Manley Village School

Inspection report for early years provision

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110999 Unique Reference Number 09 February 2007 Inspection date Catherine Greenwood 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 was registered in 1997. She lives with her husband and three children aged 10 years, eight years, and four years. They live in a house in Yatley in Hampshire. The premises is close to local parks, shops and toddler groups. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years of which only one may be under five years at any one time. There are no children currently on roll. Children have access to the sitting room, dining room, playroom, downstairs cloakroom, kitchen. The downstairs rooms are used for children's sleep times. There is an enclosed secure garden available for outside play. The childminder has a dog. She takes children to toddler groups and local parks.

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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. From discussion, the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of healthy eating, including the need to have drinking water accessible at all times. There are systems in place to record details of accidents and medication administration, including parental consent for children to receive medicine and emergency medical treatment. The childminder does not hold a current first aid certificate, however, she has obtained a place on a training course. The childminder has systems in place to gather information from parents regarding children's medical needs, dietary requirements and allergies. She demonstrates a clear understanding of how children’s good health is promoted. This includes a sick child policy which is shared with parents to prevent the spread of infection. The childminder describes how children would learn about their personal hygiene through normal daily routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good understanding of the opportunities she needs to provide for children to develop physical skills, for example, through using the trampoline, space hopper, football goals and wheeled toys in the accessible garden. In addition, she would take children on walks to animal parks. The childminder is committed to taking children out every day and visiting local facilities on a regular basis. In bad weather children use an indoor local facility which has a soft play area where they can slide, climb, jump and develop physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has taken most necessary action to ensure that risks in and outside her home have been minimised, so that children can play safely. She has completed her own written risk assessment of the premises and has safety gates available. Children would be kept safe in the event of a fire because the childminder has devised a written evacuation procedure. There are smoke alarms on each level of the home and a fire blanket is available in the kitchen. However, the glass in the greenhouse is unsafe and the side gate has a low level bolt. This means that children would be able to leave the premises unsupervised, and therefore puts their safety at risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder can clearly say how she would keep children safe when walking on local outings and how she would help children to learn about their own safety, for example, by ensuring that all children stay close to her and cross the road where there are no parked cars. Children would be kept safe when travelling in the childminder's car, because she has appropriate safety seating that meets current regulations, would ensure children are strapped in appropriately and has systems in place to obtain written consent from parents. There is a range of safe well maintained play equipment available. Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder understands the procedures for recording and reporting any child protection concerns. However, she does not have all current child protection documentation available.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder talks about the opportunities she provides for them to develop their creative skills. For example, children would have the opportunity to paint, use playdough, do drawing and colouring and cooking activities. Play resources are organised in a manner which helps to promote children’s free choice. They are of good quality and easily accessible in well organised boxes. In addition, children can use the piano and the computer. The childminder can clearly explain how she supports children’s learning through a range of play experiences, both inside and outside her home. For example, she takes children to an outdoor animal park where they can feed and stroke animals such rabbits and guinea pigs, walk around lakes, follow a nature trail and observe wildlife. However, the childminder has no knowledge of the Birth to three matters and therefore younger children's play would not be enhanced through the use of this

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder showed a knowledge of behaviour management, giving examples of how she would approach a variety of situations for children of different ages. However, there is no system in place to record significant incidents of children's behaviour. The childminder would invite parents into her home at the beginning and end of the day to share information about children's individual needs. She has a good understanding of how children would benefit from the friendly relationships that she would form with parents, for example, she would tell parents what children have eaten, what they played with, if they said anything funny, and any developmental progress, such as saying new words. The childminder is not currently looking after children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, however, she has previous experience of working closely with parents to meet children's individual needs, for example when looking

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Helping children make a positive contribution

after children with hearing difficulties. The childminder has a range of books and some resources which would enable children to develop a positive attitude towards different race, culture, religion, gender and disability.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children have lots of space to play in the sitting room and play room. This means they would be able to move around freely and find their own play equipment which the childminder makes easily accessible. In addition, children would benefit from being able to make regular use of the garden and the opportunity to choose to play inside or outside. The childminder is not currently caring for children. Previous records have not been retained for a reasonable time after the children have left the provision, as they have been accidentally lost during the childminders recent house move. This is a breach of regulations. There are systems in place to record the hours of children's attendance and contract agreements which include all necessary details. These would be shared regularly with parents to keep them informed about the service and their child's activities. Evidence suggests that the childminder would meet the needs of

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Organisation

the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to attend an appropriate first aid course, review and update documentation, improve resources to reflect diversity and review safety inside and outside the home. The childminder has obtained a place on first aid training, has devised systems to record children's details, parental consent and the hours of children's attendance. The childminder has provided some books and play people for the reflect disability and different racial origin. This means that children develop a positive view of differences. In addition, the childminder has moved to a new home and has completed a full written risk assessment of the premises which means that children's safety has been improved.

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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. 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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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): • make the side gate lock inaccessible to children, the glass in the greenhouse safe and obtain current child protection documentation • obtain a copy of Birth to three matters and use the guidance to meet children's individual needs • devise a system to record significant incidents of children's behaviour • ensure records relating to individual children are retained for a reasonable period of time after the children have left the provision

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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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