Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother Hospital
Inspection report for early years provision
Unique reference number
Inspect ion date
Inspector
EY246893
14/05/2009
Linda Patricia Coccia
Setting address
St. Peters Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 4AN
Telephone number
Email
Type of setting
01843 234265
© Crown copyright 2009
Childcare on non-domestic premises
13761739
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
Introduction
This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the
Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years
provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children
from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group).
The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory
framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early
Years Foundation Stage.
The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the
setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the
report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service
(The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).
The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group
which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare
Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a
comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is
included in Annex B.
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
Description of the setting
Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth, the Queen's Mother Hospital was registered in 2003.
It is one of a number of settings owned by Kid Ease Limited. It operates from a
purpose built building sited in the grounds of the hospital in Margate, Kent. A
maximum of 70 children who fall within the early years age range may attend at
any one time, of these no more than 30 may be under two years of age. The
provider is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare
Register. The nursery is open each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 throughout the
year. All children share access to a secure, enclosed, outdoor play area.
There are currently 98 children who fall within the early years age range on roll.
The nursery has been funded by the NHS Trust and serves the local area and
surrounding towns. Priority is given to hospital staff who qualify under the NHS
scheme, the remaining spaces are open to families in the area. The nursery
currently supports children with special educational needs, and children who speak
English as an additional language. The nursery employs 19 staff. Of these, 16,
including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. There are three
staff who are working towards a qualification.
Overall effectiveness of the early years provision
Overall, the provision is good. The management team ensure that children benefit
from their policy of continuous improvement to enhance children's learning
experience. All previous inspection recommendations have been met. The provision
is particularly effective in promoting inclusion for children and in fostering
partnership with parents. They are also extremely adept at promoting children's
welfare.
What steps need to be taken to improve provision
further?
To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:
clearly show how children’s next steps are to be achieved through the
observational assessments and are clearly traceable in the future planning
maintain a focus on broader learning activities to enhance the record of
children's achievements
The leadership and management of the early years
provision
The manager has clear aims for the provision. She and her supervisory staff
ensure the provision runs smoothly in accordance with their prescribed operating
policies and procedures. Within her budgets she provides a good range of quality
toys and equipment for children's use. Children are fully safeguarded by the
provision's rigorous and robust recruitment and vetting procedures. There are a
full range of procedures in place to ensure staff are, and remain, suitable to be
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
with the children. For example, a thorough induction programme ensures recruits
are fully prepared for the provision's requirements. Regular support and appraisal
systems, regular team meetings and good opportunities for staff development
ensure staff are competent and committed to their work. The manager has
improved the provision's formal self-evaluation programme and has included views
from staff, children and parents, which are very positive. She has introduced
reflective practice for staff which takes into account children's individual needs
through observation of their daily play activities. She has also fostered some
excellent partnership with parents systems. Parents have full access to their
children's records at any time. Key workers ensure that parents are fully appraised
of their children's achievements, both verbally and in writing, on a daily basis. Staff
have particular responsibility to ensure that they work closely with the parents of
children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or who speak English as an
additional language. For example, staff learn words from children's home
languages from their parents and take great pains to relay information back to
them about their children's use of language throughout the day.
The quality and standards of the early years provision
All children make good progress towards the early learning goals. The eldest
children have a good understanding of numbers and use them freely within their
play. Children communicate well, have meaningful conversations with staff and
enjoy the use of books and telling each other stories.
Babies and toddlers enjoy treasure baskets and investigating the age appropriate
toys within easy reach. All children enjoy regular singing and performing action
rhymes. They all use equipment such as play tills and push button musical toys.
The older children use magnifying glasses and calculators. In bad or inclement
weather children use the indoor play area and use suitable equipment to move
their bodies and develop their skills for climbing and balancing. Staff have a good
understanding of the assessment process for observing children. However, they
have not assessed the core activities, such as, role play areas and messy play
areas, which helps to maintain the focus on broader learning activities. All children
have individual play plans (IPPs) which are formulated through daily observation
and assessment. Children generally direct their own play, therefore the IPP's are
adaptable. Staff are adept at identifying children's next steps, which then inform
the routine planning of activities. However, the assessments do not always show
how the next steps are to be achieved and are not always easily traceable
throughout the whole process. Nevertheless, the children have a wide and varied
learning experience.
Children form excellent relationships with staff. They willingly snuggle up for
cuddles and comfort, openly laugh and giggle with staff during play and thoroughly
enjoy the company of their peers. Staff are excellent in promoting children's
welfare. Hygiene and procedures to help stop the spread of infection are a high
priority within the nursery. All staff and visitors must use hospital strength hand
wash before entering the play areas. Staff use anti bacterial sprays on all furniture
and equipment use by children. Nappy changing procedures are exacting. All
children have their individual care needs, such as skin care and medical
requirements, met. Staff who handle food hold food hygiene certificates. Snacks
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
are wholesome and healthy and children enjoy the range of foods on offer. Main
meals are provided by a recognised catering company who caters for children's
individual requirements. Food is delivered in sealed units and staff are instructed in
how to ensure it is served at the correct temperature. As the children are unable to
free flow to the outside play area, they enjoy two, scheduled outdoor play sessions
in the fresh air. Children learn about safety through regular reminders from staff
about how to move around the rooms and use equipment safely. They are
encouraged to consider each other when playing and learn to share toys and take
turns. Children are generous and offer pictures of their own making to visitors. The
majority of the children are polite and friendly and are inquisitive of visitors. This
shows that they are confident in their surroundings and feel secure within the
provision.
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
Annex A: record of inspection judgements
The key inspection judgements and what they mean
Grade
Grade
Grade
Grade
1
2
3
4
is
is
is
is
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
Overall effectiveness
How effective is the provision in meeting the needs
of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?
How well does the provision promote inclusive practice?
The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous
improvement.
2
1
2
Leadership and management
How effectively is provision in the Early Years
Foundation Stage led and managed?
How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the
steps taken to promote improvement?
How well does the setting work in partnership with parents
and others?
How well are children safeguarded?
2
2
1
2
Quality and standards
How effectively are children in the Early Years
Foundation Stage helped to learn and develop?
How effectively is the welfare of children in the Early
Years Foundation Stage promoted?
How well are children helped to stay safe?
How well are children helped to be healthy?
How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve?
How well are children helped to make a positive
contribution?
How well are children helped develop skills that will
contribute to their future economic well-being?
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
Any complaints about the inspection or report should be made following the
procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website:
www.ofsted.gov.uk
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
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Inspection Report: Kid Ease at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, 14/05/2009
Annex B: the Childcare Register
The provider confirms that the requirements of the
compulsory part of the Childcare Register are:
Met
The provider confirms that the requirements of the
voluntary part of the Childcare Register are:
Met
This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
7