Bretby House School

Inspection report for early years provision

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102613 Unique Reference Number 22 February 2007 Inspection date Heather Tanswell 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 registered in 1999. She works in the home of another childminder who lives with her husband. The minding address is close to the centre of Mullion a rural village on the Lizard Peninsula, in Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor is used for minding and a bedroom upstairs for rest only. 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. When working with a co-minder she can care for a maximum of 11 children at any one time. She is currently minding 11 children all on part-time basis. Six of these children are aged under five and the others attend for out of school care. The family has a pet dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Association (CCMA) and National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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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 are well cared for in a warm, clean home where the standards of cleanliness are very good. The childminder takes care to minimise the risk of cross infection. The co-minder takes responsibility for making sure the premises are clean ready for when children arrive. Children have their own sets of bed linen and receive praise and encouragement for wiping their noses and disposing of tissues properly, which helps them become independent and raise their awareness of good hygiene routines. Each child has their own personal pile of nappies and creams provided by the parents to meet their daily hygiene needs. The nappy changing mat is wiped clean after each use and nappies are disposed of promptly to avoid contamination. Children are protected from animals, who are kept out of the kitchen when food is being prepared, served or eaten. The childminder keeps comprehensive accident and medication

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Helping children to be healthy

records. She holds a current first aid certificate and has access to a well-stocked first aid kit. The records of consent from parents that give the childminder permission to seek emergency medical treatment are not all up to date.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a healthy diet. They have daily access to fresh fruit and a varied range of home cooked dishes, such as cottage pie and cold chicken. Sample menus are prepared and shared with parents; individual preferences are discussed and noted. Children are encouraged to drink regularly to keep up their fluid intake as drinks are prepared and ready for them at all times throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily access to the fresh air. Toddlers sleep outside weather permitting. Children develop strength and co-ordination as they ride bikes, climb on, over, under large and small equipment suitable for their ages, and go out for walks or outings in the local environment..

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into the well-laid out home environment, where they able to move about independently, safely and be comfortable within it. Use of the co-minder's home is well thought through with a bedroom set aside for quiet space for babies to rest in. The hallway provides a den for older children to play in where they can build and construct while younger children and babies explore safely in the lounge. All rooms are well ventilated and maintained at a comfortable temperature. Safety equipment such as stair gates and smoke alarms help keep child safe from harm. Children learn about keeping themselves safe as they practise regular fire drills. Sleeping children rest quietly, and monitored regularly. Hazards have been minimised, for example, heaters are guarded and the kitchen area is gated when hot food is prepared.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children safely access a wide range of good quality age appropriate toys and equipment to support their play. Sufficient safety equipment and child-size furniture is readily available for children to use. Young children sit at the table alongside older ones on booster seats so they can reach and be part of tabletop activities such as puzzle making. All the resources are clean and checked routinely for broken parts. Children are safeguarded from harm as the childminder

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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 has a good working knowledge of child protection procedures based on her experience as a pre-school leader. The co-minder's keep relevant background information to hand for easy reference.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and settled in the co-minder's home. They benefit from access to well-planned, varied and interesting activities and outings, which contribute to their overall development. Daily routines respect children's need to rest at times that suit them best. Children show great confidence to select and make choices about what they would like to do next. They particularly enjoy co-operating with each other and using their physical skills and imagination. They build complex train tracks that take the occupants of the carriages on a sight seeing tour of a safari park. They learn more about the wider world because the childminder extends their ideas through questions that help think things through. As a result, they learn about shape, length, size and sorting to different criteria as they play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a close relationship with the childminder and particularly enjoy snuggling in for a story of their choice. Children listen, make comments and extend their vocabulary and understanding as the childminder takes the time to talk to children about the illustrations in books. For example, she explains what a chandelier is to make the meaning of the story clear to all the children. When the children want to make the train track even longer she gives them clues to help them find the right parts to use next. Good use is made of children's interests to link their imaginative play with real life. For example, the childminder and children share memories of holidays and day trips they have been on together and with their families. The childminder and co-minder plan together and make effective use the Birth to three matters framework and the Curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage, to develop their ideas and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to influence activities for younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued, and respected as individuals. A wide range of age appropriate activities is set up ready for their arrival to make children feel welcome. Children learn about the wider world as they handle and make good use of resources that reflect positive images of other people, for example role-play clothes, books and puzzles. Co-minders plan to celebrate festivals together with the children. Recently they enjoyed Pancake Day and in the autumn visited a village event to find out more about Divali. Children learn about their own community through activities and outings linked with the sea, agriculture and tourism. The childminder has experience of caring for children with a range of disabilities and working closely with other professionals to meet a range of needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are confident in the relaxed atmosphere and behave very well. The co-minders work effectively to develop and implement appropriate behaviour management policies and procedures. Children show great concern for each other and learn to respect the difference in ages. They all join in and help tidy away happily. Their confidence and good nature is a reflection

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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 of the childminder's affection for the children in her care and her ability to keep all children, individually, fully occupied and interested.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. The childminder carefully records children's care needs and personal information on enrolment. She keeps a daily diary that goes home with parents each day to keep them fully informed about their child's routines and achievements. Records of progress are carefully noted with examples of their work and illustrated photographically. This routine sharing of important information between both childminders and all parents ensures parents continue to play an active part in their child's day.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well cared for by very experienced and well-qualified early years professional. She holds an NVQ 3 in Early Years Care and Education and recently completed a course for managers in early year’s settings. She also keeps her practice up to date by attending short courses, support meetings and developing action plans to identify her areas for improvement in co-operation with her co-minder. Children receive high levels of support and supervision. Visits to local facilities and with the co-minder and her children, ensures children socialise within their wider community and develop friendships in preparation for their next steps, for example attendance at pre-school or school.

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Organisation

The co-minders work effectively as a team to make sure all the required policies and procedures are in place. Documents are carefully filed away on the premises and personal information remains confidential. The record keeping systems are used effectively to keep parents informed about their child. The kitchen notice board reminds parents about important policies and health issues that might affect them. 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 agreed to; ensure all forms of heating are guarded appropriately; ensure furniture meets current standards; make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint; and notify Ofsted in writing with confirmation of her new address.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has fitted heater covers to ensure children are safe from harm. All furniture now meets the required standards. A policy to manage complaints and a poster with the regulators details are now on display on the notice board so that parents know what to do if they have any concerns about the quality of care. Ofsted is kept up to date with changes in personal information.

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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. The provider is

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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 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): • make sure all parents give written permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment.

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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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