Oswaldtwistle Moor End Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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119187 Unique Reference Number 19 June 2007 Inspection date Carol Patricia Willett 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 has been registered as a childminder since 1999. She lives in a house with her husband and two children of primary and high school age. The house is situated in a quiet residential close in the Owlsmoor area of Sandhurst. The house is within walking distance of local amenities, which include parks, schools and shops. The ground floor of the house is used mainly for childminding, with access to the upstairs toilet and bedroom for sleeping. There is a fully enclosed rear garden. There are no family pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years. She is currently caring for two children under five years and three children over five years.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a current paediatric first aid certificate and is registered as a community childminder. She is part of the Bracknell Forest Childminding network and holds a Certificate in Childminding Practice and a level 3 National Vocational Qualification in Early Years and Education. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 outstanding. The childminder provides a well maintained, child-friendly family home. She has highly effective hygiene routines and procedures which ensure the areas where children play and sleep are comfortable, clean and safe. Children develop a very good understanding of healthy living and personal hygiene as they wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. The childminder provides fun children's soap and separate hand towels which encourages the children to wash their hands and reduces the risk of cross infection. The childminder follows excellent nappy changing procedures using gloves each time. She ensures parents' wishes are respected as she uses the children's own nappy wipes and cream.

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Helping children to be healthy

Excellent hygiene procedures protect children from cross-infection and appropriate procedures are followed if a child becomes unwell. Children learn about healthy living. They have excellent opportunities to take part in daily activities and enjoy fresh air, such as garden play and trips to the local play parks and toddler groups. They use a range of equipment to develop their physical skills. The childminder is very attentive and uses her observational skill and discussions with parents to ensure babies are able to take the next steps in their development. For example, she ensures she has suitable resources such as push-along toys to encourage babies to walk. The childminder has highly effective procedures in place which children are very well protected in hot weather as she puts on sun cream and ensures the children wear hats. She limits the time in the hot sun and ensures they have a drink when they come in. Children develop manipulative

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Helping children to be healthy

skills through the use of a wide range of play materials and tools such as construction toys such as building bricks, jigsaws, paint brushes and pencils for drawing.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a varied selection of healthy meals and snacks which are currently supplied by their parents. Meal times are social occasions where children enjoy discussing their families and experiences. The childminder stores and prepares food provided by parents appropriately. She ensures children's individual dietary needs are met through comprehensive and ongoing discussions with parents. Children are given regular drinks throughout the day to maintain good health. For example, babies are given drinks as they wake from sleep and with meals, older children can freely access their drinking bottles. The childminder records what babies drink so she can share this with parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play freely as the childminder has organised her home and garden extremely well to provide a welcoming environment where children can play freely in comfort. The children can explore and develop safely with ample space to meet their needs. They develop in independence and confidence as they select from the wide range of age appropriate toys. These are kept in boxes within easy reach in the living room. They are, however, stacked on top of each other which is a potential safety hazard for the children. The childminder has a generally secure knowledge of hazards and checks the home and garden before children arrive to ensure their safety. She takes positive measures to minimise risks and completes a weekly check list to ensure her home is safe. For example, sockets are covered and cupboards in the kitchen have catches. Babies are strapped securely into the highchair.

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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 Children stay safe as the childminder is very attentive and carefully supervises them throughout the day and babies are monitored whilst they sleep. Children learn about keeping themselves safe as the childminder talks about road safety and house rules and stranger danger. She borrows toys from the network toy library to develop children's understanding to road safety through play which includes crossing lollipop and zebra crossing mat. The childminder has exceptionally good procedures in place when taking the children out walking or in the car to ensure their safety in an emergency. She carries a card with the contact details for all the children in her care. The children have labels with the childminders name and phone number in their pockets. The childminder has all documentation in place to ensure children's welfare

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

is safeguarded. She has a good knowledge of child protection procedures and records accident and incident details appropriately. There is appropriate insurance cover in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder is extremely warm and affectionate making children feel comfortable and valued. She has very good relationships with the children, she enjoys their company and knows them well. The children express their feelings for the childminder as they give her cuddles. These close and caring relationships increase the children’s sense of trust and help them develop a strong sense of self. The childminder spends a lot of time sitting on the floor, talking and playing with the children, consequently they are well supported in their play. The childminder links children's home experience to their time at her home. For example, she reads books to them relating to their visit to the dentist using excellent teaching strategies to enhance and develop children's knowledge and understanding. Outings are undertaken on most days and include visits to a variety of local parks and drop-in groups. This provides them with opportunities

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to develop their social skills as they meet with a wider group of children and adults. The childminder informally plans a range of activities for and with the children. Her excellent interactive skills ensures children play and learn in a stimulating environment where they make good progress in all areas developing confidence and independence. Early communication skills are well supported through high quality interactions during play. There are good opportunities to extend learning and initiate play as the children freely access a range of toys and activities and explore the environment. They show high levels of independence as they select toys that interest them such as the musical instruments, jigsaws and books. They make excellent progress as the childminder has a very positive and enthusiastic approach to childcare and to the children's overall development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder forms good relationships with the children and values their contributions as a result children are developing well in confidence and independence. They settle well and develop confidence in the childminder's home as she is warm caring and attentive. The childminder has a good understanding of equal opportunities issues, and has a positive attitude towards diversity which helps children develop an awareness of their own and other cultures. Children develop a sense of place and learn about where they live through the regular outings and trips provided.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well as they respond to the consistent praise and encouragement and positive environment provided by the childminder. She has age appropriate strategies to manage behaviour. Children are treated with respect helping them to feel good about themselves. They

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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 readily take part in activities, help to tidy up and are confident with changes in the morning’s activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has friendly but professional relationships with the parents. She discusses the children's needs thoroughly with the parents at initial meetings and as children arrive daily, ensuring their individual needs are well met. The childminder provides parents with comprehensive written feedback through their children's daily diaries and tracker books which are used to record children's achievements and plan for their next steps in learning. She has a comprehensive range of documentation including polices and procedures and records accidents and medication details to ensure parents are kept fully informed. The childminder obtains a range of written consents to ensure she is aware of and follows parents wishes for their children's care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children receive very good care as the childminder has a gentle caring manner. She organises the environment, resources and documentation extremely well to enable children's needs to be effectively met. The areas used for play are mostly safe, welcoming and child friendly which allows children to feel completely at home. She provides a fun and stimulating environment in which the children play and learn. The children receive exceptional support from the childminder who has an intuitive understanding of how children learn so they make good progress in all areas of development.

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Organisation

Children receive high quality care as the childminder has a good knowledge of the National Standards for childminding and is using the Birth to Three Matters framework to develop her practice. She makes time to read through new guidance and incorporates it into her practice. She ensures children are well supported at all times as she maintains the required ratios and closely supervises them both in and outside the home. Children benefit from the childminder's enthusiastic commitment to developing her own professional practice as she attends many workshops and has completed a further NVQ level 3 qualification course to extend her knowledge of childminding practice. This increases the childminder's knowledge and skills and contributes to the high quality of care.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains a comprehensive range of documentation to underpin her good practice. She develops very good relationships with parents and keeps them informed of their children's development and progress and to make sure the children's needs are well known. This ensures she is able to effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Overall, 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 improve her practice; with regard to fire safety in the kitchen and in the use of first aid items. She has made good progress to address the issues. She has fitted a fire blanket in the kitchen which ensures children could be protected in an emergency. She no longer uses antiseptic cream following advice from her first aid course which ensures children's health is protected in the event of an accident.

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Improvements 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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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2005 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 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): • improve the organisation of the toys and resources to ensure children's safety.

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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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