Manston Primary

Inspection report for early years provision

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107940 Unique Reference Number 30 July 2007 Inspection date Lorna Lorraine Hall 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 has been a childminder since 1994. She lives with her husband and three school aged children. They live in a house on a main road in Iver Heath. The area is well served with shops, schools and parks all within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available 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 at any one time and is currently minding six children. Some of the children attend after school. The childminder attends the local parents and toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 good. Through discussion, children learn about the benefits of a healthy diet. Parents provide a pack lunch for their children. The childminder states that these meals are generally nutritious and have lots of fruit and sufficient drinks. The childminder works in partnership with parents to ensure individual dietary needs are met especially during the weaning process. Children enjoy healthy snacks of fruit and water throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children play in a clean environment where they learn the importance of good personal care. For example, the garden is regularly checked and eating and drinking is restricted to the dining room. Items such as cutlery and plates are washed at a high temperature. Cross infection to the children is minimised because parents receive information about the care and exclusion of sick children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Accidents to the children are appropriately dealt with because the childminder has a current first aid certificate and a complete first aid box. In the event of an emergency good systems are in place to care for the children, in the absence of the childminder. Proper consents are in place to ensure children receive the correct treatment in a emergency. This promotes the children's welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily opportunity to enjoy the fresh air. They walk to and from school. Play in the garden provides good opportunities for the children to engage in physical play which contributes to their good health and develop their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a spacious well-organised environment that allows them to move around freely to access activities. The organisation of space enables the children to be active or quiet. For example, they sit on the settee and watch television or look at a book. They play with colourful mats and cars on the floor.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is open plan and children make use of all available space. However, the children's safety is compromised because there are no safety devises on low level cupboards which stores cleaning fluids.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children have easy access to a good range of quality learning resources, appropriate to their age and stage of development. For example, thick crayons are available for the younger children. The children contribute to their learning because they can see at a glance what is available. The range of resources is interesting and suitable to sustain the children's interest for a long time. Outdoor space is equally well organised and resourced to promote learning.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Satisfactory systems are in place to promote the children's safety, within the home and on outings. For example, large furniture is organised to make most of the electric sockets inaccessible to the children. Children are escorted safely on outings because the childminder has appropriate insurance cover to transport them in her car, suitable car seats are fitted. During discussion, the childminder identified areas that could be used in an emergency evacuation. However, the evacuation procedures are practised annually. This compromises the safety of

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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 the children as those children who join within the year are not familiar with procedures. As an extra safety measure the childminder carries the children's details with her on outings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder understand the procedures to follow if she has any child protection concerns. She has good documentation to refer to, to support her in her work.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and contented in the childminder's home. The childminder knows the children well and how they wish to spend their time. Through interaction the childminder ensures the children are enjoy learning through play. For example, they play with pretend food to create a café. Play with puzzles and card games promote their hand and eye co-ordination.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder does not use the Birth to three matters framework as a guide to chart the children's progress. Rather she talks to the parents. However, during discussion she identified that use of the framework would enhance her service.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are many opportunities for the children to enjoy sensory play. For example, during cooking they smell the different ingredients. They use a variety of textured materials to create beautiful pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relate well to the childminder. They enjoy her company and regularly involve her in their play. The childminder communicates well with the children and uses appropriate strategies to encourage the children to name objects.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During school holidays, children enjoy a good range of outdoor activities such as visits to adventure playgrounds.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Through discussion children learn about other cultures. Learning resources such as books further promotes their understanding. There is good support for children and families who have learning difficulties and the childminder has experience of caring for children who have special dietary needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are well behaved because through play they learn about what is right and wrong. The older children are very good at supporting the younger children. The good relationship the childminder has with the children means that they respond positively to the methods in place to manage their behaviour. Children work harmoniously together and their self esteem is promoted through praise and encouragement from the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a strong emphasis on partnership with parents. Parents are asked to give detailed written information to ensure appropriate care. Parents generally receive verbal information about the days' activities. They are valued and their wishes sought to enable the childminder to adapt her service to meet individual needs. The childminder has devised written policies and procedures based on the fourteen National Standards. The parent poster is on display with all the information should parents need to make a complaint.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a busy routine which includes morning, midday and after school runs. However, the day is well planned to ensure the children enjoy structured and free play several times throughout the day.

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Organisation

The childminder's busy routines do not enable her to access appropriate courses. However, during discussion, she identified the need to keep a breast of changes in her files of work. She regularly meet up with other childminder's to discuss work practises.

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Organisation

Well written policies and procedures based on the fourteen National Standards and related guidance guide the childminder in her daily practice.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to address two recommendations, the recommendation related to safety. Satisfactory progress has been made in addressing these recommendations to promote the children's safety.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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): • practise the emergency evacuation procedure with the children • make low level cupboards inaccessible to the children • develop knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three matters framework

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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 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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