Ripley Junior School

Inspection report for early years provision

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112611 Unique Reference Number 26 June 2006 Inspection date Jan Burnet 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 has been registered since 2000. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and seven years in a residential area of Rugby, approximately three miles from the town centre. The whole house, except for a first floor office, is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play at the rear of the house.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding five children under five years, all on a part-time basis and six school age children, four of them aged under eight years. She walks to a local school to take and collect children. The family has a rabbit and a guinea pig.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties. She holds an early years qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 outstanding. Children's good health is assured because the childminder's cleaning and food hygiene routines are very thorough and because children are aware of excellent personal hygiene practice. The risk of cross infection is minimal because parents are fully aware that their child should not attend if he or she has a contagious illness or sickness and diarrhoea and that they will be contacted if the child becomes ill. Children's best interests are comprehensively served in case of accidents because the childminder ensures that her first aid certificate is always in date.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's good health benefits enormously as they learn about the importance of nutritious food and exercise. They have followed a Jamie Oliver program and the older children learned about bones and calcium. All children learn about foods that keep them strong and healthy and the benefits and effect of exercise. At the beginning of the year they all measured themselves and are now tracking their own growth with more measurements. They used lengths of wallpaper to lie down on and draw round each others' bodies and then cut out nutritious food and exercise equipment to stick inside and around their bodies. They enjoy cooking sessions and children with eating problems have begun to include a greater variety of foods because they have helped with the preparation of meals, for example, cutting up fruit, making pancakes and making their own sandwiches. The childminder has organised tasting sessions using blindfolds and children competed with each other to guess the food. Over a period of a

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Helping children to be healthy

few weeks all children began eating at least one thing that previously they would not try. Children’s individual dietary needs are comprehensively met and the childminder ensures that food is stored in a fridge operating at the correct temperature so that there is no risk to children from unsafe food.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have excellent opportunities to develop skills and confidence with regular use of exciting equipment at home, at the local park and a soft play centre. Children's emotional well-being is given an extremely high priority and they are happy and confident in a very friendly and welcoming environment. The childminder meets the child and parent before care begins and requests a gradual introduction so that the child is able to settle and feel secure. Parents are asked to leave something that belongs to them with the child so that the child is sure the parent will return and parents are asked to bring in photos or a bag of comfort toys. Parents aware that the childminder will contact them if the child is distressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are able to move around the ground floor of the childminder's home freely and safely as all potential hazards have been identified and comprehensively addressed. Their different needs are thoroughly met in extremely well-organised space as one room is a designated children's room and has adjacent toilet facilities, the kitchen is used for messy activities, there is a large table for use in the dining room and the lounge is used for quiet activities. Older children are able to use two of the first floor bedrooms for play and other bedrooms are used for sleeping children. The excellent organisation of storage encourages children's independence

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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 and examples of children's 'work' decorates the playroom. Children use an outstanding range of stage-appropriate, safe, high quality resources and equipment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks to children are minimal because, as a result of the childminder's robust procedures, they play in a very safe environment and learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, road safety and why holding hands or holding on to the buggy is important, the danger of fire and the danger of some insects and animals. The childminder is alert to her responsibilities with regard to supervision. Young children are constantly supervised and the childminder ensures that she can always hear older children when they play in different rooms and that they are aware of behaviour expectations. She has identified and comprehensively addressed potential hazards inside the home and in the garden and security is given a very high priority. The children are fully aware of procedures in case evacuation is necessary because the childminder has superior precautions in place and the fire drill is regularly practised. The childminder regularly

