Osbourne Lodge Nursery

Through child observations and discussions with parents, staff, children and other professionals using our Nursery, we have recognised many areas we perform very well and some areas which need improvement or change – here are the things we do well, changes we have made and improvement planned. A copy will be posted to all service users and made available at Nursery.

 

What we do well

•  Keeping parents up to date with what is happening in the Nursery, brochures, terms and conditions and parent information
•  Staff are always available to speak to parents 
•  new parents allowed plenty of time for discussions, viewing and exchanging of information
•  Parents are updated regularly with staff photos, names and roles via newsletter and pictures in the entrance hall.
•  contact with outside professionals, actively sharing information and knowledge
•  respond well to recommendations from parents/ carers / outside professional as to changes needed, improvements, and update information for all if required or include in the next newsletter
•  We tell parents what they and their child can expect from us to ensure they are happy with the care and ethos of the nursery

Changes made

•  New Parents Information packs Updated our brochures, website
•  Social Responsibility Policy developed in May 2010
•  Menus and educational planning now displayed in more prominent sites
•  Letters to parents announcing their child's progression into the next group up and introducing the new staff so they feel well informed about the move– July 2010
•  Staff trees with photos and job responsibilities regularly available
•  Questioning other professionals, such as health workers about our performance
•  Restructured staff to allow key workers more time to chat with families at the end of the day and ensure every parent is aware who they are, result of questionnaires Nov 2010
•  Policy and Procedure Guide and Risk Assessments readily available in lobbies
• Improvements planned
•  Develop an email system for parents / staff for sharing of incidental information
•  Develop and review the social marketing network and link it to the website
•  Improve home parent links further to ensure families always have up to date information

Improvements planned

•  Develop an email system for parents / staff for sharing of incidental information
•  Develop and review the social marketing network and link it to the website
•  Improve home parent links further to ensure families always have up to date information

Planning for Individual Needs of Children

What we do well

•  Liaise with parents closely and sometimes on a daily
•  Highly flexible and extended settling in period for new children
•  Proactively respond to a child's or families changing needs, recommendations and respecting parents wishes as far as practicable
•  Observing children and producing developmental reports and Individual Play Plans to aid with their development
•  Activity planning is tailored towards the children's needs
•  Involving children in meal planning, taster sessions
•  Encouraging good behaviour, polite manners
•  Maintain up to date records, medication files, accident files and contact information and staff training

Changes made

•  Individual Play Plans are used for all children to aid planning
•  Toddlers have started planning around one area of development per week and each child is assessed against a planned activity as well as incidental observations during other activities for the week
•  In preschool each child has a profile book detailing information, photos and art work evidencing when they have met a particular developmental target.
•  Parents now complete a Profile Report about their preschool children helping to plan their development
•  Child award certificates have been introduced across the nursery for special deeds, actions, knowledge, care
•  We have invited more outside professionals in to give the children a more diverse education and knowledge, such as eco day, Zoolab, Greenmeadow Farm

Improvements planned

•  Maintaining the regularity of developmental reports sent out to families
•  Less paperwork and more time with the children, preschool group streamlining assessments
•  Inviting in a welsh speaker into nursery regularly
•  Preschool links with their next school
•  Staff development – making a point of reporting on more and more positive items to parents and not just reporting on children's negative actions
•  Parent links – parents evenings and how to attract more in for a meeting / chat – low take up of opportunity

 

What we do well

•  Maintaining healthy routines with a good mix of activity, quiet time, free play and structured play
•  Keeping in touch with families and being available for their queries / problems
•  Making arrangements or changes to adapt to parents wishes such as differing activities due to religion
•  Inviting in outside professionals such as the local Reverend attending to discuss Easter
•  Getting involved in the community, being aware of our social responsibility
•  Library, local community and park visits
•  Healthy baby foods / menus
•  Brushing teeth after tea

