On Track Education - West Yarner

Inspection report for early years provision

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148523 Unique Reference Number 12 September 2006 Inspection date Claudia Padfield 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 outstanding. 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 lives in a house with her husband and two children, of secondary school age. The house is situated in the Woodley area of Reading, with access to local shops, pre-schools, schools and library. The family has one cat. The childminder has been registered since 1992 and is registered for six children, currently she has nine children attending on a part time basis. The children have access to the whole of the ground floor with toilet facilities on this level. There is a secure rear garden for outside play.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive because the childminder follows highly effective procedures to ensure she meets their physical , nutritional and health needs. Through excellent role modelling children become

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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 increasingly independent in their personal care skills. They independently wash their hands after visiting the bathroom and before eating. The childminder updates her knowledge from the parents and ensures her supporting documentation is relevant and consistent with the child's home. The comprehensive policies and procedure are revised and relevant to reflect the national standards.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily fresh air and exercise, they walk to and from school often visiting the park on the way home to enjoy the large open space to run around and make noise. Children take part in regular physical play both indoors and out, which promotes a healthy active lifestyle. The childminder ensures she provides a range of good equipment in the garden to promote physical development.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy, organic and home grown range of fresh vegetables. Meals are wholesome and the children's dietary needs and preferences are considered. They sit together sharing news and events that have happened through out the day. The childminder actively raises the children's awareness and understanding of healthy eating through discussion and encouraging the children to prepare and participate in the cooking of meals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Risks of accidental injury is minimised because the childminder is extremely vigilant and has a thorough understanding of how to complete daily risk assessments to reduce potential hazards. Children receive a high level of supervision within the home. She has extensive procedures and safety information in place to ensure children can play in a safe and secure environment; for example, children and parents sign up to agree by the rules when using the trampoline. When on outings the childminder encourages children to participate in road safety awareness, by stopping at the kerbside, listening and looking for traffic, this helps to increase their understanding of road safety. They walk home from school and have daily opportunities to practise these.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from having a warm and inviting environment with readily available toys and equipment, promoting children's self esteem. The toys and equipment are suitable and safe for their ages and stage of development. The childminder carries out daily checks on all equipment and implements effective procedures to clean and maintain this ensuring the provision is safe for all children to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder safeguards and promotes children's welfare and development through regular communication with parents, concise and very comprehensive written policies and procedures, this ensures that all required documentation is accurately completed and in place. She has a first aid certificate and is consequently able to deal with minor accidents and incidents effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected and safeguarded from harm because the childminder has an excellent understanding of her role concerning child protection. She has recently completed further training. Extremely secure systems are in place to ensure the safe arrival and collection of children, which are included in written procedures and discussed with parents. The childminder

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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 has an excellent knowledge of how to implement local child protection policies ensuring children are safeguarded from harm whilst in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very settled and happy within the home. They settle quickly and enjoy the warm interactions with the childminder who knows them very well and is interested in what they have to say. Children clearly enjoy the planned activities and are challenged by the thoughtful questioning and resources. Children discuss how they are going to play the game and the way the computer works. They work with the childminder to successfully identify which dinosaurs are meat eaters (carnivores) and which are plant eaters (herbivores). The childminder uses praise effectively to sustain the children's interest but is lead by the child when the child wants to move on and do something else.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an exceptionally good awareness of recognising each child's uniqueness and is sensitive to their individual needs and wishes. Children are making excellent progress because of the support they receive from the childminder. Children are confident to converse with adults and visitors to the home and demonstrate high levels of self esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely well settled and very at home in the childminder's house. They are confident and relaxed with the childminder which provides them with a secure base to build on and develop new skills. Warm and affectionate relationships ensure children are comfortable and secure. The childminder has a positive understanding of equal opportunities, which help the children to develop an understanding of their own and other cultures. Children learn about a sense of place through regular outings into the community.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children respond positively to requests from the childminder and are eager to help and please. Children tidy up quickly and know they can then select a new activity once the task is finished. She is sensitive to the children's feelings and uses praise and encouragement to good effect. Children's behaviour is very good they have a growing understanding about right and wrong.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The children feel at home and at ease within the extremely well organised environment, which means they thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in the setting. The childminder has a comprehensive knowledge of child development which enables her to plan an excellent range of interesting and stimulating activities. Children receive high levels of support from the childminder when playing together in one to one situations. She uses expert questioning to extend the children's knowledge and will investigate a topic further with the use of good reference books to increase the level of information available. This ensures that children are extremely confident and self assured to initiate and extend their own play.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The childminder's professional approach to her childminding and comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place promote the children's welfare care and learning. The childminder updates her knowledge by attending relevant childcare course. Parents receive information daily; this keeps them extremely well informed about the childminding service provided and their child's progress. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to keep accurate records of arrival and departure times on the daily register of attendance. This is now completed and the childminder now documents all children's arrival and departures, which protects the children in her care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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