Park Community School

Matheson Helen Elizabeth Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

116473 Unique Reference Number 20 March 2007 Inspection date Keriann Belcher Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since October 1997. She lives with her three children aged seven, nine and 13 years. They live in an end of terrace cottage in Amersham close to local amenities. All areas of the property are used for childminding. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding five children at various times.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have cat and a hamster.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends a local carer and toddler group on a regular basis. She has a National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) qualification.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children remain healthy as they play within a clean home setting. They are protected from illness and infection by the childminder who has a sickness policy to support her practice.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Appropriate procedures are in place for the disposal of nappies and all medication administered to children is recorded with all necessary detail. Children receive appropriate care if they have minor accidents and the childminder maintains detailed records of any accidents.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are met in consultation with parents. They enjoy healthy snacks, such as fruit and semi-sweet biscuits. The childminder provides children with a variety of nutritious meals to meet their individual needs. Children are encouraged to learn good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands at appropriate times and brushing their teeth after breakfast.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to develop healthy bodies. They are taken out daily in the fresh air and move freely and confidently around the childminding areas.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder's home is friendly and welcoming for children. Children use all available space well; they access the toys and equipment with ease. There is a range of suitable and well- maintained furniture readily available to meet the children's needs. The childminder gives high priority to checking the toys to ensure they remain safe for the children to use.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well-supervised and cannot leave the premises unattended. She has devised a detailed fire evacuation plan. However, this has not been practised with the children to ensure that they are familiar with the procedure in the event of an emergency. Older children learn the rules for their own safety and that of others through the setting of clear boundaries and the input of the childminder. For example, she talks to children about the need to pick up toys that they have finished playing with, as people may fall over and injure themselves.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder understands her role with regard to child protection and holds relevant literature on file for reference.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have lots of fun and they play enthusiastically with a good range of toys and resources. For example, children enjoy craft activities, construction materials, musical instruments and dressing-up clothes. The childminder has a good understanding of how to support children's learning and sensitively steps back, when appropriate, to allow them independence in play. For example, they revel in the freedom to explore different musical instruments and the sounds they make. Children are making good progress in all areas of their development. This is because the childminder has a very good understanding of how children learn and develop in a supportive and stimulating environment, as she spends much of her time sitting on the floor, playing and talking with them. The childminder helps develop children's language skills by chatting freely to them, asking relevant questions that extend older children's thinking and responding to

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing good hand eye co-ordination as they complete inset puzzles and younger children post shapes into a sorting box.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have the opportunity to socialise with others through regular attendance at a local toddler group. They also benefit from outings to 'Snakes and Ladders' activity gym and musical song time groups to broaden their play experiences.

p.3

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

p.3

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are treated with equal concern by the childminder who ensures they can all access activities at their own level with appropriate and sensitive support. Children benefit as she promotes a positive attitude to inclusion. Children develop in self-esteem as a result of the praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder. They show a sense of responsibility as they help tidy away resources together and play amicably together as they share resources, such as construction materials. Children have good relationships with the childminder and behave very well in her care. They are encouraged to have good manners, such as saying 'please' and 'thank-you'.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder's positive partnership with parents which ensures their individual needs are met. However, parents receive only verbal information on their children's developmental progress. The childminder provides parents with good written details about her childminding service.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well-cared for and supported as the childminder makes good use of space to meet children's individual needs to sleep and keep noise to a minimum if necessary. Overall, the childminder takes steps to reduce hazards both inside and outdoors, but the fire evacuation procedure is not practised which does not ensure children know how to escape from the premises in the event of an emergency.

p.4

Organisation

The childminder has in place the required documentation, which includes policies and procedures which are used effectively and help contribute to children's safety and overall welfare. These are stored securely and made available for inspection. For example, the accident book, register and children's details are kept confidentially. However, significant information about individual children's development is not recorded to promote their welfare.

p.4

Organisation

The provider remains suitably qualified to register. Children benefit from the providers desire to enhance her skills and knowledge of childcare, such as attending learning difficulties and/or disabilities training.

p.4

Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) procedures. The childminder has obtained and read the relevant guidelines and now has sufficient understanding of her responsibilities to safeguard children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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

p.4

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.5

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): • practise the fire evacuation procedure • improve procedures for sharing information on children's developmental progress.

p.5

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

p.5

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

p.5