Sinton Pupil Referral Unit

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 130985 Inspection date 29 September 2005 Inspector Fler Wright

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 satisfactory. 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 was registered in 1993. She lives with her son aged 13 years in Brighton, East Sussex. Children have access to a dedicated play area in the basement, as well as to some rooms on the first floor. The garden is not suitable for use with minded children, although the childminder takes children on daily outings to ensure they gain physical exercise. The family have 2 pet cats. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 4 children at any one time and is currently minding 14 children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder takes children on regular outings to the local park, shops and toddler

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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 groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before meals to help them begin to understand the importance of good personal hygiene and help limit the spread of infection. The childminder ensures children have access to relatively clean and hygienic environment and she uses separate changing mats for each child to help reduce the risk of cross contamination. Children who are infectious do not attend, thus preventing the spread of contagious ailments. Parents supply all snacks and meals for children and the childminder tries to ensure that the food provided meets their dietary needs. There are no set meal or snack times as the childminder prefers to meets children's individual needs as required. Children are encouraged to have regular refreshments to ensure they are sufficiently hydrated. The childminder is aware of the need to act in a child's best interests in the event of

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Helping children to be healthy

an emergency, although she has not obtained written permission to allow for emergency medical treatment from parents. Child record forms list children's medical and dietary needs, but the childminder has assumed that parents would record plaster allergies. They are in use as part of first aid treatment but there is no specific written permission from parents to allow for this, putting children at a slight risk. Children have a good relationship with the childminder, who is responsive to their emotional needs. They enjoy a range of activities that help to develop their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have access to a play area with enough space for them to explore and move around freely, although there is nowhere children can relax in comfort should they wish to do so. There is a limited range of safe, developmentally appropriate resources that meet the needs of minded children, and the childminder uses local toy libraries to help increase the selection available. She is aware of the need to continue to extend the range of equipment to further encourage children's learning and development. Low level toy boxes help to encourage children's independence when selecting resources, although they are not well-organised as toys are jumbled, making it difficult for children to get to equipment easily. The childminder has minimised the vast majority of hazards, and has been completing a daily risk assessment of the home, helping to keep children safe and

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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 free from harm. However, the low level telephone wire and blind cord in the play area have gone unnoticed, posing some risk to children and the fire blanket is not easily accessible in the event of a fire. The childminder has an understanding of the need to keep children safe on outings, and talks to them about road safety, helping them to gain an understanding of the world around them. However, although she has thought about it, she has not yet devised a back-up plan for use in an emergency in order to further safeguard the children in her care. The childminder has an understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows what action to take should she have any concerns about a child in her care. However, she has not been recording existing injuries, putting children at a slight risk,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

although she does have an understanding of the need to act in each child's best interests.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are reasonably happy, relaxed and confident. The childminder is warm and affectionate making children feel comfortable and valued. Children relate relatively well to the childminder and to each other. Some confidently approach her for support indicating trusting relationships are built. Children are able to make decisions and explore and investigate their surroundings at their own pace, helping to encourage their independence and learn about the world in which they live. Children benefit from regular outings to the local park and toddler groups, helping to encourage their social and physical development. They are involved in an adequate range of activities that help to encourage their learning and imagination, although creative activities are not well-organised, meaning children do not learn as much as they could from the activities on offer. Children are however, interested in the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

resources and activities available, and spend time concentrating on self-chosen activities. Children benefit from frequent interaction with the childminder who offers appropriate support when necessary in order to help children with their developing skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are treated with respect and are made to feel good about themselves. Their work is displayed on the walls, showing that the childminder values their contributions, whilst helping children to develop some sense of belonging. The childminder uses sensitive explanations to help children to become aware of diversity and the needs of others, although they have access to a limited range of resources and activities that promote equality and disability, meaning that they are slightly restricted in their learning about the wider world. The childminder has experience of caring for children with special needs, and has an open and receptive understanding of the need to work closely with parents and outside agencies to ensure children's

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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 individual needs are met. She is happy to attend courses in order to increase her knowledge and understanding in this area. Children benefit from some basic ground rules that are consistently applied. They behave reasonably well, and respond to the childminder as she offers some helpful explanations that help children to understand right from wrong and play together harmoniously. This is evident as children show some understanding of working co-operatively as they are starting to share popular resources. The childminder offers regular praise and encouragement to the children to help increase their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder encourages a communicative relationship with parents, who are happy with the care provided. She encourages a daily exchange of information about

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Helping children make a positive contribution

what children are doing to help ensure children's individual care needs are met.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. All of the required documents are in place, are confidential and well maintained. This helps ensure the safe and effective management of the setting in order to promote children's welfare, although some parental consents are missing. Children benefit from an environment where they receive sufficient adult support to help them feel secure and confident. Days are unstructured with no set meal or snack times as the childminder prefers to meet children's individual needs as required. Equipment is jumbled and disorganised making it difficult for children to access resources easily, and craft activities are not planned meaning that although children have an opportunity to use their imaginations, they do not get the most out of the activities on offer. The childminder is willing to increase her knowledge and understanding of her childminding role and responsibilities and plans to obtain and accommodate the Birth

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Organisation

to Three Matters framework into her childminding practice to help further encourage learning and development. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to plan a variety of activities and play opportunities for children in the home environment and provide a suitable range of toys and activities in order to meet the developmental needs of all children; ensure all areas used for childminding were clean and well maintained; devise, maintain and keep a variety of documentation including the register, child record forms, consents and contracts; ensure no more than three children under five years were cared for at any one time; and to ensure children were supervised when using the basement and hallway area. A number of subsequent monitoring visits were carried out, and the childminder had

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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 addressed some of the issues raised at the inspection, but not all, and as a result of this, she was issued with a number of compliance notices, actions and recommendations including; carrying out a daily risk assessment of the home to ensure all potential hazards are made safe or inaccessible to children; ensure children are supervised at all times; provide a suitable range of toys and activities in order to meet the developmental needs of all children; provide Ofsted with proof the home is electrically safe; secure the stairs to ensure children are unable to access areas of the home that pose a hazard to them unless they have appropriate supervision; ensure all rooms where smoking takes place are well ventilated, and obtain a written agreement from parents to ensure they are aware that smoking does

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Improvements since the last inspection

take place on the premises but not in the presence of minded children; ensure nappies are disposed of hygienically and the kitchen bin is kept covered; ensure all accidents and incidents are recorded and signed by parents; implement an appropriate range of boundaries to control children's behaviour to ensure their safety at all times and finally, to attend and Introduction to Childminding Practice course (ICP), in order to improve knowledge and understanding of the national standards. The childminder has now addressed the vast majority of the concerns previously raised showing that she now has a more receptive attitude towards improving her practice. She has yet to attend an Introduction to Childminding Practice course, but as she has increased her understanding through communication with the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and is now meeting the National Standards, this is no longer required. Her current practice is an improvement on that of the

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Improvements since the last inspection

previous inspection meaning that overall children's needs are met.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • obtain written permission to allow for emergency medical treatment and for the use of plasters if they are to be applied. • ensure existing injuries are recorded, and an emergency back-up plan is

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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 devised. • ensure the telephone wire and blind cord in the basement area are made safe or inaccessible to children and ensure fire safety requirements are met in the kitchen with regards to the fire blanket. • increase the existing range of equipment and ensure that it is well organised so that it is easily accessible to all children. • create a welcoming quiet area so that children are able to relax comfortably. • ensure craft activities are planned to help children gain the most from the activities on offer. • increase the range of activities and resources on offer in order to promote equality and anti-discriminatory practice.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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