Avening Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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149619 Unique Reference Number 13 October 2006 Inspection date Sarah Catherine Jex 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 was registered in 1995. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and 12 years in the town of Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor and a small spare bedroom is used for childminding. There is space to the side of the house which is fully enclosed for outside play.

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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 for 10 children of different ages at various times and days. No overnight care is provided. The childminder walks to school to take and collect children. The childminder attends local parent and toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 good. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene from an early age through well organised routines, practice and good role modelling from the childminder. They understand the need to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. The children are protected from infection because the childminder is knowledgeable and informed about their health and employs suitable methods to prevent infections spreading, such as implementing her sick child policy and providing flannels and towels for the children to use. Information is shared with parents relating to any aspect of their child's health and she values and respects parents' wishes. Thorough procedures are in place for recording children's accidents or administering medication and parents countersign the entry. This impacts positively on the children's health and well-being. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and is confident she can deal

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s individual dietary needs are met by the childminder taking into account the parents' wishes with regards to their diet. They are beginning to understand the benefits of a healthy diet. They generally enjoy healthy home cooked meals and snacks. For example, shepherds pie, pasta dishes along with encouraging the children to eat a selection of vegetables and fruit. The childminder provides a variety of fillings to encourage the children to make their own sandwiches, such as cheese, ham, salad and tuna fish. Children are greatly encouraged to try new and different tastes. Children are offered a choice of drinks on a regular basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an appropriate range of physical activities which contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Their health and development is promoted through their participation in a variety of physical activities such as walking to drop off and pick up other children from the local school, visits to the local park, accessing local facilities and playing outside with a variety of toys. For example, footballs, scooters, bikes and skipping ropes. They are developing self-confidence in their small motor skills as they use a range of equipment. For example, building blocks, pencils, size grading cups, puzzles and hammer shapes. Children are able to play, rest, sleep and be active according to their needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in an environment which allows them to be relaxed and generally feel very much at home. There is space to play, explore and move independently and the childminder is alert in her supervision. Potential risks are minimised. For example, by having plug sockets covered, safety glass and a good security procedure in place. However, although the childminder carries out a daily visual risk assessment on the premises, toys and activities to ensure potential risks are identified a detailed assessment would identify any potential hazards due to the amount of clutter around the home. Children learn to keep themselves safe because the childminder has clear rules and sets age appropriate safe limits in order to maintain their safety. For example, being strapped in the buggy when out or holding hands whilst walking. Children have the knowledge of what to do if the need arose to evacuate the house.

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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 have access to a suitable range of toys and equipment and individual needs are mostly met. They are able to freely choose the available resources from storage boxes at child height. Children are encouraged and are beginning to help tidy up when they have finished playing. This helps the children to learn to look after things and to keep themselves and others from tripping up and hurting themselves. Children experience different play environments due to the childminder incorporating outings within the daily routine to the local park and facilities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected by the childminder's generally sound knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and contented as they take part in a range of activities. They have formed good relationships with the childminder that enable them to feel safe and have a good sense of belonging. The childminder is aware of the children's developmental needs and is helping them to develop their personalities by giving them access to a suitable range of developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor activities. There is no evidence of planning activities and this would broaden the children's variety and play opportunities. The childminder is aware of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Children have opportunities to explore and experiment with the resources and activities by the childminder allowing them time and space to do so. For example, children are encouraged to build the size graded stacking cups up and knock them down. This game was played for a while which the children especially enjoyed knocking it down.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder was on hand to offer help, reassurance through role modelling and giving the children simple verbal instructions. The childminder effectively interacts with the children during their play and her kind warm approach encourages the children to respond to her. This helps the children feel relaxed and at ease in their environment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's social and language development is being enhanced by the interaction with the childminder at their own level. They are beginning to develop their communication skills as they attract the attention of the childminder who responds to their sounds and single words during play. For example, when playing with wooden and metal kitchen utensils. The children enjoyed making sounds, gesturing and using single words what to do with them, such as banging the metal whisk around the real life size saucepans and mixing with the wooden spoons, saying 'round and round' when doing the action. The childminder clearly knows the child well as she was able to decipher these gestures and language thus avoiding the child becoming despondent and frustrated, whilst at the same time introducing single words which were imitated by the children. Children have opportunities to socialise with others as they visit friends and enjoy

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

trips in the local community. Outings to the local park are arranged within the daily routine where children benefit from new experiences and can explore new areas of interest, particularly exploring their physical capabilities.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected as individuals and take part in all the activities. Their understanding of others is promoted because the childminder provides them with a balanced view of the wider world. They are able to access a suitable range of resources to promote a positive view of the wider world. For example, by using books, puzzles and through general discussion and being out and about within the local community and visiting friends. Activities are adapted to meet the needs of all the children. The children are known well to the childminder and she is responsive to their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children respond well to the childminder's clear guidance and praise. The childminder employs distraction and time out strategies for children to calm a situation. Children are aware of and accept the realistic boundaries in place and these impact positively on their behaviour. Through gentle discussion and reassurance the children are beginning to understand and appreciate the feelings of others. Children are beginning to know what is expected of them and they are encouraged by having simple explanations when being asked to do something. This has a positive impact on the children's self-esteem, confidence and behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good working relationship with the parents. Children's needs are met through the daily routine as discussed with their parents. The childminder ensures that daily discussion about the care she provides keeps the parents informed about their child's achievement and progress. All relevant documentation regarding the children is in place which contributes to the well-being of the children whilst in her care. Parents are aware of how to make a complaint through the parents' poster which is visibly displayed. However there is no complaints record in place.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder organises her time well to ensure children's needs are met and they receive good levels of attention. Children are relaxed and happy within the environment provided. They benefit from flexible routines which make them feel secure and helps encourage the children's confidence and independence. Children are able to play, eat, sleep and rest as they need to. Children are happy and confident when initiating their own play and exploration activities and when sharing these with others, they seek adult support when needed.

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Organisation

The childminder's practice and procedures effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Verbal information is provided regularly about their child's progress and achievements. Some written procedures are in place and are shared with the parents to inform them of the service she provides. This contributes to a trusting relationship which impacts positively on the children.

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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 agreed to complete the following recommendations set. They were to: practise the emergency escape plan, make sure that low-level glass panels are safe or inaccessible and make sure that smoke alarms are maintained in working condition.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder stated she has completed all her recommendations by ensuring that the written emergency escape plan is practised on a termly basis. However, no evidence of this has been documented. All of the low level glass in the panelled doors has been changed to safety glass and the smoke alarms are regularly checked to ensure they are in good working order, again there is no written evidence of this.

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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. 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): • conduct a formal risk assessment to ensure all areas of risk are identified and minimised, with regard to the clutter around the house • extend current practice by demonstrating that activities and play opportunities are planned and evaluated • keep a record of complaints relating to the National Standards and any action taken.

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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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