Llangors V.P. School

Inspection report for early years provision

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400559 Unique Reference Number 23 May 2006 Inspection date Mandy Black 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 since 1984. She lives with her husband, grown up son and daughter, and a younger son aged nine years old. The family home is a semi-detached house with an enclosed rear garden, close to the centre of Ripon. She is registered to care for six children, and currently cares for five children under eight and three children over eight years. She collects children from Moorside Infants and Junior School. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy, are protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows good procedures. For example, her home

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 is extremely clean and particular attention is given to kitchen and bathroom areas. She observes excellent hand washing practices herself and actively supports children to wash their hands at all appropriate times. This helps them to understand simple good health and hygiene practices. Accident and medication records are well organised and up to date, with additional signed consent forms relating to use of sun creams and emergency medical help, which further protects children's health.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder supports children's awareness of the importance of healthy eating through discussions and activities, such as cutting out pictures of healthy food choices for their collages. They learn successfully about healthy lifestyles and use posters and props to act out going to the dentist and looking after your teeth. Children are well nourished because they are provided with healthy and nutritionally balanced snacks, such as fresh fruit, raisins and yoghurts. Drinks of water, milk or fresh fruit juice are easily accessible in children's own cups.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy worthwhile daily physical activity and benefit positively from the childminder's view that fresh air and exercise is vitally important for all children's development. They make excellent use of local parks and opportunities to run around freely, they play mini-golf and go on walks to the canal and the river. The garden is used regularly and children access a huge range of outdoor equipment to develop a variety of skills, such as throwing, catching and pedalling.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very well cared for in a clean, warm and welcoming home that is safe and secure. All safety issues are well considered and all necessary equipment is in place to protect children. Children access a broad range of resources, with plenty of creative activities provided regularly to suit all children. All equipment is continually checked and cleaned to maintain children's safety. The childminder frequently adapts equipment, such as the 'Make a match' game, to suit younger children, by photocopying and laminating pictures to make the game easier for them to understand.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder keeps children very safe when outdoors by using reins for some children and ensuring that others are securely strapped into buggies. She supports older children's growing independence by making sure they walk sensibly, within agreed boundaries, on their trips to and from school. Children are learning effectively how to keep themselves safe. For example, older children discuss the potential danger of strangers and watch a video, with parental consent, to support this. Parents are also given written information so that they can offer continued support and guidance at home. Children are very well protected because the childminder is totally clear about her important role in child protection. She has attended further training in this area and has obtained a range of written guidance which she fully understands.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children develop very high levels of confidence and self-esteem because the childminder provides plenty of support, praise and positive encouragement, which clearly makes children feel good about themselves and their achievements. Children feel a strong sense of belonging and are evidently secure and happy in their surroundings. For example, they talk eagerly about the childminder's family members and frequently ask about other minded children. They are amazingly confident, play and explore happily, and often approach the childminder for cuddles, which are fully reciprocated with great affection.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children are developing their language skills very effectively with excellent support from the childminder. For example, by continually repeating words and introducing new vocabulary, with significant results. She sings with them frequently and they clearly enjoy singing 'Row, row your boat' along with her and join in with accompanying movements. The childminder responds well to children's individual interests and initiates a game where children have to find matching figures. They are so very enthusiastic to participate and shout excitedly when they have successfully completed it.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All children show great interest in what they do, for example, they really enjoy their regular visits to local National Trust properties, learning about local history as well as enjoying the fantastic opportunities to run around and explore the countryside. Older children have a large input into choosing their own interesting activities. They design their own tablecloths with fabric pens, colouring in elaborate patterns, and they make attractive collages with a range of creative resources and laminate them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Successful relationships with parents ensure that the childminder has a good, working knowledge and understanding of the needs of individual children. She shares information very effectively, verbally as well as written for some parents, and communicates well by text message, which meets the needs of some parents. Although the Ofsted parent's poster is shared freely, a complaints record has not yet been introduced in line with new registration requirements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children understand responsible behaviour and respond well to the secure and consistent boundaries that the childminder has in place, which helps them feel secure. Good manners are strongly encouraged and even the very youngest children are polite. They say please, thank you and tidy away well, with good support from the childminder. Children make choices and take decisions, although all toys aren't always immediately accessible, children do help themselves from the conservatory and the shelves in the lounge, which promotes their independence. In addition, children ask the childminder for particular or favourite activities which she will freely fetch for them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are becoming aware of the wider community through playing with a range of appropriate resources, such as multi-cultural dressing up, play people, dolls and books. Interesting and enjoyable activities for older children include making multi-cultural outfits, enjoying Chinese

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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 food and using rice bowls and chopsticks, looking at and colouring in the different flags of the world. Some minded children regularly accompany the childminder and her family on sponsored walks for charitable organisations, which further promotes their awareness of helping others in their local community.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a clear sense of purpose and is very committed to continual improvement and development. Her attendance on a huge range of training events over a sustained and lengthy period demonstrates this very well. She has a high regard for the well-being of all children, regularly provides long term care and strongly feels that continuity and stability is crucial in children's lives. Although caring for several children after school, she is currently minding on small scale during the day time, which ensures a high level of individual attention is provided for those younger children.

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Organisation

Mandatory documentation is all in good order and stored with a high regard for confidentiality. The childminder's certificate of registration is not displayed for parents, which is a requirement. She has written and adopted a full range of user-friendly policies and procedures which she shares very effectively with all parents. They work well in practice to promote very good outcomes for children and accurately reflect her working practice. Overall the childminder fully meets the needs of the range of children for whom care is provided.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has successfully improved children's health and safety by ensuring accident records are always signed and acknowledged by parents.

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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): • introduce a complaints record in line with recent changes to registration requirements and ensure that the childminder's certificate of registration is displayed for parents.

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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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