The Skegness Seathorne Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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120476 Unique Reference Number 09 March 2007 Inspection date Catherine Hill 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 good. 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 1992. She lives with her husband and two adult children in a modern detached property on a residential road in Lightwater, Surrey. The ground floor of the home is used for play with an upstairs bedroom used for sleep only. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five years, one of whom is full-time, and two children over five after school hours.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children keep healthy as they play within a clean home environment and they enjoy the benefits of daily exercise in the fresh air. For example, they walk to local schools, to feed the ducks,

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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 and to the park. The childminder also takes children to indoor play areas where they have opportunities to develop their physical skills. They develop an understanding of a healthy lifestyle as they eat a varied, balanced diet at the childminder's, although they do not wash their hands before eating their lunch. The childminder has a good understanding of children's likes and dislikes with regard to food and sits with the children at lunch time. Children receive appropriate care if they have accidents as the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and she keeps records of accidents and medication administered, although a little detail is missing from some medication records. The childminder has written policies to support her practice in keeping children healthy, including a sick child policy to ensure children are protected

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are totally at ease within the familiar surroundings of the childminder's home. They move freely and safely around the minding environment. For example, they sit together and share books in the dedicated playroom and move to the dining table for lunch and colouring activities. The home is warm, welcoming and child orientated with an excellent range of age appropriate resources easily accessible to children. Children are interested in activities and the childminder ensures she has sufficient resources so all children can join in. Children keep safe within the childminder's care as she identified and minimised most hazards. For example, a safety gate is in place and there are safety catches on cupboards housing hazardous materials, although the childminder has yet to move low level bottles in the dining room out of children's reach. Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder understands her role with regard

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to child protection. She has a written policy to support her practice and maintains supporting literature on file.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children relax and have fun as they play and learn together. They receive good levels of support from the childminder who takes a genuine interest in what they say and do as she sits with them whilst they draw and colour. Children develop their conversational skills as the childminder talks to them about shared memories of outings they have been on together. They absorb themselves in craft activities and the childminder extends their learning by asking them questions to make them think. The childminder has a good understanding of when to support children and when to step back and allow children independence in their play. For example, children enjoy the opportunity to snuggle next to each other on the sofa in the playroom as they happily share books together. Children show enthusiasm as the childminder encourages them to choose what they would like to do and they eagerly go to select from a range of sticker books to make

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

pictures. They recognise and name different shapes they see on the stickers and the childminder reinforces their awareness of written numbers on the sticker sheets. Children have good opportunities to develop their social skills and knowledge of the wider world as they are taken out regularly by the childminder, for example, to toddler groups.

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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 good. Children have excellent relationships with the childminder and one another. The childminder treats all children with equal concern and ensures they are all happy and occupied. She acts as a positive role model with regard to manners and behaviour and children, as a result, behave very well whilst in her care. They are polite and play well together. They understand that some resources have to be shared and learn to negotiate with each other over who, for example, uses sticky tape first to help make a paper hat. They are confident and have good self-esteem as a result of the praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder. The childminder ensures children receive support as appropriate to their age and stage of development and is kind and caring towards all children. For example, very young children are talked to gently and given lots of cuddles after waking from their nap until they are fully alert and ready to play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has established positive relationships with parents. She shares detailed written information with them about her practice and parents receive written and verbal feedback about their child.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and have good opportunities to develop in all skill areas. The childminder is generally very well organised and has a comprehensive set of policies to support her practice which she shares with parents. Children are safe within the childminder's care as they are well supervised, however, the childminder has yet to ensure all members of her household have been vetted. The childminder organises her time and resources well to meet individual children's needs and is kind and caring towards all children. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the previous inspection the provider has addressed recommendations made which related to resources, health and partnership with parents. Resources available to children have increased to ensure they are appropriate for the ages minded and reflect diversity. All accidents and any existing injuries are appropriately recorded and written parental consent has been obtained for emergency medical advice or treatment, outings and named collectors. The childminder has yet to address a recommendation made regarding the suitability of other adults in the home and this is carried forward to be addressed.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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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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 good. 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): • improve hygiene procedures by ensuring children consistently wash their hands before eating and ensure medication records are maintained with parental signatures showing consent for, and acknowledgement of, medication • improve the existing good safety procedures by ensuring children cannot access low level bottles • improve practice by ensuring all household members complete a Criminal Records Bureau check.

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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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