Thorpe St Peter County Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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129575 Unique Reference Number 14 August 2006 Inspection date Tina Kelly 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 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 has been registered since 1996. She lives with her 2 adult daughters. They live in a quiet cul de sac in the Bennetts End area of Hemel Hempstead. The ground floor is used for childminding, children do not access upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family keep 4 parrot style birds, 2 gerbils and 4 fish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children under the age of 8 years, at the time of inspection during the summer holidays she was caring for 7 children, 4 of which were over 8 years old.

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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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment. They are learning about good personal hygiene through their daily routines, they have made posters to remind them to wash their hands and these are on display in the cloakroom. Children are confident in accessing the cloakroom, they are familiar with the routines of hand washing and letting the other children know they have finished if there is a queue.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's nutritional needs are well met. The childminder is vegetarian, she introduces the children to a range of new food experiences such as rice and cous cous. Children express their likes and dislikes, they are learning about food that is good for them with healthy options being offered at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have various opportunities for physical play throughout the week. During the school holidays they have outings each day to the park where they are able to run, to climb and to explore large play apparatus.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual needs and health is monitored as the childminder keeps records of their personal care detail, she discusses day to day issues with parents on a regular basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play in a secure environment, the childminder is aware of potential hazards and takes appropriate measures to keep the children safe in her home and in the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are learning about their own safety as they are taken out in the community. They are becoming aware of road safety they know they must hold hands or hold onto the buggy, to wait and to look both ways when crossing roads. In the home the children are reminded to pick up toys and games as they move onto new activities so they do not tread on them and slip or fall.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is maintained as appropriate documents are in place to record accidents and incidents. The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues having attended awareness sessions as part of her training as a community childminder. Relevant leaflets and contact phone numbers with regards to child protection issues are readily available in the portfolio.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children play in a stimulating and inviting environment. They have many opportunities to access a wide and interesting range of play and learning opportunities, both in the home, the garden

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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 and in the community. During the school holidays the weekly routine ensures that the children are taken out each day, they are taken to the park, to feed the ducks or they go to the library.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's achievements are praised and their play is extended and well supported by the childminder. New skills are developed with the children sharing their play ideas with each other. They are encouraged to include other children in their games, they negotiate to take turns and make waiting lists for the more popular hand held electronic games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's language and social skills are developed as they interact with the other children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years. Older children are reminded about the limits of the younger ones, they are encouraged to show them how to use the more complex games and toys and to include them in their play. Children's self-esteem is promoted as their art work is displayed around the home, they are welcome to bring toys from home but know they must be prepared to share with the other children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. All children are equally valued and included in the setting. Children have many opportunities to access a range of resources that develop their understanding of the wider world. The childminder is very aware of the children's individual characteristics, she has a sound understanding of meeting children's individual needs as she has attended additional training as part of the 'Community childminding' project.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning about simple rules and boundaries, they respond well to requests to tidy away and to include other children in their play. Children understand they need to put toys away before moving onto other activities. They are learning to be part of a group, to take turns, to share and be aware of the needs of others especially younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for in line with their parent's wishes. Families are kept informed about their children's daily routines, they have access to the childminder's portfolio which includes detail of her registration. An introductory letter is available but the contents are out of date, which means that parents are not aware of some policies such as confidentiality and how to contact Ofsted.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. During the school holidays the routines are planned around the various children attending. Activities are adapted to ensure all children have opportunities to be taken out, to play and to rest. Children are involved in decisions around their play and what they would like to do.

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Organisation

Appropriate documentation is in place to ensure the children's individual needs are recognised and met. The childminder has photographs of children taking part in a range of well planned activities, they are on show in the hall and although verbal agreement has been discussed with parents, written permission is not in place for the taking and displaying of photographs.

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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 Children's well-being is of high priority with detail of their personal care needs in place. The childminder has the document toolkit provided by the National Childminding Association to ensure all the required paperwork is readily available.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was left with three recommendations. These were to; develop resources that would extend children's understanding of the wider world, to develop a portfolio for the documents relevant to the registration and to ensure the daily attendance register covered all children in her care including those over the age of 8 years.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has extended the resources available to the children to promote their understanding of other cultures and the wider world. A portfolio now holds all the relevant documents with regard to the registration and the attendance register records all 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. 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 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): • continue to develop and update the information for parents and to include written permission for the taking of and display of the photographs of children.

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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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