Greatham CofE Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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111673 Unique Reference Number 06 August 2007 Inspection date Carole Gronow 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 1992. She lives in Eastleigh with her husband and three adult children. All areas of the property are used for childminding however, this normally occurs downstairs and there is a fully enclosed rear 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 under eight at any one time and is currently minding three children under five on a part time basis. She walks to local schools to take and collect children and she attends both the local parent and toddler group and the Eastleigh Childminding Circle on a weekly basis. She also takes children to the local park and to the library for story time.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a NVQ level 3 in Early Years Care and Education as well as a Certificate in Childminding Practise (Cache Level 3). She 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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in an environment where they are learning about good hygiene practices and routines. For example they wash their hands after they have been painting or to the toilet as well as before eating. The childminder protects children from the risk of illness from cross-infection as she provides paper towels for them to dry their hands and she uses disposable gloves when changing nappies and cleans changing mats after each use. Children know to put their used towels in the bin and they take the nappies, which are appropriately bagged to the outside bin with the childminder. Children's good health is safeguarded because the childminder holds all the necessary health details about the children she cares for, including signed parental consents to seek emergency treatment. The childminder uses an accident book to record injuries that happen to children in her care, she does not however, record all minor incidents although

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Helping children to be healthy

she does tell parents verbally about these. This means that children's health is a risk because parents are not informed of all incidents and therefore may not respond appropriately to their child should they become ill when they are with them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities to go outside, getting fresh air as well as physical exercise. In the paved garden they ride on cars and bikes and they enjoy sit and ride and push a long toys as well. They visit the local parks where they develop their large muscles, balance and co-ordination when playing on slides, trampolines, swings and climbing frames. Children bring their own meals and the childminder supplements them with healthy snacks such as raisins or fresh fruit. Children drink milk, water or juices and in hot weather the childminder encourages them to take regular drinks to ensure that they remain hydrated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in premises where they play with a range of play provision that is modern, attractive and well maintained. Both the safety and security of children is given a very high priority by the childminder. She has made sure that all areas of her home that children routinely access are safe and suitable for them. For instance, inside, dangerous substances such as cleaning materials and medicines have been locked away. Outside, children are protected from items such as the rubbish bin because they are housed in a separate area. The childminder ensure that children are safe when they are out walking with her through effective use of either harnesses or reins for younger children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected in the event of a fire because the childminder regularly checks smoke detectors which are fitted on each level of the premises and a fire blanket is appropriately located in the kitchen. Children are learning about how to respond in an emergency because they routinely practise the evacuation procedure that the childminder has devised. The childminder records and evaluates this so she is aware of which children are confident with the process and which children need to practise it more. The childminder is very careful about making sure she is fully aware of who will be collecting children. She checks with parents so that she knows who it will be which supports children's safety further. Also, children are secure because doors are kept locked so that children are unable to leave the premises unnoticed and the childminder is the only one who answers them. The childminder has a very good

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

understanding of child protection procedures. She has undertaken child protection training at

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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 an advanced level and has all the relevant information readily to hand and so would be able to act in children's best interest in areas of concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are relaxed and very much at home. They are happy, confident and familiar with the daily routines, for instance, where clean nappies are kept and where to go to be changed. The childminder ensures that the play opportunities she offers children will help to develop their emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities. Children make independent choices about what to play with, choosing from a wide range of different toys which cover all the areas of learning and are age and stage appropriate. Children's independence is further promoted, for example, as they try to put on and take off the dressing up clothes on their own. The childminder plays alongside the children and they enjoy playing with her. They ask her to dress up with them and she puts on some of the clothes, and children giggle at her and give her other things to put on. She encourages children when they are trying new tasks and this helps them

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to persevere with tasks such as threading cotton reels.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are learning to make choices such as whether they would like to do a painting or have a story read to them. The childminder plans a wide range of creative activities for children to experience such as gluing, painting, water, gloop, finger painting, play dough and cold cookery. Children's vocabulary is expanding because the childminder talks to them a lot about what they are playing with. For example, with the magnetic face she asks them where the different features are such as eyes and nose. She demonstrates words such as up, down and turn around when she uses them and children copy her and repeat them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about their local community as they go out and about with the childminder. For example, they go to the paddling pool at Fleming Park and to Lakeside from where they watch the planes taking off and landing. When they travel further a field, for example to Winchester they use public transport, going on trains and busses. The childminder provides some resources which increase children’s awareness of diversity and their understanding of others, however none of them reflect people with disabilities. Children's needs are well met; they follow their normal daily routine as discussed with their parents. The childminder makes sure that she is kept updated about any changes through daily discussions so that she can provide the best possible care for each individual child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the good relationships that exist between their parents and the childminder who discuss children's achievements, activities and care issues daily. Parents are kept well informed about the provision and the service that the childminder offers through these daily talks, information on a notice board and through policies, which she ensures that parents are familiar with. However, the compliments and complaints one is not accurate because the childminder is not familiar with the requirement to maintain a complaints log and this is a breach of regulation. Children are well behaved. Even very young children are learning about behaviour boundaries because the childminder is consistent in her expectations of them, for example not getting down from the table when they are having their lunch. The childminder is a good role model for children as she uses positive methods for managing behaviour, praising children and

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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 saying please and thank you. In return, children are very polite and say please and thank you back to her.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for by a very experienced and well established childminder who plans her day to offer children a range of different opportunities both inside and outside the home. She is aware of the importance of keeping up to date in her work and has recently achieved two relevant child care qualifications both at level 3. The childminder ensures that she maintains an in date first aid qualification and also attends other training to help support her in her work. She keeps all the legally required documentation, however the record of children's attendance does not accurately reflect the exact times that children are in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder makes sure that she is kept formally updated about each individual child because parents are asked to regularly complete individual information record sheets. She ensures that parents are fully aware about her provision and the service she offers because they are required to sign to say that they have read her policies and that they agree with them and also because her registration and insurance certificates are on display for them to read. The childminder organises the space and resources in a way that helps children's increasing independence to develop.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of the children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection the childminder was set four recommendations. Continue to evaluate and extend range of accessible toys and equipment - the childminder now constantly reviews the play provision she has to make sure that it is suitable for the ages of the children she is caring for and she makes regular purchases of new toys. She also rotates the toys and make sure they are accessible to the children so that they are able to make independent choices about what to play with. Make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint, the childminder has a written statement which she shares with parents, however the procedure for the recording of complaints has now changed and this is the subject of a recommendation following this inspection. The childminder was also asked to ensure children are offered a healthy option at snack time and to request

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Improvements since the last inspection

written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. She has now got this for all children and she provides snacks which regularly fresh fruit, both of which support children in staying healthy.

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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. 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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Complaints since the last inspection

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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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): • ensure that a record is maintained of every accident • improve knowledge and understanding of the requirement about how to investigate and record any formal written complaints made by parents which relate to the National Standards. Further develop play resources to reflect diversity in society particularly with reference to disability • keep an accurate record children's actual times of arrival and departure

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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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