Bawdeswell Community Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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120785 Unique Reference Number 11 March 2008 Inspection date Catherine Hill 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 good. 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 and two adult children in Guildford, Surrey. Minded children have access to most rooms on the ground floor with toilet and sleeping facilities also provided in this area. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder has a budgerigar. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five years and three children between five and eight years at various times during the week. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and regularly attends local toddler groups and childminder support groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder provides children with a good range of healthy nutritious meals and snacks to help them maintain and develop healthy bodies. Children enjoy a snack of banana, raisins and rice cakes and freely access their cup of drink when thirsty. The childminder has attended food hygiene training and has a written policy to support her practice together with a written menu

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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 plan. Children have daily opportunities to develop their physical skills both indoors and outside the home. They have access to wheeled toys and swings in the childminder's garden and the childminder also takes them to soft play centres and to the park. Good policies and procedures are in place which help protect children from illness and infection. The childminder maintains a very clean home environment for children and is attentive in ensuring children remain clean and comfortable within her care. Children learn about health and hygiene through daily routines. The childminder ensures children's hands are clean before they eat and all children have their own towels, bedding and drinking beakers, thus reducing the risk of any infection spreading. The childminder is alert to health risks outside the home and takes antibacterial hand gel for

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Helping children to be healthy

use on outings. Children receive appropriate care if they have an accident as the childminder holds a current first aid certificate. She maintains records of medication administered and any accidents children may have, although these documents do not record children's full names.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. An excellent range of clean, good quality resources are accessible to children which support their learning through play. Children are totally settled and relax in the very warm, welcoming family environment of the childminder's home. Children's pictures are displayed and they have their own named place mats with their photographs on giving them a sense of ownership of their environment. Children develop in independence as they freely choose what they play with. Freedom of choice also reduces the incidents when children may feel frustration. In order to maintain children's interest and stimulation the childminder regularly rotates toys which are kept easily accessible to children at their level. The childminder is very vigilant in ensuring children stay safe within her care. She has identified and minimized risks within the home, has a written risk assessment and undertakes daily safety checks. She has attended a workshop on

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

fire safety in the home and displays her emergency escape plan. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as they practise fire drills with the childminder, who records relevant details of the drills. Children's welfare is well safeguarded as the childminder understands her responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has attended relevant training and has a written policy to support her practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children actively occupy themselves through purposeful play. They show a keen interest in play resources and enjoy the freedom to explore and investigate their surroundings. They press buttons on interactive toys and the childminder helps them find a voice as she interprets their vocalisations as they play. Children have excellent relationships with the childminder and she effectively supports their emotional well-being with cuddles, smiles and a genuine interest in what they say and do. The childminder sits and play with children at their level, ready to support when necessary but also recognizing children's need for independent play. She uses questions effectively to make children think during play and encourages children with their learning. For example, she encourages children to feel the soft texture of a fabric sheep in a nursery rhyme book and develops children's vocabulary as she describes how it is fluffy and warm. Children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

touch the woolly fabric and listen as the childminder talks to them about it. They are very happy and sing to themselves as they play. They line up dolls in toy chairs and sing 'Happy Birthday' to them as they offer them a pretend drink. They sit on the floor and complete an inset farm puzzle with the childminder who reinforces the names, and sounds, of the different farm animals. The childminder makes a sound like a chicken to reinforce the link to the animal's name and

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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 children copy the sound as they concentrate on completing the puzzle. They smile proudly and then clap after the last puzzle piece has been inserted and they have achieved what they started. They have fun as they sing songs with the childminder developing an awareness of parts of the body through songs, such as 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes'. The childminder has attended training relating to the Birth to three matters framework and has activity plans in place which show links to the framework. She plans a good variety of activities and experiences for children which allow them to progress in all skill areas. Children, for example, have learnt about the natural world through planting and growing flowers and vegetables and have been able to express themselves creatively making puppets and models from salt dough. The childminder

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

maintains development records, which are regularly updated, which show children's progress linked to the components of the Birth to three matters framework.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children readily approach the childminder for support during play showing that secure trusting relationships have been established. The childminder boosts children's self-esteem through positive interaction. She praises and encourages children as they play and talks fondly to children, addressing them by name. The childminder gains an understanding of children's individual needs through both discussion with parents and observation of the children in her care. For example, she recognizes when children are tired and helps them sit and relax with a cuddle and gentle conversation. Children behave very well in the childminder's care and learn right from wrong through discussion with the childminder. The childminder has a very good range of written information which she shares with parents regarding her practice. For example, she has policies on equal opportunities, behaviour management, complaints and inclusion.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's development records are shared with parents and the childminder also keeps a daily diary for very young children. Excellent relationships have been established with parents and testimonials on file from parents state that they find the childminder 'very caring, capable, efficient and professional'.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder regularly attends training to continually develop professionally and also keeps up to date with changes within childcare by reading relevant publications. She monitors her practice in accordance with children's developmental needs ensuring they are able to progress their skills through suitably challenging activities both inside and outside the home. Documentation is generally very well maintained with most containing all necessary detail. Attendance records, however, do not have children's full names on them and entries have not been signed by parents as confirmation of details recorded. The childminder is very positive about her role and organises her practice effectively to provide children with a loving home environment in which to play and learn. Children have fun with the childminder and thoroughly enjoy their play. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation was made at the last inspection for the childminder to obtain written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. She now has written permission in place for all children in her care.

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Improvements 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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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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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 good. 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 documentation by ensuring children's full names are recorded within childminding records and by obtaining parents' signatures as an acknowledgement of children's daily attendance times.

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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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