Changes made

•  Menus updated to more healthy choices, Sharon (cook) attended health eating course & nutrition certificate
•  Fruit sharing – new fruits introduced as an activity
•  More text communication with parents
•  Inviting more people into Nursery to discuss religion, eco friendly options and animals
•  Waterproof Rain suits purchased for staff and children

Improvements planned

•  Re evaluate and update menus for changing season using guidelines from WAG Food and Health Guidelines
•  Re establish links with Aneurin Bevan Court for inter generational activities
•  Producing a plan / diary for updates, reviews for the year

 

What we do well

•  Over 80% staff are Paediatric first aid trained and all staff have level 2 Food safety certificates
•  Ensuring children's social and emotional needs are met by treating them as individuals and changing situations / activities to suit.
•  Supporting families, children and carers of looked after children, good exchange of information and attendance at review meetings
•  Encouraging healthy choices –new fruit taster sessions weekly, healthy snacks, milk
•   Encouraging further training and self learning for staff
•  Encouraging good social skills and manners through example, the children regularly say please and thank you without reminder and are addressed in a courteous way
•  Offering the children well thought out and prepared meals and water throughout the day, the children will often express a like or dislike for certain foods but are encouraged to at least try the food.

Changes made

•  Shawna and Kelly Moyle have achieved NVQ 3
•  Clare and Sam benefiting from NVQ4 training and taking on further responsibilities with staff
•  More regular staff meetings
•  Risk assessments and policies easier to read, simplified language and recognisable format
•  Staff having more information and knowledge of what we expect from them in their role (advances in investors in people)
•  100% staff attended NSPCC safeguarding Children course
•  Joined NDNA expert panel and NDNA newly established Torfaen Network
•   Photo displays used more & copies emailed to parents
•  Altered the times of morning snack and lunchtime slightly as the children were not ready for lunch

Improvements planned

•  Job titles on t-shirts ?
•  Review of opening hours ?
•  Training for Nikola and Lisa re child protection case conferences and child reviews in case of Jane's absence from nursery

 

What we do well

•  All management are qualified to NVQ4, 2 staff members to quality NVQ4 very soon
•  80% staff have at least NVQ3 and 100% NVQ2
•  Supporting training and further education requests, we actively seek training courses and providers for the staff to continue their learning. Encouraging self improvement
•   Maintaining efficient registers and staff schedules
•  Maintaining records for staff and inductions for new staff / trainees
•  Supervisions where staff feel confident to talk and offer suggestions
•  Ensuring all staff have a voice and are treated as equals
•  As we have high numbers of qualified staff all are happy to address parents, discuss issues and give advice and know who to refer to if they are unsure of a topic
•  Investors in people principles used throughout the staff systems
•  No staff leaving the Nursery, stability for the children

Changes made

•   All policies updated, new whistle blowing policy giving staff more information and support
•  2 staff qualifying NVQ3
•  2 staff finishing NVQ4
•  A trainee per group aiding outings to the park / library extra to the required staff

Improvements planned

•  Staff meetings kept to a regular timescale, staff encouraged to self evaluate more, Team building
•  Jodie and Vicky start NVQ4, Melissa & Faye start Young apprentice scheme& NVQ
•  Help improve literacy skills amongst staff via WAG scheme

 

What we do well

•  Clear hierarchy of responsibility throughout nursery
•  Parents are treated equally and consistently, they know when to expect invoices and newsletters, fee reminders. Parents have many payment options to suit their means and lifestyles including Visa or direct payments.
•  Parents know who to approach for fee advice, complaints, ideas, daily chat
•  Maintaining Investors in people accreditation
•  Reviewing our systems and policies in light of law changes, parents queries, events in the wider community / UK, suggestions
•  High levels of staff training and continuous learning
•  Gaining staff views on how their group is operating, changes which can be made

Changes made

•  Making job roles clearer to parents via photos, newsletters
•  Making forms, brochures, invoices easier to read, more professional and user friendly
•  Marketing course for advice on how to give the business as a whole a good public image, remain viable in the market place and give good value to service users
•  NDNA network, supporting each other and sharing ideas and good practice
•  More local business contacts made
•  Social responsibility policy added to show our commitment to our community and eco friendly ideals.

