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SETTING DETAILS
Day Care Type	Out of School Day Care, Full Day Care
Setting Name	Little Angels Day Nursery
Setting Address	Angel Row, Angel Street Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 9QG
REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS
Name :	Mrs Bridget Crane

COMBINED INSPECTION REPORT

URN 223235
DfES Number:

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date : 12/05/2003
Inspector Name : Kate Bryan

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
Little Angels Day Nursery was established in 2000. It is privately owned and registered to provide full day and sessional care for up to 68 children aged from six weeks to eight years of age, of which no more than 30 children may be aged under two years. The nursery also offers after school and holiday care for up to 10 children under the age of eight years and overnight care is not provided. Opening times are from 8:00 to 18:00.

The day nursery operates in a specially adapted building close to the centre of Market Harborough and serves the town and surrounding area. It is registered to accept nursery education funding. At present there are 111 children on roll including 13 funded four-year-olds and 22 funded three-year-olds. Children are grouped into four main areas according to age. There is a separate room for the after school care. The children have access to toilet facilities and an enclosed outdoor area that has a safety surface.

Staff have experience of catering for children identified as having special educational needs and for children with English as an additional language.

In total twenty-three members of staff work with children throughout the week. Twelve of the staff hold recognised childcare qualifications and five more are working to obtain them. The day nursery has received the Investors in People Award and receives input from the local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership through visits from a qualified teacher. The nursery is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association.

How good is the Day Care?
Little Angels Nursery provides good quality care overall for children.

The nursery is comprised of a converted building which offers full day care and out of school care. The building is spacious and children are able to use rooms which are specific for their age and stage of development. Babies have separate rooms with sleeping areas and the out of school room is located on the ground floor.

Policies and procedures are in place which cover all required areas and the operational plan contains information on all aspects of the nursery. The nursery has an Investor in People award.
Arrangements for health and safety at the nursery are very good and priority is given to maintaining children's safety. Procedures are in place for fire evacuations, the checking of equipment and for sleeping children. Risk assessments are completed for each room and the proprietor has undertaken training in this area. The outside area has a rubberised surface for children's safety.

The quality of care for children is very good and staff interact well with children. Planning ensures that children have a good range of activities for play and development although, some adjustment to the planning is required to locate the early learning goals within the curriculum for funded children. Babies have routines for sleeping and eating which are beneficial in helping them to feel secure. The nursery has a wide range of resources for all ages of children.

The nursery works well in partnership with parents and carers who receive a range of information about children and the provision. A newsletter is produced regularly and a brochure is available. Staff have attended a training course for working in partnership with parents and parents have a mechanism for making their views known via parental questionnaires.

What has improved since the last inspection?
No actions were made from the last inspection.

What is being done well?

The operational plan contains very good information about all aspects of the nursery's provision (Standard 2).
Children have access to a range of activities and resources which support their learning and play (Standard 3).
Children's safety is given a high priority, both inside and outside the nursery, and sleeping babies are monitored frequently (Standard 6).
The nursery works very well in partnership with parents and parents receive a wide range of information about children and the provision (Standard 12).
What needs to be improved?
the planning for funded children to include reference to the early learning goals (Standard 3).

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
3 ensure planning includes reference to the early learning goals.

INSPECTION OF THE NURSERY EDUCATION PROVISION FOR FUNDED THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS.
How effective is the nursery education?
Little Angels Day Nursery provides good quality education in a stimulating environment where children are making generally good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is generally good, all areas of learning are covered and staff record the progress of children. Staff meetings are held and these are used to discuss planning and identify any weaknesses in the provision, which are subsequently addressed. Staff interact well with children and have high expectations of their behaviour.

The leadership and management of the nursery is very good and staff are aware of the nursery's aims and objectives via an induction procedure. Staff work well as a team and are well supported by training opportunities and a system of appraisal geared towards their development. The nursery is in the process of completing a quality assurance scheme, the Quality Counts Scheme, which is validated by the National Day Nurseries Association.
Partnership with parents is very good. Parents receive a good range of information about the nursery and their children, and have the opportunity to speak to staff daily and complete a parental questionnaire about the nursery. The nursery's policies and procedures are available for parents and this contains a Parental Relations Policy stating that parents are always welcome at the nursery.

What is being done well?
The nursery has a strong management lead and training is given a high priority.
Partnership with parents is given a high priority and good information is disseminated about the nursery, children and the curriculum.
Children are happy, confident and interested and interact well with each other and the staff.

What needs to be improved?
The curriculum planning to include which early learning goals are being worked towards;
opportunities to increase children's independence in relation to serving drinks at meal times;
the mathematical provision to ensure that children are using addition and subtraction and the language associated with this.

What has improved since the last inspection?
This is the first inspection of the nursery's educational provision.

SUMMARY OF JUDGEMENTS
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Judgement: Generally Good

Children are able to work in large groups as well as individually. They respond well to activities and are confident to speak in the larger group. Children have access to a wide range of resources to support free play time. Children are very well behaved and are able to work co-operatively. There are missed opportunities to increase children's independence by allowing them to pour their own drinks at break time.

Communication, Language and Literacy
Judgement: Generally Good

Children are able to listen with concentration and to use language for both communication and negotiation. Children are able to use their imagination to respond to stories. Children are making progress in writing and are aware that writing can be used for a variety of purposes. Children have opportunities to select books for themselves and the group. Children are beginning to recognise the sounds that words begin with and are able to link these with words.

Mathematical Development
Judgement: Generally Good

Children are able to solve practical problems by using mathematical methods. Children are encouraged to count from 1-10 and this activity is extended where possible to include larger numbers. A weakness is identified in the area of addition and subtraction as these are not being used when appropriate. Children are able to use the correct language to describe shapes and are making progress in time telling by using figures associated with certain routines.

Knowledge and understanding of the world
Judgement: Generally Good

Children are able to explore their environment by meeting people who are involved in the provision of services. The nursery has a computer and a range of software to support learning. Good use is made of living things to extend the children's knowledge and understanding of the natural world. Children are learning about other cultures and beliefs by celebrating festivals and special days.

Physical Development
Judgement: Generally Good

Children are able to move confidently and in safety and have many opportunities to develop control and co-ordination. A timetable has been developed to ensure that children's skills are being developed during play by offering a range of equipment. Children have access to an outside rubberised area and large and small equipment. Children have created displays showing an awareness of their bodies.

Creative development
Judgement: Generally Good

Children have many opportunities to explore colour, texture and shape and are able to use free play to explore a range of activities. Children are able to use songs and rhymes from memory and match movements to music. Children have access to a range of musical instruments and can use these to explore sounds and patterns of noise. Children are able to use their imagination by using dressing up and engaging in role play.
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
Develop opportunities to increase children's independence in relation to serving drinks at meal times.
Develop the mathematical provision to include addition and subtraction and the language associated with this.
Ensure that planning is consistent through long, medium and short terms so that it is clear which of the early learning goals are being worked towards in the short term.

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.