. They are learning to count and recognise numbers through a range of practical experiences. They have opportunities to add and subtract. Children are able to problem solve for themselves, using puzzles, construction toys and computer programmes. Children's creativity and imagination is well explored. They enjoy singing familiar rhymes and songs and have access to a wide range of musical instruments from countries around the world. They have great fun playing in the well equipped role play area and take part in a wide variety of creative activities which include planned activities as well as free painting and free collage. Children have independent access to the computer and are skilled at using the mouse. They take part in gardening activities and go on nature walks. They learn about the community and wider world through themes and topics and playing with a variety of positive image play resources. They benefit from visits from the local nurse, lollipop person and community police officer. Children have good spatial awareness and develop their large motor skills by climbing, balancing and riding on bikes. Children practise their fine motor skills by using a variety of resources such as scissors, the computer mouse, pencils, playdough tools, construction toys and puzzles.

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good

Children's individual needs are very well met though out the setting. A home visit and registration form provides staff with detailed information about children's care needs. Children from all religions, cultures and disabilities are valued and respected. There is a good selection of play resources to help children learn about diversity and disability. Children with learning difficulties and disabilities are well supported within the group and are allocated a one to one worker when required. The nursery's special needs coordinator works closely with parents, staff and other professionals to assess, implement individual education plans and monitor children's progress and development. Staff are kind, caring and sensitive to children's needs. They act as good role models providing children with lots of praise and encouragement to foster their self esteem. As a result children are happy, confident and very well behaved. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

Partnership with parents is good.

The prospectus provides good information about the Foundation Stage. There is no mention made of the Birth to Three Matters framework used for the children under three years. The nursery has good systems in place for keeping parents informed about children's progress and development. Appropriate procedures are in place for recording complaints.

Organisation

The organisation is good.

The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides. Children are cared for by an enthusiastic staff team, committed to providing a stimulating and safe environment where they can develop and learn to their full potential. Rigorous recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that adults are suitable to work with children and new staff complete an induction programme. Children's health, safety, care, and well being are well promoted because the nursery has all legally required documentation in place together with a full set of policies and procedures. However, accidents are currently recorded in a book used to record other information and the child protection policy and complaints policy do not contain up to date information. Children's records are confidentially maintained and are shared with parents as required.

Leadership and management is good.

The head teacher supports her staff team through regular team meetings and staff appraisals. She identifies staff training needs and encourages them to go on various courses in order to keep up-to-date and improve their practice. She links with local feeder schools and encourages teachers to visit the nursery. The staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and are all involved in planning. They work well together as a team. The head teacher regularly monitors and evaluates the curriculum and works with the Early Years Advisory Teacher.

Improvements since last inspection

At the last inspection the nursery was asked to develop staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. The head teacher has attended both basic and the next level of the Safeguarding Children training and most other staff have also attended or are waiting to attend a basic course. As a result staff have improved their knowledge and understanding of child protection and children are now much better protected.

Complaints about the childcare provision

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendations:

provide parents with information about Birth to Three Matters framework

update the child protection policy in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and the complaints policy with the correct details for Ofsted (address)

ensure that accidents are recorded separately to other information provided by parents

The quality and standards of nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation:

provide children with more opportunities for mark making and to practise their early writing skills

Head teacher's Comments (These do not form part of the Inspection Report)

For the information of parents:

Information on Birth to Three Matters may be obtained from the office - this applies to children starting Nursery before their third birthday, at which point they transfer to the Foundation Stage Curriculum (also available for inspection in the office)

Our Child Protection Policy was last updated in June 2007 but unfortunately, in my efforts to tick all the boxes, I left in the reference to the Area Child Protection Committee. This has now been removed.

Accidents have been recorded at the back of the Class 'door' book in order that they do not get forgotten since we always take this book to the door. New books are now used.

Children are provided with opportunities for mark making throughout each session at nursery, both formally and informally. Unfortunately on the day of the inspectors' unannounced inspection we had just (that morning) changed the role play area and had run out of time. There were therefore no mark making implements in the role play area. (Pencils and note pads were placed by the telephones in the area at a later time.) An easel with pencils and chalks was available within the hall at this time. We will in future make sure that mark making is available in the role play areas as a matter of priority.

