Woolston Community Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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111182 Unique Reference Number 24 July 2007 Inspection date Louise, Caroline Bonney 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 1992. She lives with her husband and two older children in Aldershot, Hampshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house 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 currently cares for five children who attend part-time. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. The childminder attends local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis. The family have a pet rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children receive good protection from illness and infection. The childminder shares her sickness policy with parents which ensures unwell children do not attend. Children play with toys that

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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 are clean and hygienic and any soiled toys are immediately washed. The childminder has suitable nappy changing procedures and uses disposable gloves. This helps prevent cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their individual routines taken into account. Babies have their afternoon sleeps in the cot, where they can freely move about as they rest, and have meals at regular times. Toddlers approach the childminder as they tire and have a cuddle. This helps children cope well emotionally and physically with their day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents currently provide ready prepared food for the childminder to reheat. However, the childminder is uncertain of how to safely reheat foods to prevent contamination. This could jeopardise the children's health. The childminder freshly prepares babies' bottles and toddlers have drinks available at all times, usually water. Children eat at the same time and develop independence as they feed themselves and mealtimes are relaxing. This encourages children to enjoy their food and to develop healthy eating and drinking habits. Young children begin to learn about hygiene through their daily routines. Toddlers wipe their hands on flannels before mealtimes and older children wash their hands after using the toilet. They use equipment, such as high chairs and toys that are kept meticulously clean, as are the premises. This safeguards the children's health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children exercise every day by attending local toddler groups or going to the park. This provides them with good opportunities to use large equipment to climb, push-along or pedal, as well as space to run. This promotes their good health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children stay very safe through the childminder's rigorous procedures and vigilance. Indoors, children play in safe areas through the use of safety gates, which prevent their accessing areas, such as the kitchen and stairs. They use an excellent range of equipment that is safe and suitable for their ages and stages of development. Children sleep in a separate room downstairs where the childminder can closely monitor them. Outside all sheds and gates are locked and there are no hazards. Children all have car seats of appropriate sizes and parents sign consent forms for their children to travel in the front of the car with the air-bag deactivated. Children and parents use the side door on arrival, which provides safer access to the premises than the front door as it is further from the road. The childminder takes children on outings to venues she knows to be suitable, such as local toddler groups and parks. This promotes the children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children receive protection through the childminder having detailed action plans to follow in case of emergencies, which she shares with parents. Parents carry details of the childminder and vice versa in case of accidents and the childminder seeks details of additional emergency contacts from parents. This ensures that swift action can be taken in an emergency. The childminder has very good understanding of how to safeguard children. She shares her child protection policy with parents and records any injuries the children arrive with, which parents sign. She has contact numbers of the relevant agencies to contact should she have any concerns. She attends child protection training to improve her knowledge. This helps to protect the children from possible abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn how to be safe. They access their toys from low storage boxes and help to tidy up between activities. Babies pull themselves up on sturdy furniture as they learn to balance. When out they wear reins and walk on the inside of the pavement. They use larger apparatus

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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 at the park or toddler group, such as climbing frames, wheeled toys and slides. This provides them with suitable challenges and helps them develop awareness of risk and how to control it.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children experience a wide range of activities which contribute very well to their development. The childminder makes excellent use of the Birth to three matters framework. She monitors children's individual achievements and records them in colourful folders which contain anecdotal evidence, examples of their work and photographs. Each quarter the childminder writes a report on children's progress to share with parents. Through the achievement records the childminder identifies individual children's areas for future development. This means she is able to continue to support the very good progress they make by providing appropriate activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children find their activities stimulating and access a very good range of resources. They eagerly make pictures with stickers, build a railway layout and look at favourite books. Toddlers enjoy talking about their activities with the childminder and involve her in their activities. They develop very good levels of self-esteem and confidence as the childminder praises and encourages them as they play. They develop independence as they take decisions about the resources they use, selecting from boxes on the floor. The childminder introduces additional resources to maintain their interest. Children build close friendships with the other children attending the setting and take pleasure in talking about their friends and activities as they look at recent photographs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have outings every day usually to local toddler groups, other childminders' houses or the park. This provides them with good opportunities to socialise in larger groups and complements the activities available at home. This provides children with additional opportunities to develop new skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from the excellent partnership the childminder has with parents. Parents receive comprehensive information about the provision and their children's progress, both in writing and verbally. The childminder shares all records and documentation with parents. She seeks detailed information about individual children's care and educational needs, liaising with other agencies when appropriate. Parents show their high regard for the provision through writing letters of commendation and positive comments on their children's reports.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and are polite. They respond well to the childminder's consistent approach which gives them clear boundaries, such as only looking at their special folders with her support. The childminder uses distraction, encouragement and praise to good effect, which supports the children's development of self-esteem. Children confidently initiate their own play by selecting resources and take decisions on their activities which the childminder supports. They know the childminder values their feelings. She quickly responds to their needs, such as when they say they are hungry, and recognises when they are tired or need a change of activity. Children look forward to seeing other children in the childminder's care and enjoy looking at their pictures displayed around the room. This helps children develop a strong sense of belonging at the provision.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children use a wide range of resources that reflect diversity in a positive way. The childminder plans activities to encourage children's awareness of their own and other cultures. They make

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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 a poster for father's day or a picture to reflect the Year of the Golden Pig. They play with figurines and look at books that reflect various cultures and disability. They attend groups and socialise with others from the locality at toddler groups. This helps children develop awareness of their community and the similarities and differences between people and cultures.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the effective organisation of the provision. They have adequate space indoors for their activities. Children find the resources and planned activities inside and outside the home stimulating. The childminder supervises students who attend for work-experience and ensures they are appropriately vetted. This protects the children's safety. The childminder attends training, such as for the Birth to three matters framework and is currently training towards a Level 3 early years qualification. This helps her to continually and effectively evaluate and develop her provision and supports the children's care and learning well.

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Organisation

The childminder develops and implements a comprehensive range of policies and procedures, which she shares with parents. She efficiently maintains records and documentation and is very careful to ensure all information is held in confidence. This protects the children's safety and welfare. Parents share daily diaries if they wish to and their child's achievement folder and quarterly progress report. This keeps them well informed of their children's development. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last Children Act inspection, the provider was recommended to increase the range of toys to promote positive images of disability. She has now bought additional resources, such as sticker posters, puzzles and play people. This provides children with opportunities to recognise and value similarities and differences.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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 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):

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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 • ensure pre-prepared food is appropriately re-heated.

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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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