Swaylands School

Inspection report for early years provision

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126740 Unique Reference Number 08 January 2007 Inspection date Annie Williams 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 1999. She lives with her husband and three children in Broadstairs, Kent. 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five during the day, and three children over five before school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a dog and a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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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 clean environment where they learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle such as, the provision of healthy snacks, meals, regular drinks and exercise. Any special dietary requirements are recorded to enable the childminder to provide for the children according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about the importance of personal hygiene through the routine of hand washing after visiting the toilet. However, they are not introduced to the importance of hand washing before snack time, meals and after nappy changes. Nappies are disposed of hygienically and promptly and the childminder applies effective hygiene procedures because she washes her hands after changes. However, children are changed directly on the carpet which is not quickly and easily sanitizable.

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Helping children to be healthy

Up to date first aid training, a sick child policy and individual medical information enables the childminder to act in the best interest of children in the event of an accident or illness. All the required documentation and permissions pertaining to medication and accidents are in place to keep parents informed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children walk each day to school and enjoy play in the garden. At the moment the garden is under development so the childminder compensates by taking children to the local park to ensure that they receive regular exercise to keep them healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy regular outings with the childminder who applies safe procedures such as, the use of restraints, the provision of a first aid box and the accessibility of a mobile phone containing emergency contact numbers. The premises are safe and secure because the childminder ensures any potential hazards are minimised, for example, there is a stair gate in place and locks on cupboards. Smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide detector and a fire blanket further contribute to children's safety. Effective procedures for the arrival and collection of children ensure that children are only collected by authorised adults.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A clear understanding of the recommendations for sleeping babies and a sound knowledge of child protection helps to safeguard children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled in the care of the childminder. They enjoy sitting together and sharing books such as 'Woof' and join in by making different noises of the animals. Counting is a regular feature of the routine, for example, children count the number of different pictures and the bricks as they build.

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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 There is a range of toys and equipment to meet the developmental needs of the children and these are rotated by the childminder to add variety to children's play experiences. However, toys are not always organised and presented attractively because they are stored together in toy boxes and sometimes prove difficult to find.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy planned activities with the childminder such as baking. Paints and dough are introduced usually about once a week and children really enjoy helping to make the dough. Some activities provided for the children are less challenging such as, puzzles, but adaptations are sensitively made for children to enable them to join in, for example, by providing gloves to those children who do not like getting their hands dirty when painting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Together children build towers with large bricks and laugh out loud as the towers crash to the floor. Activities to enable children to explore and investigate such as, sand and water are available but tend to be in the summer. Children are involved in growing projects by helping the childminder care for the strawberries, lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes and particularly like eating them afterwards.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are settled and secure in the childminder's care. They respond happily to the childminder's gentle reminders of right and wrong and are well behaved. Children learn to take care of the environment indoors through tidy up time and outdoors by helping to tend to the plants. They find out about the local and wider world through visits out into the community such as the park, the beach and indoor play centres. Children talk about their home and family with the childminder such as, trips to the theatre at the weekend.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's personal cultures are successfully acknowledged by the childminder who finds out about children from their parents. Children learn about the differences in our society through discussion and some books but overall there are limited resources that reflect positive images of ethnicity, culture and disability. Children with learning difficulties or disability are welcomed into the setting and the childminder is clear of where to find information to support their needs if necessary.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. Parents are well informed by the childminder who has produced a range of written policies to support her service. Contracts detail business arrangements and permissions are obtained for relevant aspects of the service. Consequently, the childminder is able to respect the wishes of parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is able to show that she and her husband have undergone checks to establish their suitability, but relevant checks for her daughter are not yet processed. The certificate is available to inform parents of conditions related to registration, but this is not yet prominently displayed. With the exception of the attendance register all the required documentation for

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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 the safe and efficient management of the setting and for the welfare and care of children is maintained, confidential and stored securely.

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Organisation

The daily routine is balanced to include active times, quiet times, outings, meals and rest. Consequently, children are secure and settled. Overall the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection, two recommendations and one action was made relating to documentation. With the exception of the attendance register all the required documentation for the safe and efficient management of the setting is maintained correctly, contributing to the welfare and care of children.

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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.

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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 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): • consider introducing regular hand washing procedures and an easily sanitizable surface for nappy changes • organise and present the toys more attractively to enable children to access them easily and ensure more able children are provided with sufficient challenge • ensure the attendance register contains a record of all children and their times of arrival and departure.

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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 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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