Hollybrook Junior School

Inspection report for early years provision

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139632 Unique Reference Number 10 October 2006 Inspection date Christine Clint 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 1994 and moved to her current address in 2005. She lives in a residential area of Hindhead, Surrey with her husband and two children. One child is now adult and one is attending school. The family have a dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children are cared for on the ground floor of the house only, they have a playroom next to the kitchen and another ground floor room is used for sleeping children only. There is a large secure garden for outdoor play. There are currently three children who attend on a part time basis and two preschool age children are present during the inspection.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder regularly takes children out walking in the locality and to a local parent and toddler group. She has a level three National Vocational Qualification in child care and education.

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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. Small children are continually learning about hygiene throughout their daily routines with the childminder. They are very young and the childminder fully assists them. She interacts with them at all times and encourages them to respond with questions. She washes their hands for them before eating, she talks about why they need to have clean hands and she always supervises them in the bathroom. Children being cared for have individual towels. The childminder helps children to roll up their sleeves before lunch to keep them clean and she gives them wipes to clean their hands and faces after eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children mostly remain in the playroom which is situated next to the kitchen. The playroom floor is clean and laminated with patio doors to the garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are clearly developing an awareness of when their nappies need changing, and the childminder strongly encourages this. They use a changing mat on the floor, which is hygienically wiped. The childminder praises them and they clap when they have finished being changed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is effectively maintained through the detailed documentation in place for emergencies; for recording accidents and for any medication administered. This includes written permission, from parents for emergency medical treatment. There is a well stocked first aid kit available and the childminder has confirmation to show that she will attend first aid training.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children happily settle to sleep in the travel cot which is in next room. The childminder recognises individual signs of tiredness and has established routines of leaving the door open so that children can hear conversations and feel secure, as they soundly go to sleep with a blanket for warmth.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children always have watered down juice in individual cups, during their time with the childminder. They can identify their own cups because the childminder attaches different coloured stickers. They are gently persuaded to eat the food their parents have provided because the childminder looks at their lunch boxes and shows interest and excitement. They are learning to use spoons for ravioli and they are praised for managing and eating well.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning to talk about their food, they frequently go shopping with the childminder and show an interest in the food that she eats herself.

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Helping children to be healthy

They are currently learning about recycling. The childminder explains that some rubbish can be put in the compost bin. She talks about snails and slugs in the garden and what they like to eat in the compost.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are entirely safe in the family home because they remain on the ground floor in dedicated rooms for play and sleep. There is a purpose built wooden gate in place, between

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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 the kitchen and the play room. Children have easy access to the secure garden where they are constantly supervised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder spends the majority of her time playing with the children and seeing to their needs. She always completes her household chores at the end of the day when children are gone, or if they are asleep. Children are encouraged to help with tidying up, they like to wipe the small table and often enjoy cleaning the play equipment with water when the weather is fine.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder interacts extremely well with children and uses explanation to begin to teach them about their own safety during their play and especially whilst out walking locally; she has recently introduced simple comments about road safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is well maintained in the setting because the childminder has all fire equipment in place and she shows a good understanding of following emergency procedures. A plan of the house is available in the portfolio for parents and there are leaflets about fire prevention. All documentation is available to support children's safety when they are taken out locally or being transported.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is fully supported by the childminder's confident knowledge of child protection procedures. She has established strong relationships with parents, who ensure that necessary information is shared to enable the childminder to give attention and reassurance to children when this is required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and clearly respond to the continual attention and interaction with the childminder, who engages them in conversation at all times to encourage their speech and understanding. The childminder asks them if they can remember previous outings to the zoo, or gardening activities they enjoyed. They are also encouraged to talk about their homes and families.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children can name different parts of their bodies and faces when the childminder asks them to find their chins or their tongues.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They all sit together on the floor to sing, 'Row row row the boat' and 'Twinkle twinkle little star', They spontaneously carry out actions to the songs and children thoroughly enjoy this and want to continue. They are learning to develop physical skills through throwing and catching bean bags. They laugh together with the childminder who shows them care and affection. Children are praised very regularly when they help or manage on their own and the childminder constantly suggests activities and gives children ideas of what to do next.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Small children are beginning to concentrate but need the childminder's support. They use crayons for a short time at the low table and colour pictures. They manage to look at pictures in story books with the childminder for longer periods. They are attentive when the childminder uses sounds and animal noises to link with pictures. Children's enjoyment and achievement

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 relies on the continual attention and interaction that the childminder provides because there is less play equipment available to stimulate or initiate child led activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Small children are fully reassured when they show signs of being unsettled, because the childminder explains the daily routines and tells them what will happen next. She organises the daily routines of play, eating and sleeping to fit in with children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Small children are fully encouraged to have a positive attitude towards each other and to show a willingness for helping with daily routines. They happily comply throughout they day because the childminder has a confident approach and praises them very frequently. She helps them to understand how to behave through her own calm, consistent behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's care is strongly supported by the well established links with parents. Parents have full information about the childminder's family, qualifications and training and they can see the full portfolio of policies and procedures; including the up to date information on complaints.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's development is fully recorded and printed for parents. The childminder shows a good knowledge of children's different stages of development and she writes well described paragraphs to show how children are progressing and how she has recognised this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All contracts and written permission from parents are in place, parents are well informed about daily events and organise their child care to suit their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning disabilities have previously been cared for and the childminder has attended some training, she is willing to support parents through being flexible and meeting children's needs. Children have daily care, attention and affection from the childminder on an equal basis. She understands the need to have an equal opportunities statement but this is not fully reflected in the play equipment available for the children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care is well organised and daily routines are included to meet children's individual needs. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibility to supervise children at all times and to inform Ofsted of any changes within the household. She recognises her responsibilities as a registered person and has complied with procedures to maintain the registration.

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Organisation

The childminder is well informed about current regulations and has her certificate displayed. She provides full information for parents in a portfolio with comprehensive policies and procedures, to cover all areas of child care.

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Organisation

The daily register of attendance is in place but not fully up to date. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She has a good level of knowledge and understanding supported by her qualifications in child care.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve fire safety precautions by providing smoke alarms at every level of the house and to improve safety precautions by making sure all hazardous items in the kitchen are inaccessible to the children. Both of the recommendations applied to the previous home, the childminder has now moved house and there are smoke alarms on every level, although children remain on the ground floor only. There are cupboard locks on the kitchen cupboard which contains cleaning equipment, although children do not spend time in the kitchen unsupervised.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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 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): • provide a wider variety of play equipment to stimulate and initiate child led activities • ensure that play equipment includes items to reflect the diversity within society • ensure that the daily record of attendance is up to date

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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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