	Bexley Manor Nursery School
visit Ofsted's website Pictures of the Nursery Prospectus	Bexley Manor was inspected by Ofsted in September 2007. A summary of the inspection report is shown below. The full report may be found on Ofsted's website, here.

	OFSTED NURSERY EDUCATION INSPECTION REPORT
	About the inspection The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. The key inspection judgements and what they mean Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Information about the Setting Bexley Manor Nursery School was established by the current head teacher, Mrs Waters, in 1984. The nursery school is located in a newly purpose built detached building situated in Penhill Road, in a residential area of Bexley. The nursery school serves a wide community and welcomes children with special needs. The ground floor comprises three classrooms, a communal hall area, toilets, office and a fully enclosed soft surface outside play area. There are staff facilities and a second office on the first floor. There is a car park to the front of the building. The nursery school is registered for a maximum of 48 children aged from 2 years to under 5 years. There are currently 102 children on roll of whom 76 are funded three and four-year-olds. Sessions operate term time only, Monday to Friday between 8:45 - 12:45 and 12:45 - 15:50. There are five children currently attending with identified special needs. Qualified teachers and nursery assistants work at each session. The nursery school receives support from an Early Years Advisory Teacher. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION Helping children to be healthy The provision is good. Children are cared for in clean, well maintained surroundings. Staff implement good hygiene practices to promote children's health and hygiene. Children are learning the importance of good personal hygiene. Children who are unwell are excluded from the nursery to prevent the spread of infection. The nursery has six qualified first aiders and a fully stocked first aid box in each classroom. Parents are asked to provide written consent giving permission for staff to seek medical advice and treatment in an emergency. Children have good opportunities to play outside in the fresh air and take part in regular physical exercise. Children have access to a good variety of equipment for climbing and balancing and they take part in structured physical education activities in the garden and the hall to help develop large motor skills. Children also use a wide range of resources to help promote their fine motor skills. Children are provided with healthy snacks and drinks and take part in themes and discussions which help them learn about maintaining a healthy and active life style. Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe The provision is good. The environment is warm and welcoming, stimulating and child friendly. The play space is well organised so that children can move around safely and independently. Furniture, equipment and play resources are in good condition and meet the needs of the children. Daily safety checks are conducted by staff to ensure children can play in safe surroundings. There are good procedures in place for the safe arrival and collection of children. The front door is kept locked and visitors are required to sign the visitor's book. Children are learning about keeping themselves safe. Children are well protected as all staff are appropriately vetted and demonstrate a good understanding of their role and responsibility for safeguarding children. Most adults working with children have attended or are waiting to attend up-to-date training in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. However the nursery's child protection policy still refers to the Area Child Protection Committee. Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do The provision is good. Children are happy, confident and settle well. They enthusiastically take part in a variety of well planned indoor and outdoor activities. Although part of the session is fairly structured, children also benefit from a good range of play resources and equipment. The Birth to Three Matters framework is used for planning and recording for children under three and the Foundation Stage for children three to rising five years. Children are forging good friendships and relate well to adults as they sit with the children and support their play and learning. Nursery Education The quality of teaching and learning is good. Staff work well together as a team. They demonstrate a good understanding of the Foundation Stage and plan a combination of adult led and child led activities which cover the six areas of learning. Activities are interesting and fun. They ask open ended questions to encourage children's language and to think through ideas. An effective key worker system together with good systems for recording and assessing children's progress and development, enables staff to plan for the next steps in their learning. Children's personal, social and emotional development is progressing well. Children are eager to learn and engage well in activities. They relate well to adults and are forging good friendships with their peers. Children are kind and caring towards one another. Children are encouraged to develop good independent skills. Staff skilfully plan and support activities to extend children's language. Children have lots of opportunities to recognise letters and words and are encouraged to write their names on their own art work. However, opportunities for them to make marks and experiment with writing throughout their play are limited. Children enjoy listening to stories and looking at books. Children take part in a range of activities that help them to develop their early maths skills. They are learning to count and recognise numbers through a range of practical experiences. They have opportunities to add and subtract. Children are able to problem solve for themselves, using puzzles, construction toys and computer programmes. Children's creativity and imagination is well explored. They enjoy singing familiar rhymes and songs and have access to a wide range of musical instruments from countries around the world. They have great fun playing in the well equipped role play area and take part in a wide variety of creative activities which include planned