Improvements planned

•  Equality Act 2010 review
•  Websites updated, condensed and made more user friendly
•  Review all investors in people ideals
•  Stricter review dates for all areas of service
•  Full review of National minimum standards 2011

 

What we do well

•  Staff are aware of and understand the complaints policy, safeguarding children policy and whistle blowing policy
•  Regularly update staff and parents on issues surrounding child protection, ensuring parents on a regular basis that the Nursery does everything in its power to protect their child
•  Provide access to training
•  We have a clear route of contact for staff and parents for complaints
•  Risk assessments, safety checks and maintenance are carried out regularly
•  Members of Federation of Small Business, NDNA and use their information as well as other organisations such as NSPCC, Schoolistic and National safety Council on safety and protection updates to pro actively update our own systems
•  Problems or foreseeable issues are very quickly resolved
•  Always open to ideas, suggestions
•  Notifiable illnesses reported to authorities and parents
•  Contact well maintained with LSCB and individual Social Workers to ensure continuity for looked after children or those considered at risk
•  Discuss any issues with staff as a whole or individually to learn from situations
•  Recognisable and respected presence in the community so parents from outside sometimes ask for advice and support with issues

Changes made

•  NSPCC Child protection training for every staff member 
•  New whistle blowing policy and adverse weather policy
•  Telephone numbers and review of NSPCC training on display for staff at all times

Improvements planned

•  More open days to greet parents in open discussions
•  New timetable set up with responsibilities / actions to ensure reviews are cleared at the right time
•  Get out and about more, community presence
•  Multiple siblings treated  as individuals with differing needs likes, dislikes

Nursery environment

What we do well

•  Ensuring all safety / regulatory checks are up to date and laws complied with (fire safety Reg 38, electric, gas, safety glass, evacuation procedures)
•  Maintaining cleanliness and decoration of the nursery
•  Risk assessments and safety checks well maintained and used as a tool for improvement and repair
•   Lots of the children's art work and photos on display
•  Bright and airy environment
•  Safety and maintenance issues dealt will quickly / immediately
•  The kitchen has been awarded a 5 under the scores on the doors scheme

Changes made

•  Garden extended and new impact floor covering throughout
•  Nursery decorated throughout
•  Rooms and equipment moved around to make better use of space for children
•  Washing machine moved out of kitchen to upper staff toilet
•  New tumble dryer
•  All new stainless steel kitchen, tiled walls, new flooring, cooker, fridge, freezer, shelving
•  Computer upgraded in office
•  Internet access for staff and children upstairs
•  New video intercom system
•  Laminate floor throughout lower floor
•  New highchairs, buggies, double single and triples
•  Staff toilet on lower floor improved
•  New fencing around lower outside door to improve visibility from garden
•  Theme corner developed in Imaginary room after trying lots of other uses which did not work
•  Skype, webcam and computer microscope now available for activities / management contact

Improvements planned

•  Soft play room – possible new wall cushions and re vamp area
•  CCTV throughout nursery?   Air Con?
•  Children's toilet on lower floor revamp, new changing unit possibly with steps, shelving, floor covering
•  Dining room floor covering, extra display boards all around nursery, extraction system in kitchen
•  New sign outside nursery and repaint exterior
•  Baby room – own sand tray/ art corner/ sensory area
•  Increased capacity for heating in baby toilet area
•  Internet access on lower floor / laptop?
•  Garden final layer on surface
•  New pegs for children's coats on lower floor
•  Covered area outside for wet play / sun shade, outdoor building area for children in garden
•  Replant herb boxes, flower baskets etc

 

This report is intended to advise you, our service users, on what the Nursery has achieved over the past year, areas of quality improvement and changes for the future. If you would like to discuss the report please feel free to speak to any of the Managers or evidence for all areas above are available at Nursery for you to view.    Thank you      Nikola Masters

 

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