Rusper Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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150703 Unique Reference Number 16 August 2007 Inspection date Timothy Butcher 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 2001. She lives with her husband and two children, aged seven and 11 in Highridge, Bristol. The whole of the ground floor of the property and one first floor bedroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under eight of which one is under five and two are over five, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and has the use of a car. She attends the local toddler group on a regular basis. The family have two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of South Bristol Sure Start Childminding Network and 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 good. Children's health is effectively promoted because the childminder has good procedures and practices in place to meet their individual physical, nutritional and health needs. Children wash their hands as routine. The childminder supervises children and provides routine encouragement to ensure that children carry the tasks through. She provides good support to children developing toilet training and self-care skills. She follows sensible household hygiene procedure. The childminder describes a scrupulous nappy changing procedure that effectively protects children from the spread of infection and includes the use of disposable gloves on every occasion.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has robust procedures in place to record accidents and keeps suitable records should medication be required to be given to children. There is useful information shared with parents and carers about infectious diseases as part of the sick child policy. Permission for emergency medical treatment is consistently sought and recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good understanding of children's dietary needs as she consults closely with parents and carers. Initial procedures clearly identify their preferences and there is on-going dialogue about the day-to-day dietary needs of children. Drinks are made readily available at regular intervals throughout the day. There is a sample menu sheet. Children are sensitively encouraged to eat healthily, for example, they are offered a selection of fresh fruit at snack time. They begin to learn about making healthy choices through such things as a themed activity around the colour yellow where they buy yellow fruit to take back, prepare and eat. Documentary evidence of the planning of the activity shows that children are given the opportunity to extend their knowledge about different foodstuffs and where it comes from, through discussion.

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Helping children to be healthy

Play and learning are regularly taken outside and children relish the many opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. Children make good use of the well-equipped garden with its slides, see-saw, trampoline, sand table and sit-on equipment. As a result they have plenty of opportunities to develop large muscle skills and control.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. They are protected from potential hazards because the childminder has carried out a risk assessment of the premises and has the greatest majority of control measures in place to minimise risks to children. Such things as smoke detection equipment, electric socket covers and a written emergency evacuation procedure are in place. A stair-gate prevents children from going upstairs unsupervised. The childminder keeps chemicals out of the reach of children. The premises and garden are secure. A written risk assessment has not been carried out for the large trampoline although it's use is closely supervised and controlled. The childminder takes children's safety seriously; she has a written record of the fire drill that is very regularly undertaken. Written lost child and uncollected child policies are in place and shared with parents. Children learn about keeping

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

themselves and each other safe, for example, the childminder reminds them about keeping small Lego pieces out of the reach of younger children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have a welcoming and very child-friendly environment in which to play. The home is very clean and well maintained with the space used constructively. The kitchen/diner is made

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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 bright and attractive to them with labelled posters and examples of their work in several areas. A wide range of good toy resources and other equipment support children's learning and development. Resources are well organised with labelled boxes of toys stored at their eye-level in the lounge. Larger toy items such as the home corner equipment are stored to one side of the room. Children sit at a comfortable height at the child-sized table to undertake creative play and other activities. The toys and materials presented are very appropriate to the stage of development of the children minded and match their developmental abilities. Children freely access toys and are able to exercise choice of activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good awareness of the potential signs and symptoms of potential abuse and has a clear procedure to follow should she have a concern about a child. As a result children's welfare is strongly safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children make good general progress in all areas of development. The childminder provides a well-balanced range of activities and play opportunities that support their all round development because she plans activities using the Birth to three matters framework. She uses her good understanding of child development to provide well targeted activities to match children's abilities. She has yet to record children's specific progress but reviews the progress they make against the planning documentation and her knowledge of what children have learnt.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder manages the differing needs of children well, for example, they sit up to the table together to construct models from Lego. The childminder sits alongside them to provide just the right amount of support for them to explore at their own pace and to be successful. As a result children concentrate for good periods of time, have their interest maintained and are provided with very suitable challenge. The childminder provides high levels of interaction with skilled interventions that effectively promote children's learning. She provides open-ended questions that get children to think and to express themselves. They count and name in a wide variety of situations throughout the day. The childminder offers praise and encouragement in all activities and as a result children develop confidence and self-esteem. They are happy and secure, and clearly enjoy the warm interactions with her.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder ensures that children have ample opportunities to be creative. Photographic evidence shows they are able to explore a good range of materials and resources, for example, they have fun by exploring paint, make pasta collages, make junk models using cut and stick materials and enjoy water and sand play. Children make chocolate cakes they mix and stir in the ingredients and carefully fill the cake cases that they have counted out. The childminder also makes discerning use of toddler and childminding groups to ensure that children have additional opportunities to follow activities they particularly enjoy and to socialise with others of a similar age.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the strong partnership the childminder has with parents and carers. There is a comprehensive exchange of information and this contributes to the quality of care provided as children have their individual needs closely identified and met. Parents are provided with very good information about the setting and its policies. Parent's views are consistently sought and their consents recorded. They comment very positively on the care and the relaxed 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 safe environment for children. Time is set aside for discussion with parents at the end of the day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder provides praise and positive attention to all children. They experience very appropriate guidance and support around sensible boundaries. Children enjoy a relaxed and warm relationship with the childminder as they are valued and treated with respect. She provides a good role model for children and encourages good manners. As a result children are usually very well behaved and respond readily to her. There is a clear behaviour management policy, based on positive responses to children, that is shared with parents. Children are sensitively encouraged to take turns and the underlying ethos routinely encourages children to be kind to each other and to share.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has no recent experience of caring for minded children with learning difficulties and/or disability but has a suitable procedure in place to identify with parents how best to meet the individual care needs of each child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a clear understanding of equality of opportunity issues and has a good number of resources to help her with her practice. Children learn about diversity and the wider world through familiarity with the multi-cultural toys, dressing up materials, puzzles and books in every day use. As a result, children have positive experiences when learning about the world around them.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is very well organised. She organises her time, space and resources effectively to meet the needs of children. Children experience a broad range of stimulating play opportunities in a very welcoming and supportive environment. The childminder has a good understanding of child development and plans activities well to meet children's general developmental needs. She has a clear understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and generally uses this well to ensure that consideration is given to the whole of children's development.

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Organisation

Comprehensive policies, procedures and other documentation are used very effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of all children. Parents and carers are kept well informed. Records contribute to the safe management of the provision and parents are closely consulted so that they are able to give their informed consent. The childminder is very thorough and places a strong emphasis on keeping her documentation well organised. Overall, she has a clear understanding of the National Standards and interprets these in the best interests of children. A structural change to the kitchen has been made and although the extension itself does not pose a hazard to children, Ofsted have not been informed of this change to the premises. This is a breach of the regulations and has been discussed with the childminder at inspection.

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Organisation

Overall Children are happy, settled and thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was agreed that improvements would be made to the planning of children's activities. Since the last inspection the provider has undertaken some training on the Birth to three matters framework and uses this to help plan for the activities that she provides

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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 for children. As a result children experience a much better balance of activities that support their all round development.

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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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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): • review the risk assessment to include the use of the trampoline • ensure Ofsted is kept informed of any significant changes to the premises

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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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