Staveley Inkersall Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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128621 Unique Reference Number 09 July 2007 Inspection date Pamela Bailey 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 1996. She lives with her husband and three children aged seven, 13 and 14 years in the London Borough of Lewisham. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house 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 regularly works with another childminder. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time is currently minding two children under five years all day and three children over five years before and after school. There were no children present at the time of the inspection.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to the local schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent/toddler groups.

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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. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of how children's good health is promoted in most areas. She talks about children having regular exercise that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. For example, children can use the range of play equipment including a climbing frame, wheeled toys and trampoline in the garden. They also use the local amenities such as the local park and leisure centre helping them to keep fit and active. She describes how children learn about their personal hygiene through their normal daily routines and how she ensures that she maintains good hygiene practices to prevent cross infection such as washing her hands after nappy changing.

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Helping children to be healthy

From discussion the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of healthy eating such as ensuring children have freshly prepared meals. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, including the need to have fresh drinking water readily available. She has record systems in place to gather information from parents regarding medical needs, dietary requirements and prior written permission from parents to seek emergency medical assistance or advice. However, the childminder does not always ensure that she has gained this information from all parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder organises her home well and has a sufficient range of toys and resources suitable for children under eight years. Play resources are organised in a manner which helps to promote children’s free choice and are easily accessible on low level shelving and floor boxes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has taken actions to ensure that most risks inside her home have been minimised so that children can play safely. However, the low level glass panels in the play room and dining area are not safe. For example, these are not shatter proof and are easily accessible to the children. She ensures that appropriate equipment is used and most of the required documentation is in place when travelling with children in her car, however, the childminder has not obtained prior written permission from parents to do so.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

From discussion, the childminder demonstrates a secure knowledge and understanding of how to promote and safeguard children's welfare. For example, she knows how to proceed if she has a concern about a child in her care and has all the required documentation in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Through discussion the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how children learn and develop and are involved in a broad range of activities such as trips to the seaside, craft activities and role play. She talks about encouraging children's language through reading stories and singing, encouraging children's independence through daily routine tasks and babies and young children's gross motor skills through supporting them when learning to crawl and walk.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder describes how visits to the park would give children some opportunity for developing their physical skills and children are given the opportunity to socialise with other children as they meet regularly with other childminders and visit the local toddler groups.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder talks about promoting children's awareness of diversity and understanding of others through visits to children's groups and trips to the library where they have access to different resources. However, there are limited resources which reflect positive images of culture, ethnicity, gender or disability inside the childminder's home. Although there are no children attending with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, the childminder was able to demonstrate how she will assess the needs of the children to determine whether appropriate care could be given.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder showed a sound knowledge of behaviour management, giving good examples of how she would approach a variety of situations for children of different ages. The childminder explains her procedures for ensuring that parents are kept informed about their child's day and was able to explain her procedures for recording complaints made by parents. However, the childminder does not ensure that all parents agree the care to be provided or share all relevant information about their children's individual needs such as health, culture, religion and any special needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder organises the space effectively in her home allowing children to play indoor and outdoors. She describes how she plans her day around the children's needs, allowing children time for quiet and active play.

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Organisation

Most documentation is in place, however, the children's daily attendance record is not accurately maintained, not all parents have signed a written agreement for the care to be provided, and the childminder has not ensured that she gathers all relevant information from all parents about children's individual needs.

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Organisation

The childminder attends training whenever she can. She has recently attended first aid training, basic food hygiene and British sign language.

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Organisation

Overall, evidence suggests that the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to improve safety in the garden. The childminder has made significant improvements. She has removed the water feature. This ensures that any potential risks or hazards have been minimised and children can play in safely.

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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 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): • obtain prior written permission from all parents to seek emergency medical assistance or advice • obtain consent from parents to transport children in a vehicle • assess the risk to children in relation to the low level glass panels and taken action to minimise these • provide a range of resources that reflect positive images of diversity • improve partnership with parents so that there are clear systems in place to share information about all children's individual needs and care to be provided • make sure that the children's attendance records are accurately maintained

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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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