Riverside Community Special School

Inspection report for early years provision

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116600 Unique Reference Number 30 January 2007 Inspection date Susan Mary Deadman 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 has been registered since 1993. She lives with her husband and their four children who are between 10 and 20 years of age. The family live in a house in Loudwater, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The whole of the ground floor area of the property is used for childminding. There is a rear garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at anyone time. She currently cares for nine children, of whom six, are under the age of eight years. All children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder takes children to and collects them from Loudwater School and Crown House School. Her husband, occasionally assists with the care of children when required.

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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 have a good understanding of the ways to keep themselves healthy. For example, they are familiar with the routine of washing their hands before main meals. Effective procedures followed by the childminder protect children from the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is organised to deal competently with accidents, which maintains children's well being. Medication records show the basic details and parents provide their written permission.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder enhances children's general well being, by offering them a balanced diet. She shares with parents, the menu of healthy food options. These include chilli, lasagne, jacket potatoes, vegetables, fresh fruit and regular drinks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have fun in the large garden. They have plenty of scope to run around, play football and swim in the large pool. The regular access to a good range of physical play opportunities promotes children's physical development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children make choices from a safe range of toys and play materials. They have a good amount of space for all types of play. Older children benefit from a separate playroom, where they use the play station and have room for other age appropriate activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder takes generally good safety precautions, therefore minimising the risk of accidents within the house. Children's very clear understanding of fire safety promotes their welfare. The childminder takes basic measures to protect children from hazards in the garden. For example, she places a stair gate at the side of the house to prevent children's access to the front gate. The childminder supervises children at all times during planned water activities. However, the medium height fence and gate across the grass area, does not provide a highly effective deterrent and offers minimal protection from the hazards of unsupervised access to the large swimming pool, which compromises children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder safeguards children's welfare as she has a clear understanding of her role and responsibility in relation to child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children make very good progress in their development as the childminder, puts much effort into extending their interests and learning. For example, she supports children’s imagination by interacting during role-play. Children use everyday activities such as cake baking, to enhance their understanding of numbers, as they count and weigh cookery items.

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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 Younger children are able to write some letters and words. The childminder encourages this as she provides record books for children to write in. Children are happy and confident in the setting and enjoy the suitable range of activities that are accessible to them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from the wide variety of interesting outings. They are able to recall their favourite, Warwick Castle. Other outings include Beconscot Model Village, Chiltern Sculpture trail and The London Museum. Children enjoy sharing the photographs the childminder takes during the visits.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder meets children’s individual needs by giving them a high amount of quality time and attention. She promotes their emotional security exceptionally well. Children are motivated to sustain interest in the play activities. Children are confident and comfortable in the childminders home. They relate well to each other. The childminder enhances children’s positive self-esteem and provides warm interaction and care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well and play cooperatively together. The childminder manages age appropriate disputes in a sensitive manner, which supports children's understanding of right and wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is exceedingly strong. Effective systems of communication between the childminder and parents benefit children. For example, the childminder supports the bond between parents who work away from home and their very young children. Diaries, warmly narrated by the childminder, contain children’s creative masterpieces, hand and foot prints and much detailed information about how their child is progressing.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of caring for children, which meets their welfare, care and developmental needs. Children's overall care is enhanced by the flexibility of the childminder, which enables continuity of care for children during extended hours. There is a good amount of relevant information on display to parents.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder's commitment to attend additional training. The childminder has a good awareness of the complaints procedure. Effective procedures are in place to accommodate the accurate recording of any complaints she may have in the future. The childminder has clear recording systems in place to ensure that she adheres to parents' wishes. For example, she has written permission for emergency medical treatment, car travel and outings.

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Organisation

Records are generally very well maintained. However, although the childminder records children attendance, the record does not include occasions when her assistant cares for the children. The childminder has breached regulations, as she did not notify Ofsted of a significant injury to a child in whilst her care. However, records show that the childminder acted appropriately

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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 and in the best interests of the child after the accidental injury. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to update her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, retain records in a confidential manner and ensure the garden is secure.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has a clear understanding of the various types of abuse and the possible indicators. She has the contact details for the relevant social services department. Effective systems in place support children's welfare.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder now stores children's records securely upstairs. However, as records contain information relating to more than one child on a page they are not confidential as parent can view the information when they sign a record.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the previous inspection, the childminder places a stair gate at the side of her premises, which deters children's access to the front gate. The safety of children in relation to the large pool is reflected within the report.

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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.

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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): • extend children's safety and have robust safety precautions in place to ensure children do not gain unsupervised access to the swimming pool • review the procedure for recording accidents and medication to maintain confidentiality

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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 • review the procedures for recording children's attendance and ensure the record contains the names of the persons who looked after them • ensure Ofsted are informed, as soon as possible, of any significant events.

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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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