The Down Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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129785 Unique Reference Number 31 May 2006 Inspection date Tina Kelly Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. 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, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered 1997. She lives with her husband and three children aged nine,14 and 16 years. The family live in the Hunton Bridge area of Kings Langley, on the outskirts of Watford. The property is within walking distance of local shops, schools and the park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. Children do not generally access upstairs as there is a downstairs cloakroom. There is a fully secure garden for outside play. The family have a pet dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time. At the time of inspection three children aged between 2 and 3 were being cared for. The childminder attends several local toddler groups throughout the week.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and warm environment. Children's health is monitored and maintained as well-established routines are in place to promote good hygiene procedures. Children are encouraged to be independent as they access the cloakroom with sensitive support from their carer. Children are learning good personal hygiene practice as they know they must wash hand before they eat and if they have handled the family dog.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's nutritional needs are well met as they are provided with a menu which offers fruit and healthy options for all. Children are introduced to a wide variety of tastes and textures, they are keen to try new experiences alongside their friends. Children are able to express their likes and dislikes as they learn about different foods that are good for them and help them to grow.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical exercise. They have many opportunities during the week to access a range of different activities. Children are taken to toddler groups and to the park where they can run and climb. They go to sporting and gym sessions where they can develop their physical and co-ordination skills with age appropriate apparatus.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is maintained as the childminder is aware of their personal needs having discussed these issues with parents. A flexible routine ensures children are able to rest and to play when they need to, their individual needs are well met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a secure environment. The childminder is aware of potential hazards and has appropriate measures in place to maintain the children's safety. Children do not have access to the pond which is securely fenced to ensure they are safe when playing in the garden. A written emergency evacuation plan is in place and is available to parents alongside additional information provided by NCMA and the fire service which highlights issues around home safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young children are learning to keep themselves safe as they are reminded not to tread on toys and to put them away when they have finished playing. Children have free access to a good selection of quality toys, they are stored at low level so children can make choices and develop their play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are taken on outings as a regular part of their routines. Their safety is of high priority. The childminder goes out with other childminders, they have devised a system to identify their children in busy environments to ensure they can always be seen with high visibility arm bands. Children's safety is further protected as there is a written policy for lost and uncollected children to ensure every one involved in their care is aware of the actions to be taken in such an event. Children are learning about their own personal safety as they know about simple rules to keep

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 them safe when they are out in the community, such as to stay close to their carer and to hold hands.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's well-being is monitored and maintained as the childminder keeps appropriate records with regards to accident and incidents. She has a sound understanding of child protection issues and has relevant leaflets and contact numbers in line with the local authority Local Safeguarding Children Board(LSCB). The information is readily available to ensure the children's welfare is safeguarded at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have opportunities to access a wide range of play and learning activities both in the home, garden and the community. They enjoy being taken on visits to the farm and sporting activity sessions. Play areas and parks are very popular with the children as they enjoy climbing, swinging and having the freedom to run and to play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children are taken to toddler sessions most days where they learn to play with other children and develop their social skills in a safe and age appropriate environment. Children have opportunity for free play on a daily basis and some resources are set out for them as they arrive. They are able develop their imagination as they have good resources and the space to extend their ideas in the play area. Children's conversation and language is developing as there is constant verbal support and interaction with their childminder. The children are learning to count, to recognise shapes and to share experiences with their carer and other adults.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The developing and changing needs of these young children are recognised and monitored as the provider takes regard of the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The older children are able to take time out when they come in from school as they watch television and have appropriate games available to them in the family lounge. They are taken on outings through the school holidays when they enjoy trips to museums, animal parks, the cinema and bowling. Their independence is growing as they are encouraged make decisions about the outings and activities that they take part in.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's achievements are praised as they are thanked for their assistance as they help in tidying away the toys before lunch. Children are confident and friendly as they are learning good social skills in a well-managed environment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are equally valued and respected within the setting. The childminder is aware of the children's various abilities and characters. Activities and resources are provided to develop the children's interests and to expand their understanding of their local environment and the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Documents are in place to ensure children are cared for according to their parents' wishes and to monitor the children's changing needs. Younger children's individual needs are well documented, a daily diary is kept for parents to ensure they are fully aware of the children's meals, nappy changes, activities and sleep patterns.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing their social skills as they receive good support from their carer who explains and extends their understanding of being kind, to share and to take turns. Children are excited as their parents come to collect them, they share experiences from their busy day with the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A good relationship has developed between the families and the childminders own family. A portfolio holds information for parent such as policies and procedures which are kept alongside photographs of children taking part in outings and activities. The folder also contains letters of reference and cards of thanks from previous childminding arrangements.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder plans and organises her week effectively around the various full and part time child minding arrangements. The busy routine is well managed and children are able to rest and to play when they need to.

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Organisation

Children's well-being is of high priority with personal records, polices and procedures in place that are reviewed on a regular basis. However the detail held in the portfolio is not presented in an orderly manner and parents may have difficulty in finding specific information about the care and service provided.

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Organisation

The recently introduced complaints procedure is fully implemented and a recording system is in place with documents and letters from Ofsted readily available for parents.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was left with three recommendations.

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Improvements since the last inspection

1. Ensure a record of the children's attendance is kept including arrival and departure times. This is in place as the childminder uses the National Childminding Association record of attendance to monitor the times of arrival and departure of the children in her care

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Improvements since the last inspection

2. Extend practices by demonstrating how activities are planned and evaluated. The childminder has developed flexible routines that incorporates planned activities to extend the children's learning.

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Improvements since the last inspection

3. Provider's husband to complete a CM2 form. The childminder has requested the required document from Ofsted.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Complaints since the last inspection

Ofsted received concerns that the childminder was caring for more children than allowed in her conditions of registration. A childcare inspector conducted an unannounced visit on the 11 April 2006 to inspect against National Standards 1 (Suitable Person) and 2 (Organisation).

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Complaints since the last inspection

No evidence was found at the visit to substantiate breach of these standards. However breaches of National Standards 12 (Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers) and 14 (Documentation) were identified and the following actions were set:

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Complaints since the last inspection

Standard 12. Ensure there is a written agreement with parents that sets out expectations of the care of the children and the business arrangements.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Standard 12. Ensure there are records of parents' and/or emergency contact details, GP contact details and appropriately signed consent forms in place (this to be in place for all minded children including those over 8 years).

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Complaints since the last inspection

Standard 14. Ensure there is a daily record of the names of the children looked after and their hours of attendance.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Standard 14. Ensure records are always available for inspection by the early years child care inspector.

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Complaints since the last inspection

A satisfactory response has been received to the actions set and the provider remains qualified for registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

On the 11 May 2006 Ofsted received concerns that the childminder was looking after more children than she is registered for. Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit on the 15 May 2006 to investigation this concern under National Standard 1 (Suitable Person)

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Complaints since the last inspection

The visit showed that the childminder did care for a number of children, however she is caring for the correct number of children aged under eight, that she is registered for. Children aged eight and over are not regulated by Ofsted and therefore Ofsted can not impose any actions or conditions regarding this.

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Complaints since the last inspection

A recommendation was given to the childminder to ensure that her husband completes a CM2 form (which is an Ofsted application form) and a Criminal Records Bureau check. This will enable Ofsted to update their records.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Ofsted is not taking any further action and the childminder remains qualified for registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

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.

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Complaints since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

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

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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 recommendation(s): • to review the information for parents about the care and childminding service offered.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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