Low Road Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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107957 Unique Reference Number 07 June 2007 Inspection date Keriann Belcher 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 a registered childminder since 1995. She lives with her husband and two adult children, in Beaconsfield in the County of Buckinghamshire. The whole of the ground floor and the bedrooms on the first floor are used for childminding. The second floor is not available for childminding. There is also a fully enclosed rear garden where children can 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 two children under five years. Both children attend various hours on a full time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local parent and 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. Children remain healthy as they follow good hygiene practice. The childminder ensures they wash their hands after using the toilet and supplies the children with individual towels to prevent cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents supply their children's food and drinks and children freely access drinks to satisfy their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities for exercise and go for daily walks in the fresh air. They move freely and confidently around the indoor minding environment and have access to a range of outdoor apparatus to further develop their physical skills, such as slide and sit and ride toys. They rest and sleep according to their individual needs and the childminder ensures young children remain clean and comfortable.

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Helping children to be healthy

They receive appropriate care if they have accidents as the childminder holds a current first aid certificate. Accident and medication records are maintained. However, the medication records lack clarity of when medication is administered, which could compromise children's safety in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are settled and play happily within the welcoming, child friendly environment of the childminder's home. Children sit at the table to colour and draw and have good play space for building with Duplo bricks on the floor. Toys are easily accessible to children and rotated to maintain children's interest and stimulation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children keep safe whilst in the childminder's care as she is vigilant to potential hazards and reminds children to take care when running for example, so as not to bump others or hurt themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder regularly risk assesses her home to ensure it remains safe for children and has a written fire evacuation procedure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder understands her roles and responsibilities with regard to child protection, but does not have the up to date Government guidelines of what to do if she is concerned about a child's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time at the childminder's home where they relax and have fun learning through play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's vocabulary is developing, as the childminder talks gently to them and asks open-ended questions to encourage them to think and respond appropriately when reading stories. The broad range of creative activities organised for the children enable them to make progress in all areas of development, such as painting and role play.

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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 Children enjoy many opportunities they have for trips out to interesting places, such as Bekonscot model village, soft play activity centres, music groups and the library. Regular trips are made to the local toddler groups in the area. This gives them the chance to socialise with other children and take pleasure from new experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected for their individuality. For example, the childminder finds out if the children have any special dietary or cultural needs. Children are beginning to learn anti-discriminatory attitudes from the childminder, as she treats all children with equal concern and promotes a positive attitude towards inclusion. However, there are limited resources and activities which reflect positive images and help children to appreciate each others similarities and differences in culture or ability.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has high expectations with regard to manners and behaviour and is firm, but fair and consistent, with her behaviour management strategies. Children are polite and generally behave well in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the good communication between their main carers about their individual needs. Daily verbal exchanges ensure both parents and the childminder are kept well informed about children. However, she does not a secure understanding of the new regulations as set out in the 2005 amendments to the National Standards.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The provider does ensure that children are not left unsupervised with adults in her household who have not been police checked. She has a good understanding of the adult/child ratios so that the children have sufficient adult support to feel secure and confident.

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Organisation

Overall, children's individual needs are respected and they are treated with equal concern. However, children's experiences of the wider world are limited and do not sufficiently promote anti- discriminatory practise as the childminder lacks knowledge and understanding of diversity.

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Organisation

Children feel comfortable within the childminder's home environment. She organises the day well to include a good variety of indoor and outdoor play activities. This helps to ensure the progress of children's individual development and learning. They receive lots of warm, individual attention to promote their emotional wellbeing.

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Organisation

Overall, the childminder takes steps to reduce hazards both inside and outdoors.

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Organisation

Documentation, to ensure the welfare and care of the children, is stored securely and made available for inspection. However, not all relevant details are always clearly kept with regard to the seeking of permission to administer medication and when given. The provider was not aware of the need to keep a log of complaints from parents in line with the new National Standards regulation, but has a basic awareness of how she would manage any concerns received from the parents.

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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 The provider recognises the importance of working in partnership with parents and cares. Children receive continuity of care as their routines and achievements are shared between the childminder and parents.

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Organisation

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 provider was asked to ensure alcohol is inaccessible to children. She has moved the alcohol to a locked cupboard which prevents children from accessing the alcohol.

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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 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 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): • enhance the documentation for the procedure to seek permission and administer medication • enhance knowledge and understanding of anti-discriminatory practise to promote children's awareness of diversity through play opportunties • gain a knowledge and understanding of the complaints regulations relating to the National Standards, including the need to keep a complaints log of any action taken.

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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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