Christopher Rawlins Church of England Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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147716 Unique Reference Number 20 March 2007 Inspection date Kim Mundy 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 1998. She lives with her husband, adult daughter, two teenage children and her grandson in Wealdstone in Middlesex. The ground floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a dog.

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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 and is currently minding three children under five years and one child over five years. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group. 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 good. Children's health and welfare is promoted well. They are learning good hygiene practices as they wash their hands before eating and after toileting. Children are protected from unnecessary illness and good procedures are in place for accidents and medication. During the summer months, children are able to play safely outdoors as they are fully protected from the sun.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have lots of good opportunities to develop their physical skills as they play in the ball pool, slide, swing, and steer wheeled toys. They enjoy outings to the park, pre-school groups and play gym where they experience a wider range of physical activities.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy relaxed and sociable meal times as they all sit together to eat at the child-size table and chairs. Parents generally provide their own children's meals, although this is negotiable. The childminder plans her menu in advance to include healthy choices, for example, salmon and new potatoes. She also provides snacks such as fresh fruit. Drinks are easily accessible at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children feel welcome and at ease in the relaxed and secure home. The separate play room is very inviting with a range of child-size furniture and wide selection of toys and activities set up for them on arrival. Children are encouraged to develop their independence as they make choices about what they want to play with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall, the childminder has taken steps to make the premises safe and secure and on going visual risk assessments are carried out. Children practise the emergency evacuation plan to ensure the premises can be vacated quickly in an emergency situation. The childminder obtains permission for children to use the large trampoline. However, a written risk assessment is not in place to include necessary details and as a result, children's safety may be compromised. Children are beginning to take responsibility for their own safety as they help to tidy up.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good knowledge of her role and responsibility in child protection. She is aware of possible signs of abuse and knows the correct procedures to follow.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit greatly from the childminder's excellent knowledge of childcare and development. The childminder plans an exciting range of activities and she refers to the Birth to three framework to help her to achieve this. Children are extremely happy and secure and consequently, they are receptive to learning new skills. Excellent relationships are in place and

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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 the children respond very positively to the constant praise and encouragement given by the childminder who acknowledges very small steps in their learning and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have great fun as they stick cotton wool on their Easter bunnies. They handle different materials such as pasta, sand, water and Play Dough. Paper and pencil materials are available to enable them to practise their mark making skills and they thoroughly enjoy making pom-pom bears and wind chimes. They enjoy problem solving as they build with bricks and estimate how much glue they need to stick the cotton wool on their bunnies. Children are able to relax and enjoy looking at books and story time. The childminder is particularly skilled at helping children to think and to extend their vocabulary through open-ended questioning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder spends all her time playing and interacting with the children which ensures they are absorbed, happy and extremely well-occupied throughout the day. Children are finding out at an early age that learning is exciting and fun.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are developing self-confidence and esteem. The childminder knows the children really well and she encourages their individual interests. There is an excellent range of toys and resources to promote children's understanding of culture, gender and disability, for example, dolls, small world toys, dressing up clothes, puzzles and books. Children smile broadly as they proudly walk around in their Spanish outfits showing off the decorations on the neckline. They are celebrating many festivals and they enjoy art and craft activities such as making shamrock for St Patrick's Day. Children also enjoy exciting activities when they join up with other childminder's and their children to have, for example, an Easter party.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties or disabilities. She considers her own skills and identifies her future training needs to benefit the children. All children are very happy and content because they are treated with equal concern and their individual needs are met extremely well by the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning right from wrong and they are very well behaved as the childminder uses age appropriate behaviour management strategies which are consistently applied. Children know what is and is not acceptable and parents are well informed about the childminder's written behaviour management policy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder's very strong emphasis on partnership with parents. Their routine, activities and achievements are shared with parents daily. Each child has their own development book which includes photos and samples of their drawings. The weekly plan of activities is displayed for parents and they receive a copy of the childminder's written policies and procedures. Parents comments about this childminding service include "passionate and committed and puts the needs of the children first" and "incredibly supportive and actively encourages independence and desire to learn". The childminder is extremely warm, kind and caring towards the children who clearly enjoy the time they spend with her.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care, welfare and development is fully promoted because the childminder has a very good understanding of caring for young children and she is extremely well organised. The children have very close relationships with the childminder who ensures their emotional well-being is positively promoted. They are full of confidence and self-esteem and they are very happy in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder has excellent record keeping systems in place to maintain this high standard of child care. She has developed comprehensive policies and procedures to support her work in caring for the children. Children benefit greatly by the childminder's enthusiasm to continuously update her knowledge and understanding of child care. She keeps up-to-date with changes in legislation, for example, the complaint procedure for parents.

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Organisation

Children are extremely well cared for and they are having a wonderful time in this safe and secure child-friendly environment. 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 last inspection, the childminder was required to: develop knowledge and understanding of recent child protection issues; and to maintain a daily record of the names of the children looked after, hours of attendance and names of the persons looking after them.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has attended training to update her knowledge and understanding of child protection and she keep the necessary records in relation to children's details and attendance. As a result, this improves the care and welfare of the 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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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): • devise and implement a written risk assessment for children's safety on the trampoline.

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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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