Leicester Community Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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132781 Unique Reference Number 02 August 2007 Inspection date Yvonne Campbell 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 1993. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Keynsham, Bristol, close to St. Johns Primary School. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed 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 at any one time and is currently minding five children of various ages on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. The family has a rabbit and fish in a tank. Minded children may have supervised contact with the rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the local childminder support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for on clean premises where the childminder has regular routines and procedures for maintaining a hygienic environment. Carpets are vacuumed and surfaces and

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 floors are cleaned with antibacterial wipes or solutions. Children are developing good hygiene habits as they wash their hands before meals and after using the toilets or touching animals. They have easy access to a downstairs wash basin, liquid soap and paper towels. Older children take some responsibility for caring for their hygiene needs. The childminder engages them in discussion about germs and they use and dispose of tissues independently. Children also know that they should not lick the utensils they use during cooking activities as germs can spread in this way.

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Helping children to be healthy

Babies are changed under hygienic conditions on clean nappy mats. The childminder ensures that soiled material is disposed of safely in a nappy sack and put in the outdoor bin. However, there is a risk of the transfer of germs as the childminder does not always wear protective gloves during the nappy changing procedure.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's medical needs are met as the childminder has satisfactory procedures in place to administer prescribed medication requested by parents. Children have immediate treatment in case of minor accidents which occur during play as the childminder has a current first aid certificate and a fully equipped first aid box which is kept accessible for use. Children who are unwell are appropriately excluded to prevent the spread of infection to others.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are met through discussion and agreement with their parents. Babies and some older children have meals brought from home and the childminder ensures that food is stored correctly until the time it is to be used. Children have healthy snacks of fresh fruit and drinks are available to them at all times. Younger children have drink bottles which are kept on a low surface so they help themselves if they are thirsty. Older children help themselves from a jug placed on the dining room table.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of physical activities that promote the growth and development of their bodies. They have walks to and from school with older children and they enjoy playing in a large space on the community green. The childminder provides equipment to support active play and add to children's enjoyment such as balls and Frisbees. Children also have energetic play in the childminder's garden where they have access to a trampoline, bats and balls for team games and ride-on toys which helps to develop strength in the muscles of their legs. Newly mobile babies enjoy freedom of movement and are able to crawl on the carpet and use their developing physical strength in their arms and legs to pull themselves up onto their feet. The childminder encourages babies to be active by placing some toys at a distance so they have to crawl to reach them. They are learning to grasp and manipulate objects as they explore them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play in a safe environment where they are secure and welcomed by the childminder. They have sufficient space for play in as the furniture in the lounge is organised to create a spacious central area. The childminder sets out a selection of age-appropriate toys so that children start to play soon after arrival. Other items are accessible to children as a selection of play materials are kept in storage boxes at floor level.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All toys used by children are safe and in good working order. The childminder ensures that items are not hazardous and carefully chooses toys for babies and young children ensuring that there are no sharp corners or small loose pieces which can be placed in their mouths. The young children explore toys safely orally and by touch. The childminder checks each item before and

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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 after use. Washable toys are washed regularly or are wiped with a cleaning solution in order to maintain hygiene and ensure children are not at risk of infection from unclean toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe indoors and outdoors as the childminder has a sound understanding of safety issues and she takes the appropriate action to remove unacceptable risks to keep them safe. For example, children do not have unsupervised access to potentially hazardous areas such as the stairs and kitchen as safety gates are in place. Children are able to leave the premises quickly in an emergency as the childminder has a well thought through evacuation procedure. This is practiced with the children on a regular basis and evaluated for effectiveness such as, the time it took to leave the house, access to exits and the availability of keys to the door. Smoke alarms are fitted to both levels of the premises. Children are learning to stay safe when out walking close to traffic; the childminder makes sure that they hold hands and stay close to her.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from ongoing abuse as the childminder has a clear understanding of the child protection procedures. She knows some signs and symptoms which would cause concern and is aware of the need to record any relevant incidents or injury and discuss these with parents. A flow chart for dealing with concerns is available for reference. The childminder also has access to the child protection guidance booklet.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Babies are bright and alert as they interact with the childminder and play with the toys she has set out for them. These include brightly coloured multi purpose toys which stimulates children's curiosity and interest. They choose what they want to play with and explore how they work. They are learning that they can make things happen when levers or buttons on toys are pushed and they enjoy sensory responses such as the sudden appearance of a pop-up figure or musical sounds. Some children are developing noticeable preferences for favourite pieces and the childminder observes their play and notes when they have mastered how a particular toy works; she introduces different toys with a suitable level of challenge. Babies have good support and supervision during play as the childminder positions herself on the floor and plays alongside them modelling the use of items to show how they work.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies have a close and loving relationship with the childminder and show signs of unease when she is out of sight. They are secure in the close relationship with the caring adult and they smile and look to her for signs of approval during play. The childminder is aware of the importance of adult talk in the development of children's speech and she talks to babies and encourages them to use their emerging vocal sounds to respond to 'conversation'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies social development is progressing well and they enjoy the company of older minded children. They copy simple actions such as clapping hands and jumping when interacting with the older children who also enjoy spending time with them. Babies physical needs are also met well, for example, frequent drinks are offered to them and they are kept comfortable with regular changes of nappies. Individual meal and sleep times are known to the childminder who ensures that this is in keeping with established home routines and that babies do not become fretful or distressed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's progress is monitored during play. The childminder records her observations on preschool children in their individual daily diaries. These are shared with respective parents. She also makes very good observation on babies using the components of the Birth to threes