activities as well as free painting and free collage. Children have independent access to the computer and are skilled at using the mouse. They take part in gardening activities and go on nature walks. They learn about the community and wider world through themes and topics and playing with a variety of positive image play resources. They benefit from visits from the local nurse, lollipop person and community police officer. Children have good spatial awareness and develop their large motor skills by climbing, balancing and riding on bikes. Children practise their fine motor skills by using a variety of resources such as scissors, the computer mouse, pencils, playdough tools, construction toys and puzzles. Helping children make a positive contribution The provision is good Children's individual needs are very well met though out the setting. A home visit and registration form provides staff with detailed information about children's care needs. Children from all religions, cultures and disabilities are valued and respected. There is a good selection of play resources to help children learn about diversity and disability. Children with learning difficulties and disabilities are well supported within the group and are allocated a one to one worker when required. The nursery's special needs coordinator works closely with parents, staff and other professionals to assess, implement individual education plans and monitor children's progress and development. Staff are kind, caring and sensitive to children's needs. They act as good role models providing children with lots of praise and encouragement to foster their self esteem. As a result children are happy, confident and very well behaved. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. Partnership with parents is good. The prospectus provides good information about the Foundation Stage. There is no mention made of the Birth to Three Matters framework used for the children under three years. The nursery has good systems in place for keeping parents informed about children's progress and development. Appropriate procedures are in place for recording complaints. Organisation The organisation is good. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides. Children are cared for by an enthusiastic staff team, committed to providing a stimulating and safe environment where they can develop and learn to their full potential. Rigorous recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that adults are suitable to work with children and new staff complete an induction programme. Children's health, safety, care, and well being are well promoted because the nursery has all legally required documentation in place together with a full set of policies and procedures. However, accidents are currently recorded in a book used to record other information and the child protection policy and complaints policy do not contain up to date information. Children's records are confidentially maintained and are shared with parents as required. Leadership and management is good. The head teacher supports her staff team through regular team meetings and staff appraisals. She identifies staff training needs and encourages them to go on various courses in order to keep up-to-date and improve their practice. She links with local feeder schools and encourages teachers to visit the nursery. The staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and are all involved in planning. They work well together as a team. The head teacher regularly monitors and evaluates the curriculum and works with the Early Years Advisory Teacher. Improvements since last inspection At the last inspection the nursery was asked to develop staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. The head teacher has attended both basic and the next level of the Safeguarding Children training and most other staff have also attended or are waiting to attend a basic course. As a result staff have improved their knowledge and understanding of child protection and children are now much better protected. Complaints about the childcare provision Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted. THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection: The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding. The quality and standards of the nursery education are good. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT? The quality and standards of the care To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendations: provide parents with information about Birth to Three Matters framework update the child protection policy in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and the complaints policy with the correct details for Ofsted (address) ensure that accidents are recorded separately to other information provided by parents The quality and standards of nursery education To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation: provide children with more opportunities for mark making and to practise their early writing skills Head teacher's Comments (These do not form part of the Inspection Report) For the information of parents: Information on Birth to Three Matters may be obtained from the office - this applies to children starting Nursery before their third birthday, at which point they transfer to the Foundation Stage Curriculum (also available for inspection in the office) Our Child Protection Policy was last updated in June 2007 but unfortunately, in my efforts to tick all the boxes, I left in the reference to the Area Child Protection Committee. This has now been removed. Accidents have been recorded at the back of the Class 'door' book in order that they do not get forgotten since we always take this book to the door. New books are now used. Children are provided with opportunities for mark making throughout each session at nursery, both formally and informally. Unfortunately on the day of the inspectors' unannounced inspection we had just (that morning) changed the role play area and had run out of time. There were therefore no mark making implements in the role play area. (Pencils and note pads were placed by the telephones in the area at a later time.) An easel with pencils and chalks was available within the hall at this time. We will in future make sure that mark making is available in the role play areas as a matter of priority.