Dogsthorpe Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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110719 Unique Reference Number 03 April 2007 Inspection date Judith Reed 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 since 1998. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in a house in the Chandler's Ford area of Eastleigh, Hampshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with sleeping facilities in an upstairs bedroom. There is an enclosed rear 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 under eight years and is currently caring for five children at various times throughout the week. The childminder also cares for a number of children over eight years of age. The childminder walks to and from local schools to take and collect children. She attends a local childminding group on a regular basis. The family have a pet dog, cats and goldfish.

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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 good. Children benefit from a healthy diet and nutritious snacks. They are offered a range of snacks after school including sandwiches of cheese, ham or marmite, fresh fruit, or a yoghurt. Children help themselves to drinks from the kitchen work surface as they require.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy daily physical exercise when walking the dog or going to and from school. The childminder encourages children to spend time in the play area in the local park, while the dog is having exercise. Children often play football in the park and sometimes set up their own obstacle course in the garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are healthy as the childminder has a suitable first aid kit and ensures her first aid training is up to date at all times. The childminder holds permission for emergency medical treatment for each minded child. She records accidents in a confidential manner in a small exercise book. All necessary information is recorded. Medication administered is also recorded in an exercise book, at the current time, and parents signatures of permission are obtained. All necessary policies regarding keeping children healthy are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a secure environment where they move around the ground floor freely. The front door is kept locked and the rear garden is fully fenced and secure at all times. Children are protected from the risk of accidental injury by the good use of safety equipment. Stair gates and socket covers are in place, a fire guard is fixed in front of the fire. Kitchen cupboards have child latches fitted and low level glass is protected. The childminder has planned and practised fire drills with the minded children, however the drills are not fully evaluated to further improve practice. Children are safe when out and about as they remain under direct supervision of the childminder at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children access resources from the storage containers around the room. Toys and equipment are kept in low level storage chests and boxes around the living room. The childminder ensures toys are cleaned regularly as necessary. She ensures all toys and equipment are safe and suitable for the ages of the children present in the household.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and understands her professional duty regarding protecting children. She ensures parents are aware of her child protection policy and keeps necessary information ready in case it is required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, busy and well occupied when they are with the childminder. The group of children cared for include a wide age range and they all join in an interesting glue activity connected to the Easter season. They decorate hard boiled eggs with pieces of ribbon, feathers, paint, shells and cotton balls to make attractive gifts. Children help one another cut the ribbon and share the glue and scissors. The childminder encourages all the children to use their

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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 imagination when creating their own individual eggs. She suggests they could make aliens. The childminder assists the children with glue and sticky tape as necessary. She encourages the children to choose different items from the range available to make their egg look different.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

When children finish the glue activity they move into the living room and find games to play. Two children quickly settle into a shopping game and the childminder checks that they are aware of the rules of the game. They take turns and read items from the list shown on the cards. The childminder observes the game regularly and praises the children for playing well together. Later the children ask to have dressing up items and they are encouraged to help themselves to hats and tabards. Children involve the childminder in their game and ask her to dress up to become a dog as part of their imaginative play. She joins in enthusiastically and extends the children's learning through her behaviour. The children move on to play a large board game all together. They also ask to watch the television. After some discussion the childminder finds a suitable film for them to watch for a few minutes, taking them up to lunch

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated as individuals and the childminder knows them well. She ensures all children are offered equal access to the suitable toys and equipment. Children begin to develop an understanding of diversity through the range of toys and books available. The childminder has an equal opportunities policy in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are valued and respected. The childminder is experienced in caring for children with disabilities and learning difficulties. She understands the need to work closely with parents and therapists to support all children. The childminder has taken further training to support children with additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well. They are polite, have good manners and take turns when playing together. The childminder uses several strategies for managing behaviour issues and ensures she uses suitable methods, which children understand, including distraction and time out. She keeps parents informed about behaviour issues. The children are praised and encouraged throughout their activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive relationships are formed with parents which contributes to both parents and children being confident and settled with the childminder. Parents are made aware of the range of policies and procedures in place, including the complaints procedure. The childminder keeps parents informed about children's activities through conversations at the end of the day. She receives positive feedback from parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel at home in the well organised environment. They are confident and settled in the childminder's home. Children have space to play and are taken out regularly. The childminder ensures she remains within her ratio at all times. She keeps individual record sheets of children's attendance, including their times of arrival and departure. These records are kept in separate sections of a large folder, so it is not immediately clear how many children are present at any one time.

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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 Children's care in enhanced due to the additional training undertaken by the childminder. She is currently completing the Diploma for Home Carers course and finding the training both informative and valuable. The childminder has registered as a food business and ensured that all necessary checks have been completed on family members. She is well aware of the requirements of her registration. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The childminder is very well organised and keeps all documentation confidential. She keeps necessary forms and information to hand as required.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to obtain parents written permission when giving non prescribed medication and to review confidentiality of accidents and medication records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has reviewed medication administration procedures and ensures she has written permission to administer any medication before giving it. Individual pages in record books are used to record accidents and medication administered, to ensure confidentiality at all times.

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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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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): • review registration procedures to ensure it is clear how many children are present at any one time • evaluate regular fire drills to further improve practice

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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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