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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 matters framework. However, parents may not be fully aware of their children's progress as these records are not shared or discussed with parents. School age children enjoy free play with leisurely activities of their choice. For example, after school they enjoy outdoor play using the equipment in the garden or they use the arts, craft or board resources ensuring they are purposefully occupied until parents collect them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are treated as special and the childminder ensures their individual needs are met through ongoing discussion and information sharing with parents. The childminder has a positive attitude towards diversity and children become aware of their own culture and the culture of others during special activities. For example, children celebrate Christmas through craft activities including, making cards, crackers and babbles for the Christmas tree. The childminder describes how children had an exciting time during activities to recognise Chinese New Year. The childminder organised a trip to a Chinese retailer where children saw genuine decorations prepared for the festival. They made lanterns and dragons in craft activities and listened to traditional Chinese stories.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well as the childminder is aware of some triggers that lead to unacceptable behaviour in young children. She takes action on any signal of physical or emotional distress to ensure it does not result in unacceptable behaviour. She ensures that babies do not become frustrated by their inability to communicate by anticipating their needs and interpreting the sounds they make. Children are distracted so that they do not become distressed if the childminder is out of sight. She makes sure that babies are secured in a chair and are occupied by interesting toys when she is preparing feeds in the kitchen. Older children know what is expected of them as the childminder explains rules to keep them safe, such as walking in pairs and staying close to the childminder as they walk to and from school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have continuity of care between home and childminding as the childminder works closely with parents and complies with their wishes and feelings for their children's care. Information about care is recorded on the child record form and the childminder gives regular feedback at the end of the day. A daily diary is also maintained for preschool children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has organised her practice reasonably well to meet the needs of children and the requirements of the regulator. She has completed a childminder preparations course and holds a current first aid certificate. All adults in the home, including the childminder's teenage daughter, are safe to be in close proximity to children as they have completed criminal record checks. The childminder maintains close links with other childminders in the area and has made the appropriate arrangement for emergency cover. The childminder continues her professional development by attending short courses on topics such as Early Learning and Child Protection.

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Organisation

The home is sufficiently organised to create space for play and activities which take place in the lounge and dining area. A selection of toys are set out by the childminder; other items are accessible in toy storage boxes on the floor. Children have sufficient care and attention as the adult to child ratio is maintained at all times and babies have one to one care. The record of attendance is clearly recorded and up to date, showing the actual times of children's arrival and departure on individual time sheets.

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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 Written policies and procedures which promote the care and welfare of children are developed satisfactorily and include the complaints policy, the fire plan and a sickness policy. However, these are kept in a working folder which is not sufficiently organised or accessible to parents for information. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder agreed to recommendations to ensure accurate recording of children arriving and leaving and to seek advice about the contents of the first aid box. She also agreed to ensure that a plug in air freshener does not pose a risk to children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has now improved the organisation of her documents and children's arrival and departure are accurately recorded. The first aid box is now fully equipped and is accessible for use. The childminder has now improved the procedures for keeping children safe and she has removed the plug-in air freshener and replaced it with a safety plug in the socket.

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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 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): • improve hygiene procedures for promoting children's good health and review the nappy changing procedure • improve the organisation of written policies and procedures for the care and welfare of children and ensure these, including the complains procedure and the registration documents, are accessible to parents at all times • further develop procedures for sharing children's progress with parents and ensure parents have regular access to all written observations and evaluations.

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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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