Roselands Infants' School

Inspection report for early years provision

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114459 Unique Reference Number 25 January 2007 Inspection date Rosemary Musgrove 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 was registered in 1996. She lives with her husband and two children in Southwater, West Sussex. The whole of the ground floor of the property 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 six children at any one time. She is currently minding seven children on a part-time basis. She is registered to provide overnight care.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives within walking distance of local schools, parks and other amenities. The family has two dogs and a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 good. Children play in a clean environment and the childminder has a food hygiene certificate. From an early age, children learn the importance of washing their hands before snacks and meals and after visiting the toilet. The childminder has good procedures in place to ensure that children are protected from health issues caused by pets. For example, the pets are not near the children when they are eating or sleeping and they have regular treatment for the prevention of worms and flees.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and can administer first aid in the event of an accident. If children have an infectious disease they do not attend if other minded children are present; this ensures that unwanted contagious diseases are not spread. The childminder maintains clear detailed records for injuries, accidents and the administration of medicines.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks and meals. Nutritious home cooked evening meals include roast chicken with vegetables and tuna pasta. Desserts are varied, such as yoghurts, ice cream or banana custard. Each morning children have a healthy fruit snack and fresh water. If they are hungry or thirsty, the childminder responds to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. This means they get plenty of fresh air and are beginning to develop a healthy life style. They go on regular walks in the woods behind the childminder's house and visit the local park to play a game of football. The childminder has a large grassy garden and the children enjoy the ride on vehicles and splashing around in the paddling pool during the summer months.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming house that offers a home from home environment. There is plenty of well organised, clear space for the minded children, both indoors and outside. They confidently and independently move around in order to play or select their own resources. Children have access to a good range of quality toys and activities that are appropriate to their age. These include an impressive selection of wooden puzzles, interactive toddler equipment, lego and a range of creative resources.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are looked after in a safe and secure environment. The childminder has a number of safety measures in her house to protect children from harm. These include cupboard door locks, smoke alarms and a fire blanket. The childminder has a place of safety for children to go to, in the event of an emergency. Before children arrive, the childminder carries out a number of checks in her house. For example, she checks that socket covers are in place and that the garden gates are padlocked. This means her property is safe for young children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has good procedures for keeping children safe on outings. These include carrying a first aid kit in her car, wearing an orange tabard, using parks that are fenced in and

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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 constantly supervising the children. However, the childminder has not requested written parental consent for transporting children in her car.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected and cared for by a childminder who has attended training and has a knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. However, she is not fully aware of the current procedures to follow if she had concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well and make themselves at home in the childminder's house. They benefit from a warm and caring relationship with the childminder. This means they are motivated to select resources and take part in meaningful activities. They enjoy a good balance of child led and adult initiated activities. For example, they choose to play together with the indoor tent and love wriggling through the tunnel. With the childminder, they are keen to complete wooden jigsaw puzzles or do art activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder really encourages the development of the children's language and vocabulary skills. As they browse good quality books, she encourages them to share their own family experiences and she values all their contributions. She always responds positively to their baby talk and genuinely appreciates their attempts at new words and phrases. Young children begin to develop a love for stories as they explore and stroke the soft textures in the touch and feel books.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder helps children with many early learning skills. While doing puzzles she talks about the names and characteristics of the different animals. When browsing books children are encouraged to independently turn the pages, count objects and learn the colours.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in a range of art and creative activities. These include drawing pictures with felt tip pens, moulding play dough or doing cooking activities. The childminder and the children spend a lot of their time enjoying the outside environment. For example, in the recent snowy weather they built a snowman. Children enjoy a variety of imaginary and role play activities, such as dressing up, and playing with the interactive play food and kitchen. In the spring, they go for a walk to the nearby woods and collect bluebells. During the school holidays, children go on many trips in the local environment and further away. These include Tilgate Park, Fisher's Farm and the beach.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a real interest and understanding of the needs of individual children. For example, she knows when they are teething. She knows their preferences and tries to ensure that their needs are met. She has a good understanding of diversity and aims to give children a balanced view of the world in which they live. Her resources help children to learn about different people. These include puzzles showing people with disabilities and from a variety of cultures. During Chinese New Year the children make dragons from small straws and during

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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 the Indian festival of Diwali, they create different patterns. They find out about the local community when they visit the farmer's market to buy vegetables or go to the local library.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of children with specific needs through her work in a day nursery. She has cared for a child with a sight disability and other children with differing medical conditions. She teaches some of the older children sign language. This means they become aware of the needs of other people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a written behaviour management statement. She gives a copy of this to all parents. She uses appropriate strategies with children. These include consistency, withdrawal from the situation and clear explanations why certain behaviour is not acceptable. The childminder is very positive with the children and continually praises their efforts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses child record forms to gather relevant information before she starts caring for the children. Parents receive a copy of the childminder's statements and these include equal opportunities and her complaints procedure. Verbal or written communication takes place everyday. For example, young children have a two way diary that gives details of sleeps, nappies, activities, food and drinks. This means that parents know about their child's day.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a childminder who has many years experience and is a qualified nursery nurse. This means children feel at home, are absorbed in a range of worthwhile activities and can select and choose from many suitable resources. The childminder has attended a number of training courses and these include 'Birth to three matters' and art and craft for childminders.

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Organisation

The childminder's home offers plenty of space and enough adult attention to help the children feel secure and settled. This means they are confident to initiate their own play, yet also receive support and guidance from the childminder.

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Organisation

The childminder has some of the required documentation in place, for example, the record of attendance. However, she has not revised her complaints procedure to include the log of parental complaints and not all members of the household have completed suitable checks. Some documentation is not organised or accessible in the event of an emergency, such as, written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment.

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Organisation

Written or verbal information about a child's day is shared with parents on a regular basis. This contributes to and enhances the continuity of the children's care.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements 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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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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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): • ensure all checks are completed for all household members over the age of 16 years • ensure all aspects of record keeping are in place and well organised, such as the complaints procedure and appropriate parental permissions • update knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures.

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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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