High Fernley Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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107210 Unique Reference Number 09 August 2006 Inspection date Debra Davey 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 was registered in 1994. She lives with her husband and adult son in Surrey Quays, London. The childminder’s husband is a registered assistant. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of seven children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five all day and two children over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family have a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/ or disabilities. She is a member of the National childminders association (NCMA).

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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 developing a good understanding of personal hygiene and physical care, due to the well established daily routine for hand washing and nappy changing. They learn to wash their hands before meals and the availability of hands wipes, separate towels and liquid soap helps to prevent cross infection. They are further protected, because the childminder has a procedure for medications and accident reporting, acting in the child's best interests and keeping parents well informed. The policy for the exclusion of children who are ill is not always effective in practice. Children learn about the importance of good standards of cleanliness in the home, because the environment is clean and well maintained and through fun activities, such as washing the dolls.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy daily opportunities to play and enjoy the fresh air, because the childminder walks to local toddler groups, parks and places of interest. Children are encouraged to develop their confidence with new physical skills such as learning to walk, both in the home and on outings. They enjoy a good range of push along and pull along toys to increase their balance and mobility skills, and older children use large apparatus such as climbing frames.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children eat and drink healthy, due to the childminder’s effective communication with parents to ensure that routines, likes and dislikes and dietary requirements are respected. They enjoy continual access to drinks in the childminder’s home, to ensure that they are well hydrated and fresh fruit snacks are available. A flexible approach enables parents the choice of whether to provide their own meals for children and detailed records are kept of babies’ food intakes. As a result, parents are kept informed and children are well nourished.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled, due to the warm and welcoming accommodation where space is used effectively to meet their needs. For example, toys are stored at child level for toddlers to access and floor space used well, to support mobility needs of young children. The environment is clean and well organised and safety is a high priority. Children are well supervised, because the childminder and her husband provide constant attention and children relate equally well to both of them, seeking help, for example, pulling themselves up when learning to walk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are provided with an excellent range of safe and stimulating toys, which offer challenge and interest to the age range of children attending. For example, younger children benefit from a good selection of activity toys, which stimulate their senses as they touch feel and listen to the sounds they make. The range of equipment available encourages children to make independent choices in their play. Older children enjoy art and craft activities such as drawing, sticking and cutting and they have helped to make home made musical instruments, which the younger children enjoy shaking and listening to the sounds they make.

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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 Children are well protected, due to good safety measures both inside and outside the home. Good use of risk assessment ensures that the home is maintained to a high standard and the childminder teaches children simple safety rules, such as road safety for older children and encouraging toddlers not to throw toys. The childminder has a thorough knowledge of local child protection procedures, which ensures that children are kept safe from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and they relish their time at the childminder’s home. They enjoy the company of the childminder and her husband, which enables them to seek cuddles and attention from both. Children enjoy a good balance of home based activities and outings, which support their ongoing development and help them learn. For example, a trip to the local farm to see the piglets translates to a story book of three little pigs which the children enjoy. In this way, children's developing language skills are strengthened as children learn new words through stories and songs, as well as first hand experience of the farmyard sounds.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children explore the toys with great interest; toddlers who are not walking will eagerly shuffle and manoeuvre around furniture, to reach toys further away. They are learning to play co-operatively as they share simple inset puzzles together and allow others to play alongside them. Children show a great sense of achievement as they manage to fit a difficult puzzle piece into the slot and smile and clap with delight. Adults help children to feel valued by offering lots of praise during play, to help foster children's confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's progress is recorded in a daily diary to enable the childminder to share achievements with their parents. Planning of activities for children under three years, however, does not relate to the individual child's next step in their learning. As a result, home based activities sometimes lack challenge for younger children. Activities for older children are planned to follow their interests, for example, discussion and drawing about a recycling project from school, supported by good quality resources such as pencils and scissors. Overall, there is a good distinction in the learning requirements of the different ages of children attending and all children are able to enjoy their time at the childminder’s home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into the setting and a well planned introduction period helps them to feel secure and relaxed. Their individual needs are well met, because the childminder ensures that detailed and useful information is obtained from parents to allow her to get to know the children in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are fully included in all the activities and have free access to a range of equipment, including dolls, books and puzzles that reflect areas of equality. The childminder has a positive approach to inclusion and children with learning difficulties and disabilities are welcome in the setting. Children develop a good awareness of their local community when visiting local playgroups and libraries, to help them learn about their local community 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 Children are well supported in their behaviour, because they are cared for by adults who provide positive role models and gentle consistent reminders to help them understand about right and wrong. As a result, children are learning to share, co-operate and show concern for others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are welcomed into the childminder’s home, provided with clear information and encouraged to give feedback. The use of daily diaries ensures that parents are kept well informed about their child's daily activities, as well as useful daily discussion to ensure that children's needs are well met.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well cared for, due to the childminder’s high regard for their welfare. She attends well to their safety, medical, hygiene and nutritional needs, all of which contribute to their general well being. Children have fun in the setting, because the childminder has a good understanding of how they learn and how to provide age appropriate and interesting activities for children of different ages.

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Organisation

Good use is made of the available space and the daily routine ensures that children have a well structured day to support their care, learning and play. This is further supported by positive input from the childminder’s husband, as assistant, as well as a range of useful documentation which is well maintained and stored appropriately.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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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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): • review and update the sickness policy to ensure that children are fully protected from cross infection. • make use of an effective framework, such as birth to three matters to further enhance the learning experiences of children under 3 years.

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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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