Ahigh level of entries again came in to Nursery World for its second Nursery of the Year Award, sponsored by Morton Michel Insurance.
The entrants were whittled down to a shortlist of five and I visited them all from opening time until lunch. This gave me the opportunity to observe arrivals, talk with parents as well as staff and see how each setting expresses its philosophy in practice.
It was very interesting to experience the varied ways of working in the five settings. Their situations and physical environments may be very different, but they have important points in common. They all:
* ensure new children settle in securely
* reassure parents and keep them in touch with their children's progress from the start
* employ a variety of ways of keeping parents informed of developments and plans
* welcome children with special educational needs and make sensitive provision for them
* help parents to understand what their children are learning
* earn appreciation and warm praise from parents for their work
* do their best to give children plenty of time out of doors
* promote healthy eating
* value their staff and encourage their continuing professional development
* involve themselves in training students
* show social responsibility through fundraising for particular good causes.
The three nurseries selected for an award show additional special attributes and between them they have won 5,000 worth of prizes donated by Community Playthings.
1ST Orchard Barns Kindergarten in Ardleigh, Essex wins Community Playthings creativity area
Thanks to its reputation, Orchard Barns does not need to advertise. It is deservedly awarded first place. Nursery manager Susan Moss-Thomas demonstrates convincingly the commitment she and the staff feel towards the children and their families.
Parents are prepared to travel well out of their way to enable their children to benefit from the sensitive care and effective early education that is on offer, in a superb rural environment. Some children particularly enjoy the last part of their journey, knowing that the bumpy path means that they will soon arrive at nursery!
The kindergarten is accommodated in a converted barn and outbuildings set in the grounds of owner Anita Huckle's house. The oldest children have direct access to a courtyard that is imaginatively set up to stimulate creative play in self-chosen groups.
All children spend time in the wonderful garden, a true outdoor classroom with tempting and varied opportunities for open-ended as well as guided exploration, leading to in-depth learning across the curriculum. They also have access to the nearby paddock where there is plenty of scope for running, climbing and playing freely. The nursery plans to acquire protective clothing so that the outdoor spaces can be used in all weathers.
On the day of my visit, children of all ages were being given turns to sit on a pony and were shown how to feed and care for it.
Indoors and out, the nursery is richly equipped with beautiful materials designed and made by staff and improvised by the children, as well as a wide range of resources which have been carefully selected to engage and challenge them. Staff working with the babies, noting that the blocks set out were not being used, replaced them with sparkly bracelets and necklaces in jewellery boxes, which stimulated persistent interest and prolonged concentration.
Time is invested in consolidation and reinforcement as well as the exploration of new concepts. Children's own ideas are valued and extended.
Their relationships with their keyperson have real meaning, as some activities such as circle time, yoga, guessing games and stories are offered in key groups. Staff know each of the children very well, are sensitive to each child's state of mind and stage of development, and provide responsive support so that they can all experience success.
There are poetic and visual examples of ethnic and cultural diversity and a thoughtful awareness of gender and other equalities issues, which broaden the children's experience.
As they get older, children are given graduated levels of independence and responsibility. The older group has self-service snacks and drinks, and understand and respect the established systems that help them to take turns and organise their time. They show high levels of self-sufficiency and consideration.
Permanent staff are all qualified to at least NVQ level 3 and provide excellent models for the students placed in the nursery. All adults are fully involved in their unhurried interactions with the children, and it's evident that they enjoy being with them.
The meal is cooked on the premises, using nutritious ingredients. Through serving their food each day, the manager stays in close touch with the children. She holds senior management team meetings and staff meetings for all three groups during nursery time every week, as there is a supernumerary member of staff in each room. It is also possible to arrange specialist meetings as needed.
A judicious placement of students and meticulous organisation of staff rotas means that there is rarely a need to bring in bank or agency staff, thus ensuring continuity for children and families, while enabling staff to have non-contact time for doing records and planning. The staffroom is pleasantly based in a summerhouse in the garden.
Parents, like their children, are clearly relaxed and trusting in their relationships with staff. One who has a severely disabled child speaks particularly highly of the nursery, saying that Orchard Barns offers everything she could expect and more.
2ND Oakfield Nursery School in Altrincham, Cheshire wins Community Playthings role-play area
This nursery also benefits from the close involvement of the owner/manager, Roisin Moriarty. The business was founded by her parents in an imaginatively adapted Victorian house. She has added educational expertise and aesthetic flair while maintaining her mother's rigorous practice in relation to health.
The nursery is exceptionally well organised, with a strong emphasis on health and safety underpinning the carefully planned curriculum and beautifully designed and superbly resourced environment. Every opportunity has been taken to reinforce learning opportunities and independence, from the rotating plugs in the basins and the different shapes designed in the wall behind each toilet, to the variety of provision incorporated in the outdoor area.
