Harpley CofE VC Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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121092 Unique Reference Number 26 July 2007 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 has been registered since 1994. She lives with her husband and their two children, aged 20 and 17 years, in an end of terrace house in a residential road in Englefield Green village. The house is close to local amenities, nurseries and primary schools. Minded children have access to two ground floor rooms. Upstairs can be used for children to sleep. There is a secure rear garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five on a part-time basis during the week and one child over eight also on a part-time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children stay healthy and are very well protected from illness and infection because the childminder follows excellent health and hygiene procedures. They have individual towels and changing mats and play and learn within a clean home environment. The childminder promotes good hygiene by ensuring children wash their hands, as appropriate to daily activities. She

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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 ensures very young children are kept clean and comfortable, for example, by wiping their nose after they sneeze. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and children receive appropriate care if they have an accident. She maintains detailed records of accidents and any medication administered. Comprehensively detailed policies and procedures are in place to support her practice in promoting children's good health, for example, she has a medication policy and accident procedure.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a very good understanding of a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a healthy diet. The childminder has attended food hygiene training, has a healthy eating policy, and works in close partnership with parents to ensure children's dietary needs are met. Parents currently provide their children's food which is stored appropriately and the childminder keeps a daily record of individual children's dietary intake. Children drink according to their individual needs. The childminder contributes positively to children's emotional well-being. Children pursue their own interests which greatly reduces the incidents when they may feel frustration. They move freely around the minding areas and are able to freely use the garden area for play in the fresh air. They receive excellent support and encouragement to develop their motor skills. For example, they very carefully manoeuvre toy pushchairs around inside as they take

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Helping children to be healthy

dolls for a walk and try and build towers with stacking beakers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are totally at ease within the welcoming environment of the childminder's home. They enjoy exploring the good range of age appropriate and easily accessible toys and books. Toys are regularly rotated to maintain children's interest and stimulation and children independently select toys and books to play with and look at with the childminder. Children are safe within the childminder's home as she has identified and minimized risks. She has a detailed healthy and safety checklist and regularly risk assesses her minding environment. She is vigilant to safety within the home and immediately mops up any accidental spillages to prevent children from slipping on the floor. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as the childminder teaches them about road safety before any outings. Clear written policies and procedures are in place regarding, for example, health and safety, the arrival and collection of children, outings

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and trips, and fire evacuation. Children's welfare is well safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her role with regard to child protection. She has attended child protection training and has a detailed written policy to support her practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely happy and receive an exceptionally high level of care from the childminder. They have fun with the childminder and flourish as she supports learning at their pace. They develop in independence as they make choices within a positive environment. The childminder is sensitive to their learning needs and recognises when to provide support and when to step back to allow children time for independent exploration. Children enjoy the attention they receive as the childminder sits with them at their level to build towers with beakers. She demonstrates how to operate toys to play tunes and children observe carefully and repeatedly try until they successfully achieve in pressing the button to make music play. Children find a voice as the childminder responds to their vocalisations and names objects children point to in books to develop their vocabulary. Children have fun and giggle as they

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

put a fireman's helmet on the childminder. They repeat patterns of play to reinforce their

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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 learning and sing happily to themselves as they engage in imaginary play with toy cups and saucers. They delight in positive physical contact as they sit on the childminder's lap to share books and actively engage in learning through play with a variety of different toys.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has attended training on the Birth to three matters framework and displays daily activity plans for parents to see what their children will be doing. Plans are flexible but provide children with opportunities to engage in a variety of crafts, for example, making collage pictures or modelling with play dough. The childminder has recently introduced assessment sheets for children to chart their progress in learning and she understands how the components of the Birth to three matters framework link in with the inspected outcomes for children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are confident and have good self-esteem as a result of the praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder. They readily approach the childminder for support showing that strong trusting relationships have been established. The childminder is vigilant to children's individual needs and provides cuddles, as appropriate, when children become tired before settling them for a sleep. Children are familiar with the home environment and are treated as part of the family with kindness and respect. The childminder has an excellent range of resources to develop children's knowledge and understanding of diversity and differences within our society. She has an equal opportunities policy to support her practice together with policies on behaviour management, physical intervention and working in partnership with parents. Children behave very well in the childminder's care as they are well occupied and supported.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has attended behaviour management training and uses distraction effectively to settle children to play. She acts as a positive role model with regard to good manners.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has excellent relationships with parents and shares comprehensive details about her service. Testimonials on file from parents confirm they are 'delighted with all aspects of care'. Parents share information about their child with the childminder and they have daily opportunities to discuss their child. The childminder also provides them with a daily diary sheet. Children benefit from this partnership between their main carers as the positive exchange of information ensures their individual needs are continually being met.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children receive very good quality care in the childminder's home. She very effectively organises her time and resources to provide children with a range of well supported play and learning experiences. Children develop into independent learners as the childminder skilfully and sensitively supports them during play. She is kind and caring and monitors and evaluates her practice to ensure parents are happy and to look for ways of continually improving the already excellent service she offers. She is enthusiastic and committed to ongoing professional development. Documentation to support her practice is of a generally high standard, dated and well maintained with only a little detail missing from registration records. Children are very happy and settled in her care. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the previous inspection the childminder has improved her registration documentation to show an acknowledgement of entries by both childminder and parents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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): • ensure children's full names are on all entries in registration records.

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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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