Timothy Hackworth Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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114113 Unique Reference Number 13 December 2006 Inspection date Susan McCourt 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 1994. Childminding takes place from the family home which she shares with her husband and three children, two of whom are over 16 years old. The childminder is registered for six children where two can be aged under one. She currently has nine children on roll. The property is a semi-detached house situated in a quiet road in the West Green area of Crawley. The whole of the ground floor is available to minded children. There is a medium sized garden to the rear of the property which is secure. Toilet facilities are located on the ground floor.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has one cat and one guinea pig. The childminder is a member of the NCMA and has extensive qualifications in childcare 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 outstanding. Children play in a clean environment. The childminder maintains her home to a high standard, ensuring that all play areas are clean and tidy. Supplies of gloves, wipes and anti-bacterial spray are close at hand so that nappy-changing can be done quickly and hygienically, minimising the risk of cross-infection. Children learn excellent personal hygiene routines and can reach the liquid soap and towels easily, increasing their independence. The childminder explains to children in simple terms why it is important to be clean, and children understand the link between germs and being ill. Accidents and medication forms are correctly filled out and parents receive a copy of the report. The childminder is a qualified and experienced chef who has updated her knowledge with a recent food hygiene course as well as being registered with Environmental Health. She provides a healthy, balanced diet for the children in her care and ensures their

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Helping children to be healthy

interest by asking what they would like. Children on special diets or those with allergies are catered for, and children take part in food preparation in regular cooking activities, sometimes using the food they have grown in the garden. This ensures that children know where food comes from, as well as helping them gain new skills and independence. Meals are sociable occasions, with the children and childminder sitting down and eating together, chatting in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has created a warm and comfortable home from home, where minded children are welcomed as one of the family. Rooms are organised for the children's benefit with low pegs, shoe racks and bright posters, as well as cosy, child-friendly places to play or relax. All the storage is given over to toys and play equipment with children having easy access to games, activities and craft materials. These include a good selection of natural materials and heuristic play objects. Children help to keep the areas tidy by putting things away when they have finished with them. The garden is well-equipped with a wide variety of play equipment, providing an extra play space in most weather. Children benefit from an extensive range of play equipment which is easily accessible to them and meets their interests as well as their developmental needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a high regard for children's safety and maintains her home to a high standard. Children are always within sight and sound of the childminder and all exits are secure. All hazardous materials are stored out of reach and the childminder ensures that children can play safely by securing safety gates where appropriate. The pond is securely fenced. The childminder has had a recent fire safety visit to ensure all precautions are in place. Parents are made aware of the evacuation procedures and of the emergency arrangements. Children can take certain risks in their play where it aids their development; for example, the childminder will help children learning to climb stairs by staying close by while ensuring their independence and confidence. On outings, the childminder ensures all children have identity bracelets with contact details and ensures that they are always by her side. The childminder updates her child

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

protection training regularly and is aware that safeguarding children's welfare is of paramount

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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 importance. She keeps written guidance at hand to update her knowledge and awareness and acts as a mentor to other childminders on the subject.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder is highly qualified and experienced and children flourish in her care. Children have time to settle in and the childminder enjoys getting to know their individual personalities and characters, as well as taking time to ensure that children get to know each other too. When children arrive, they settle quickly to play, choosing activities and chatting with the childminder about what they have been doing. The routine is organised around children's needs with regular breaks for meals and snacks. Children have free choice about what they play within their time and the childminder is always on hand to play alongside. The childminder is skilled at maintaining children's interest and in bringing out the learning without losing all that is fun in free play. For example, when a child has finished a puzzle, the childminder talks with the child about the picture; asking questions and following the child's lead in copying the faces or naming the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

characters. Building a tower of blocks soon leads to comparisons of height. The childminder's interaction helps the children to extend their play as well as challenging their thinking, so their intellectual and creative development is fostered well. Children go on outings to local amenities as well as to London museums and the beach. The childminder makes observations of children's growth and development using the Birth to three matters guidance and the Foundation Stage, which helps her to ensure that activities and routines meet the children's needs exactly, maximising their learning and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has a written policy which describes her commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities for all children and families, and this underpins her positive approach in her day to day interaction with the children in her care. Children are treated as individuals and because the childminder knows the children well, she can bring out their strengths and develop their self-esteem accordingly. The childminder has experience of caring for children with a range of learning difficulties and uses observation charts to excellent effect when assessing their abilities and helping them to develop at what is very much their own pace. She uses sign language to support communication with all children, and sees their confidence build as a result. The childminder is particularly skilled at helping the children to understand one another, building their friendships and their understanding of their differences at the same

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. They enjoy an excellent quality of attention when in the childminder's care and only need simple reminders to manage their own behaviour. Children learn to take turns and share, and they co-operate in their play. The childminder helps them to negotiate with each other and build their skills in reaching agreements over toys and equipment. She also knows the children well enough to know who is able to sort out their own dispute, and when someone may need a little support. In this way, children gain confidence in their abilities and show pride in their achievements.

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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 Parents are given excellent opportunities to get to know every aspect of the childminder's work. They take home their own copy of a handbook which includes all the policies that guide the childminder's practice. The childminder ensures that parents and children are happy and confident with her care before the child starts, and continues the level of detail by providing written records of the child's day, as well as verbal handovers. The childminder maintains friendly relationships with parents and they describe her as being part of their extended family.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. The childminder has two qualifications in childcare and early education to level three, and has also achieved a level three in Quality First, the National Childminding Association's own quality assurance scheme. The childminder takes a very professional approach to her career in terms of her commitment to staying up to date with best practice, while retaining all that is good in traditional homely childminding. Her husband is also a registered childminder and he acts as her assistant on occasional days through the year with some sole care. They work together effectively to ensure that the children get the best of attention and the home is well organised to ensure that children have the best balance of independence and support. The childminder maintains her records and procedures in line with current regulations and maintains

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Organisation

confidentiality. She ensures that all adults in the house have been through the vetting procedures and keeps Ofsted informed of any changes.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, a recommendation was made to obtain consent from parents to seek emergency medical treatment. This has now been done, which safeguards children's well-being.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted which required Ofsted or the provider 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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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 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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