Babies are accommodated in a large room planned and equipped to attract and delight all their senses, clearly linked to the Birth to Three Matters framework. They have direct access to a protected outdoor space. Staff are warmly responsive and affectionate. As children get older, they are introduced to a wide range of carefully selected activities that tend to become increasingly adult-directed. Attractive displays illustrate children's achievements, and they enjoy adding stars to the charts that reward their efforts.
Systematic planning ensures that all the areas of learning are covered very well and that children have access to extended periods of time outdoors.
The playground is all hard- standing, but the wide range of equipment offers broad cross-curricular challenge and interest, with plenty of scope for imaginative play. Specialist dance, music and games teaching is available regularly. There is video evidence that the children participate enthusiastically in these activities.
Staff keep detailed records of their observations of what the children do, using pre-printed statements linking them explicitly to relevant guidance.
Observations and ideas are shared at weekly staff meetings and also with parents, mainly through a key person. As there is little turnover of staff, they know the children and families well.
The head monitors each child's progress carefully, and encourages staff to make suggestions about possible developments. She believes in a community of learners, and ensures that they have access to suitable training opportunities, following a careful induction through a probationary period.
All the staff are qualified at, or working towards, NVQ level 3, and the two teams working with three- and four-year-olds are led by qualified teachers.
Lunchtime is seen to be an important aspect of children's personal, social and emotional development. There is a separate dining room and food is cooked on the premises using fresh ingredients. Small groups of children enjoy their lunch in company with staff. The room also serves as an informal meeting place where staff can have breakfast as well as breaks.
They also have a comfortable staffroom upstairs, and easy access to resources to help them prepare displays or write records.
Ms Moriarty employs administrative support so she can spend time in the nursery. This means that she can monitor planning and practice, and stay in close touch with children, parents and staff. Parents express great satisfaction with the nursery's professional standards, which relies on personal recommendation rather than advertising for new children.
The written explanations of the learning across the curriculum that is possible in the different areas of provision are useful reminders for staff and students, and give parents and other visitors a real insight into the complexity of the children's learning and development.
3RD Lexden Lodge Kindergarten in Colchester, Essex wins Community Playthings construction area
Lexden Lodge has made remarkable progress in the short time since it opened in July last year. The owners, Mahila and Masoud Samarbakhsh, are dedicated to the welfare of children, families and staff, and set high standards.
They and the very committed manager, Angela McQuitty, provide excellent models of reflective practice for the carefully selected staff team. They have created a supportive working environment in a thoughtfully converted Victorian house. A secure and warm ethos for children and families has been established during the continuing rapid expansion.
Staff have good breaks and there is space where they can write up their plans and records. All staff are encouraged to make suggestions, and can participate in appraisals of the leadership team.
Ms Samarbakhsh is a qualified NNEB who sees the nursery as more than a business. Her knowledge, coupled with the skills of the widely experienced manager, is put to effective use through their close working relationship and their personal involvement in the daily running of the nursery.
Parents appreciate the social events that are being organised. These are in addition to regular one to one meetings with their child's key person, where they are invited to participate in setting targets for their children.
Staff, who are all qualified or working towards NVQ level 2 or 3, refer to Birth to Three Matters and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage in their planning. They have linked the two frameworks effectively to help the transition for children as they reach three.
Staff professional development is valued and supported through a wide range of external and centre-based training. This is resulting in very good provision for children of all ages, including carefully planned access to the outdoor space, where activities to support all curriculum areas are provided. There is a shaded area where the youngest children can sleep peacefully or play in safety and another grassed area for large-scale painting and gardening, which is to be further developed.
All three finalist nurseries stress the importance of nutritious snacks and meals, prepared on the premises. At Lexden Lodge the menus vary over a 12-week period. Children are given the choice of whether they have a little or a lot of each sort of food. Goats' milk is used for general cooking and nuts are not on the menu, so there are no concerns for children with allergies.
There is a particularly high level of awareness and respect for cultural and ethnic diversity, and effective provision for children with special educational needs and those in the early stages of learning English.
A parent commented that everything is organised around individual children, giving the example that fresh toast is made for each child when they arrive for breakfast. Others agree that they trust the staff completely and have peace of mind when their child is at the nursery. NW
Shortlisted nurseries
* Laindon Neighbourhood Nursery in Essex is run by the Pre-school Learning Alliance. It is part of a children's centre accommodated in a new building on the campus of a community school. The newly-appointed head has a clear vision of how she aims to develop the service for children and families, and the knowledge and experience to help staff to build on achievements.
Parents appreciate the information that is made available to them and feel that their children are safe and happy. A breakfast session for male carers has become a successful monthly event.
* The Stables Nursery School in Lingfield, Surrey, has a strong reputation for helping children with special educational needs. Parents appreciate the way the staff have fun with all the children. They like its position on the campus of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, because it offers invaluable opportunities for exploration in the extensive grounds, including a working farm. The two institutions have applied to open a children's centre, which would foster professional collaboration and enable the nursery to expand its work.