Glebe Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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102224 Unique Reference Number 04 July 2007 Inspection date Lynne Stephanie Bowden 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, their adult and one school age son. They live in a rural farmhouse, on the outskirts of Falmouth, Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play, along with extensive gardens and land surrounding the property.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children and currently cares for five children under five on a part time basis. The childminder drives to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group. The family have numerous pets and animals including a dog, cats and poultry.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Association and 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 satisfactory. Children stay healthy and risk of cross infection is minimised, because the childminder usually follows sensible hygiene practices. She ensures that children wash their hands appropriately and provides them with separate towels, but the occasions when they share a towel, puts them at risk of cross infection. The childminder has no written policy about children being ill, to ensure that parents are aware of the procedures she will follow if their children become ill whilst in her care or whether she will exclude infectious children. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of first aid and accident records show that these are treated appropriately. However, emergency medical advice or treatment for children could be delayed, because the childminder has not obtained written parental permission to seek it.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from energetic outdoor activities, the childminder takes them out on regular walks around the local countryside and when indoors they enjoy dancing and exercising to music. They are learning about healthy lifestyles and older children talk with the childminder about the effect of having too little sleep. The childminder uses her knowledge of children's individual routines to ensure that young children have sufficient, appropriate opportunities to rest and sleep. Older children rest, as they enjoy cuddling in with the childminder to look at books and listen to stories.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy eating and where foods come from through discussion with the childminder and their experiences with her. They enjoy going out into the garden and helping her dig up potatoes for lunch, picking blackcurrants and helping collect eggs from her hens. They enjoy sitting together around a small table to eat nutritious sociable meals, when they benefit from eating home grown produce.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for in a welcoming and inviting environment, where the childminder greets them and their parents warmly on their arrival. They are confident in her home and familiar with resources available, some of which they can access independently, because they know where it is stored. They have plenty of space to play and are able to enjoy riding and pushing wheeled toys around. Children enjoy play in the safe, enclosed garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are learning how to keep themselves safe, because the childminder encourages them to think about personal safety and explains why some activities are dangerous. Most safety measures have been taken to protect children from harm, with the childminder using safety gates to control access to the kitchen and stairs. Children are protected from risk of fire by the childminder having fitted appropriate fire safety equipment, but they are not familiar with an emergency escape plan. The childminder uses appropriate car seats to protect children when transporting them in her car, but has not obtained parent's written permission to transport them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded by the childminders awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. She has information and guidance about what to do to if she suspects child abuse, but does not have a secure knowledge of these procedures.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have good relationships with each other and the childminder. She talks with older children about younger children's development and how they are learning to speak, so that they understand the need for patience as they learn to share and be considerate of each other. The childminder provides varied and interesting activities. They learn about the environment as they enthusiastically help the childminder in her vegetable garden, with her poultry and take walks around the local countryside. They thoroughly enjoy construction play. They develop their physical skills as they push and ride wheeled toys and enjoy exercising and dancing to music. The childminder supports older children well as she helps them to complete jigsaw puzzles. All the children enjoy story time, when they cuddle up with the childminder and older children spontaneously attempt to read familiar stories to the younger ones.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children begin to appreciate and respect their own culture and the culture of others through the childminder introducing them to music from around the world, along with their access to resources such as books and toys. Through explanations from discussions with the childminder older children learn to understand and be considerate of younger children's behaviour and development. The childminder has experience of some learning difficulties and disabilities and understands the importance of making adaptations to meet children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well, because the childminder ensures that they are happily and constructively occupied and gives them clear explanations of what is expected of them. She is a good role model, calm and consistent in her approach and focuses on positive behaviour, praising helpfulness and politeness.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shares information with parents on an informal basis, but has little documentation to support this. There are no written policies or procedures for parents to refer to and few written agreements with parents, setting out expectations of both parties or ensuring that necessary consents have been acquired.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She arranges an interesting, varied and balanced routine with times for indoor and outdoor play and for children to relax and be active.

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Organisation

She provides an interesting, varied and balanced routine with times for indoor and outdoor play and for children to relax and be active. Children benefit from being cared for in an environment where they feel confident and secure, have plenty of space to play and most safety measures have been taken.

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Organisation

The childminder is not familiar with child protection procedures and does not have all the necessary documents and procedures to promote the welfare and care of children, being reliant on verbal agreements and information from parents to meet children's needs.

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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 her previous inspection the childminder agreed to take steps to protect children from accessible electrical sockets, obtain and seek written parental consent to transport children and seek emergency medical treatment.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has not continued to follow these recommendations, so she has not got written consent to transport children and their access to emergency medical treatment could be delayed.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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 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): • Establish necessary written agreements and consents with parents. (St 12.2/6.17/7.8/7.12) • Develop knowledge of child protection procedures.

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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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