Fullbrook Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

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104135 Unique Reference Number 27 September 2007 Inspection date Jacqueline Allen 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 registered in 1990. She lives with her husband and adult son in a modern detached house in Willand in Devon. Mainly the ground floor of the house is used for childminding, where there are toilet facilities. There is a large, fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. She may provide care for a maximum of six children under eight years. There are currently three children on roll. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is adequately promoted through the recording of accidents, parental consent for seeking emergency medical treatment and the recording of medication, although this is not always clearly recorded. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate and has an appropriate first aid kit for treating children's minor accidents. Children are protected from cross infection through basic information shared with parents to exclude sick children. However, children use

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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 wet wipes instead of washing their hands before eating and after using the toilet, this practice does not effectively prevent the risk of cross contamination.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged to eat healthily through the food supplied by parents and the childminder. For example, children who do not want food supplied by parents on the day, are offered a sandwich, using wholemeal bread. Young babies are sent with nutritious home made food, such as chicken casserole and kale, which the childminder reheats in the microwave. Children can access their own drinks at all times which are regularly refilled. Babies are offered bottles as required and fresh water in between, which meets their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily opportunities to enjoy some physical activity, for example, they attend toddler groups, feed the ducks and visit local parks regularly. Children and babies have sufficient space to move freely indoors to meet their developmental needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have sufficient space, both indoors and outside in which to partake in a range of activities. They benefit by self selecting from a range of interesting toys, which include large fire engines, a farm yard, an interactive bus, books, an aqua draw mat, puzzles and play people, which are laid out on the floor or in boxes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are generally safe as they are appropriately supervised with potential hazards identified and actions taken. For example, the childminder has child locks on low-level cupboards to prevent them from accessing dangerous substances, all electrical sockets are covered and the premises are secure. However, there is no smoke alarm on the ground floor which puts children at some risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is appropriately safeguarded as the childminder is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care, which are in line with the Local Safeguarding Children's Board.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the warm, attentive care of the childminder, where their individual needs are well known and met. For example, the childminder encourages babies to stand whilst praising older children's efforts, as they jump to hit balloons. Children benefit from the childminder's continual interaction which encourages their individual stage of development, such as colour, shape and number recognition, giving clues and using open ended questioning when children get stuck to encourage their listening and thinking skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies go to sleep easily as the childminder is confident of their daily routine and knows children well. Children are encouraged to look at books and identify items that they recognise, such as matching adult animals with their babies. Children enjoy this time, cuddling up on the childminder's knee and giggling happily when she asks silly questions.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are well known and met, through the effective sharing of information with parents. Children learn about diversity through the range of accessible resources which reflect positive images, such as books, fire fighters and dolls, which increases children's awareness. Although there are currently no children attending with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the childminder has no experience of caring for such children, she shows a good understanding of acquiring information on children's needs and who to approach for support and advice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children generally behave well as their behaviour is effectively managed by the calm, consistent childminder. Children are routinely praised for all their efforts and encouraged to be tolerant of others. For example, when babies are going to sleep older children are offered a quiet activity. Children benefit from an effective partnership with parents which ensures that all necessary parental consents are obtained and that children's individual needs are well known, through the sharing of information both in writing and verbally.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children are cared for by an experienced, caring childminder who establishes effective daily routines to ensure children are offered a variety of activities. Daily registration systems ensure children's attendance is recorded, however this does not always show accurate times for their arrival and departure.

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Organisation

Documentation is satisfactorily organised, although the recording of children's medication needs is not always clear. However, all regulatory information is available and the childminder has a reasonable knowledge of the National Standards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection, one recommendation was raised relating to developing an understanding of child protection issues. This has been achieved, which promotes children's welfare.

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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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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 there is a clear system for recording children’s medication needs • improve hand washing procedures to prevent cross contamination • ensure a smoke alarm is provided and maintained on the ground floor • ensure the daily registration system records accurate times of children’s 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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