Mill View Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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141621 Unique Reference Number 03 October 2007 Inspection date Sylvia Crawford 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 1993. She lives with her three teenage children. They live on a well established estate in the west flank of Milton Keynes close to local shops, pre-school, and schools.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder takes children to the local pre-school and attends a toddler group on a regular basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has two small dogs, a cockatiel and a budgie as pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and currently has eight children on roll.

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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 satisfactory. Children enjoy a healthy lifestyle and promote their physical development as they play in the garden, at the local park or at the indoor soft play facility. They get lots of fresh air and are able to improve their skills of balancing and co-ordination. Children are able to rest and sleep according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn good hygiene habits and self-care through the childminder's consistent good hygiene practices. They understand they have to wash their hands after using the toilet, playing in the garden and before eating. However, after washing their hands children share a towel and this means there is the possibility of cross infection. The childminder works with parents to support potty training. She safeguards and promotes children's welfare through her knowledge, experience and sick child procedures. Records are in place to ensure the childminder meets the children's individual needs. However, some do not contain full details and do not always maintain confidentiality. Children are protected because the childminder has a current first aid qualification and consequently feels confident about dealing with emergencies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy diet because the childminder provides a variety of nutritious snacks and meals. The childminder ensues that she gains sufficient information from parents to meet individual dietary needs and finds out from the children what they like to eat. She supports children to eat well and have good manners at the table. Children have access to drinking water throughout the day so they have sufficient fluids.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a safe environment because the childminder identifies and minimises risks through vigilance and the use of different safety measures. For example, the use of stair gates and socket covers. This means that children are able to move around freely and confidently. Children are well supervised on outings and the childminder helps children to understand road safety. She has a fire evacuation procedure in place, which she explains to children, smoke detectors on each level and a fire blanket. Therefore, children are beginning to understand about fire safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to select activities independently from a wide range of good quality toys and equipment that are safe and in good condition. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises children's choice of toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are protected because the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues and what to do if she has concerns about a child in her care. She has a written policy, which is shared with parents so they are aware of her role and responsibility. However, the policy does not contain the required procedure to follow if allegations are made against the childminder or her family.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have a good relationship with the childminder and are confident and happy in her care. They enjoy the welcoming, child-orientated environment and this contributes towards their sense of belonging. Children relate well with each other and are generally happy in each other’s company. The childminder encourages the children to share and take turns as well as supporting them to resolve differences.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has extensive experience in caring for children and a sound knowledge of child development; this means that she is able to meet children's individual needs. She has completed training in the Birth to three matters framework, which supports children's learning and development in their earliest years. She knows the children very well and is able to care for them according to parental wishes. Younger children receive lots of cuddles and tactile experiences, which increases their sense of well-being. She supports children's early communication skills extremely well through good quality adult-child interaction; this means that children receive good quality care and progress well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop confidence and self-esteem, as the childminder values their attempts and achievements and offers lots of praise and encouragement. The childminder plans her week well and children show interest in what they do. They enjoy all the toys and activities the childminder provides for them, for example, the drawing and chalking easel and the garage and cars. The childminder supports children's knowledge through everyday activities such as learning colours while using the colouring pens and the chalks. Older children are able to choose from a variety of resources and experiences both before and after school. They particularly enjoy trips and outings in the holidays that extend their learning. For example, they help complete a scrapbook about their trip to Woburn deer park. They enjoy learning about the living world as they plant flowers and vegetables in the garden and use binoculars to look at

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder meets each child's needs and follows their own routine after careful discussion with the child's parents. Children are beginning to learn about the wider world through playing with toys and equipment that promote positive images. They learn about celebrating different festivals from around the world. They learn about the local community as they visit the park, shops, and friends.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has house rules in place and she gently helps younger children to know and understand them. She encourages children to be kind to one another and to say sorry when necessary. Children behave well and the childminder promotes good behaviour through lots of praise and encouragement. She shares information about behaviour strategies with parents, to support continuity of care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good working relationship with parents. She is flexible in her approach and works with parents to carry out their wishes and meet the individual needs of children in her care. This helps children to feel confident and secure. The childminder ensures that she gives feedback to parents each day about the children's achievements and their activities. This contributes to the children's wellbeing and development.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of caring for children and how to meet their needs. She has a high regard for the well-being of all children, she organises her home and routines efficiently to provide children with an environment where they are safe, settled and happy. She plans her days well to ensure each child has regular opportunities to fun and stimulating activities.

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Organisation

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of the National Standards and the updates. She has an interest in updating her knowledge through training. All required documentation and parental permissions are in place for childminding. The childminder has some written policies in place and shares them with parents to keep them well informed about the service she offers and their children's activities. All documentation is well organised into files and kept securely. This contributes to continuity in the children's care and helps to keep children safe and promote their care and learning. The provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was recommended to develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues with regard to allegation procedures and to improve resources of positive images to include those of gender, ethnicity, culture and disability.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has extended her range of resources to reflect diversity and the wider world. She now has a written policy on child protection and is aware of the procedure to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. This policy is shared with parents. However, the policy does not contain, as required, the procedure to follow in the event of an allegation made against the childminder or her family. Therefore, a recommendation has been made to include this procedure in her policy.

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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.

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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 the child protection policy includes a procedure to follow if an allegation is made against the childminder or her family • ensure that individual towels are used to prevent cross infection and records of accidents and incidents contain full details and that confidentiality is kept.

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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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