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

reviews risk assessments as the needs of children change.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is excellently safeguarded because the childminder has a working knowledge of the signs of abuse and neglect. She has attended child protection training courses and has worked in cooperation with the local social services department to support children and families. She is fully aware of her responsibilities with regard to local referral procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy, interact and learn from an extensive range of resources and activities provided by the childminder. She constantly offers excellent support and encourages children to extend their learning. Children are happy, settled and sociable and the childminder is pro-active in enabling children to become independent learners. Children benefit enormously from the childminder's knowledge of child development and the 'Birth to three matters' framework. They are learning and developing as a result of consistently stimulating and challenging experiences. Routines are extremely good and include activities inside and outside the home. During a half-term week children make their role play area into a travel agency and bring in holiday photographs or pictures of places they have been. The childminder provides brochures, posters and pens and paper and children decide where they would like to go. They make

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

passports, pictures of themselves and older children write in their dates of birth. They look at a map of the world and discuss different countries and cultures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's learning benefits enormously from trips and outings. Whilst undertaking a knights theme during one school holiday they visit Rockingham Castle, for a space theme they visit the Space Centre and they make their own space ship and look at planets. They go strawberry picking and visit the local lorry park and farm park and soft play centres. Children visit a local library for story time and to select their own books and develop social skills at stay and play sessions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses her extensive knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to write comprehensive records on children's development. Headings identify a component and focus area, development observations, effective practise, play and practical support and what to plan next. Children count and they are developing a knowledge of addition and subtraction

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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 early reading and writing skills. They explore and investigate, play creatively and are developing an excellent understanding of good health and exercise with regular use of superior equipment. Children choose from a plentiful amount of high quality resources that are suitable for all different stages of development. Children's self-esteem is given an extremely high priority and relationships are excellent. The childminder supports and encourages but also inspires children to become independent.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children’s individual needs are fully known and comprehensively addressed by the childminder. They benefit from excellent communication between the childminder and parents that ensures consistency of care. Admission forms are very thorough and children's achievements are recorded and shared with parents. If parents do not have time to talk at the end of the child's day, they are invited to contact the childminder later in the evening between 19:00 and 20:00 and meet at the childminder's home if they wish to do so. Children's emotional security is addressed comprehensively and begins with a gradual introduction for each child. Valuable information for parents on the childminder's service is contained in a folder that she shares with all parents and includes information on activities, menus, training information and policies and procedures.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are gaining an excellent understanding of diversity. They choose from a very good range of books and toys that reflect positive images and the childminder is pro-active in ensuring that they learn to appreciate and value each others’ similarities and differences, for example, children celebrate a range of festivals during the year and they recently compared a Hindu and a Christian wedding ceremony. The childminder has outstanding knowledge and experience of providing for children with special needs. She works part-time in a primary school and recently completed a teaching assistant training course on autism, she has completed courses on cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome and has attended sign language training. She ensures that all children are valued, included and challenged effectively and that parents are supported sensitively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A comprehensive behaviour policy drawn up by the childminder states that children need a safe environment in which to develop and understand their social and emotional skills. It identifies the benefits of praise and encouragement in managing behaviour and that the childminder ensures that she is a positive role model. Any incidents would be dealt with in a calm and controlled manner, never raising the voice and an explanation given. The child is always listened to and is helped to calm down if angry or upset. The child's self-esteem is always addressed. The childminder attended 'Promoting positive behaviour' training in 2004.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's individual needs are supported excellently in a very welcoming, child-centred environment. Their care is significantly enhanced by the superb organisation of the childminder's home. Space and routines are very well organised and the range of available activities and plentiful resources ensures a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere. Play space is organised to inspire

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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 and encourage children to enjoy and independently select resources. The childminder holds an early years qualification and makes effective use of this and her knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Her outstanding practice comprehensively promotes children's safety, health, enjoyment and achievement.

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Organisation

All legally required documentation is in place and is well maintained. The outstanding partnership with parents is enhanced by policies given to all on admissions, equal opportunities, behaviour management, confidentiality, medicine, incidents and emergency evacuation. Parents are asked to sign to say that they have read all policies. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to improving her knowledge and skills as she regularly attends training. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that all accidents are recorded and that written permission is obtained from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. Children's best interests are served because both of these recommendations have been addressed.

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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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