New Basford CofE Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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129720 Unique Reference Number 29 March 2007 Inspection date Kay Williams 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 1994. She lives with her husband and has two grown up children. They live in Tring in Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminders house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed 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 any one time and is currently minding three under five all day, and one over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups and takes children to the park. The family have a pet hamster and some tropical fish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a reasonably healthy balanced diet. They sit together and chat happily as they eat their sandwich, fruit and crisps. The childminder has a sound understanding of the importance of healthy eating and offers the children a varied diet. The children are learning to make healthy choices as they select their own fruit at snack time.

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children are taught the importance of good personal hygiene. They follow the consistently practised routine of hand washing before eating, although they all share the same towel for drying their hands. When asked children are able to list other occasions when they should wash their hands; they replied " before cooking, when we come in and after you go to the toilet".

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from unnecessary illness; the childminder effectively practises her comprehensive policy for caring for children who become ill. Children's well-being is further enhanced as the childminder holds a current first aid qualification and keeps detailed records of any accidents that occur. Children benefit as the childminder ensures that she keeps her home clean and nappy changing routines are hygienic.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from daily opportunities to walk in the fresh air as they travel to and from local schools, often twice per day. They also enjoy a variety of opportunities to engage in more robust physical play and exercise at local parks and indoor play areas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel at ease in the childminders home. The environment is clean and warm. Their safety is given appropriate priority; for example, the front door is kept locked although the keys are easily accessible to the childminder. On going risk assessments ensure that children are protected from hazards; for example, cleaning materials are stored out of the reach of children. Emergency evacuation procedures are well thought through.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children move about the home freely. They select their own toys which are easily accessible. Equipment is in good condition, clean and well maintained. This is monitored weekly as the childminder stores her equipment in the garage for the weekend. A good range of equipment supports the needs of all of the children including, travel cots, booster seats and high chairs. Safety gates and door locks further enhance children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children benefit from the childminders sound knowledge of current child protection procedures. She has effective systems in place to record concerns and has recently updated her child protection training. However, some checks are outstanding.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy in the childminders care. Their daily routines flow smoothly and planned activities engage their attention. The childminder has good understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and has enhanced her knowledge by attending training.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a wide variety of activities which strike a good balance of free play and adult lead learning; For example, the children participate in regular cooking activities where they learn together. With the support of the childminder they develop skills such as weighing, measuring and mix ingredients together to make 'flap jacks'. Children have a good rapport with their peers and have fun as they initiate their own play. The children organised themselves to play with the dolls and the 'new' dolls clothes that they are very proud of. They play co-operatively as they share the clothes between them and the older children help the younger children to dress the dolls. Children are confident communicators who are able to recall past events. They talk about clay models that they have made in the past and describe the way the clay has to be 'squeezed', 'dried' and 'painted'.

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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 are learning to organise their thoughts as the childminder effectively encourages them through appropriate questioning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children engage in various opportunities to develop their physical skills as they visit local parks and activity centres. They enjoy lots of different outings to places of interest, such as the local farm.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are content individuals. They demonstrate good levels of independence; older children advising the childminder that they are 'just going upstairs to the toilet'. The children receive good attention from the childminder who knows their individual needs well. They sleep and eat according to their personal routines.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing good levels of self esteem as the childminder praises their efforts, "well done for sharing" she tells them. As a result the children are well behaved and play co-operatively together. The childminder has a sensitive approach to managing children's behaviour and appropriate boundaries are set for the them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Effective partnerships with parents have been established. The childminder works closely with the parents in order that the children receive consistent care. This has been especially successful in encouraging younger children to learn to share with older children, where the joint approach has enhanced children's learning significantly. Parents are offered useful information about the service provided and are invited to discuss the childminders policies at length before they take up the offer of a place. Parents speak highly of the childminders commitment to the children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from the well organised environment that the childminder has created for them. Written information is appropriately collated and policies and procedures effectively support good practice overall. The childminder is committed to developing her practice and regularly attends training. She has also been accredited by Hertfordshire quality standards in childminding.

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Organisation

The childminder has effective systems in place for recording information, including accurate records of attendance. However, the system for recording complaints needs updating and the childminder is committed to developing this.

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Organisation

The childminder is aware of her responsibility to ensure that relevant checks are carried out on all adult members of the household. However the system for monitoring that these checks are complete is not effective.

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Organisation

The provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it 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 seek written permission from parent's to allow children to receive emergency medical treatment. An effective system for recording this information has now been established.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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): • ensure that all appropriate checks have been completed on adult members of the household • update the system for recording complaints in line with new childminding guidance to the National Standards 2005 in order to share this information with parents.

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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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