Statham Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 148456 Inspection date 26 September 2005 Inspector Judith, Mary Butler

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 outstanding. 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 2001. She lives with her husband, who is also a registered childminder and their child aged 6-years. The family live in Three Mile Cross, near Reading. The property is close to local shops, schools and amenities. The whole of the ground floor is available for childminding with further bedrooms available on the first floor for sleeping purposes if required. There is a large fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under 8 years and is currently caring for four children on a part-time basis.

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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 outstanding. Children are developing their physical skills through the extremely good range of activities and opportunities available to them within the home and in the garden. Children experience a wide variety of outings within the weekly planning to access physical activities outside the home. These include outings to toddler groups and local parks. Children have access to a very good variety of safe, age and stage appropriate equipment within the garden, including a climbing frame, sand pit and swings. This enables children to use their large muscle skills and develop confidence in their physical abilities. Children are extremely settled and flourish within the home. They are developing their independence skills and older children confidently wash their hands after using the toilet. Younger children are developing an awareness of personal hygiene. The childminder and older child assist them in achieving tasks such as washing their

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Helping children to be healthy

hands; for example, the older child held out the towel for the younger child to dry her hands after she had used the potty. The childminder holds all of the required documentation and extensive policies and procedures are in place to record accidents and administration of medication. She shares all records with parents who sign completed paperwork and receive copies of the reports. This ensures they are fully aware of any accidents that have happened to their child whilst in the care of the childminder. The childminder promotes healthy eating within her home. Children receive healthy, well-balanced fun meals and snacks. Good communication is in place between the childminder and the parents and the childminder plans meals and snacks to meet the needs of the individual children and parental preferences. Meal times are a sociable occasion with children and the childminder sitting together, they chat about the food

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Helping children to be healthy

they are eating and activities they have planned for the afternoon. The childminder encourages the children to be independent and provides them with suitable cutlery for their age and stage of development. The childminder ensures all parents receive either verbal or written feedback regarding the food and drink their child has consumed each day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children move freely and independently around all areas of the home identified for childminding. They independently select the toys and resources from the excellent range available. The childminder rotates toys and resources within the daily routines. This ensures children have access to a very good variety of clean and well-maintained toys and resources each day. Children have many opportunities to make choices about the toys they wish to play with. The childminder has an excellent awareness of the individual preferences of the children she cares for.

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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 Children receive a high level of supervision within the home. The childminder identifies and minimises risks to children. She has extensive procedures in place to ensure children can play in a safe and secure environment; these include daily safety checks and monthly risk assessments. Children are developing an awareness of keeping themselves safe through regular procedures such as practising an emergency evacuation. The childminder gives gentle reminders to children about playing safely; for example shall we pick the toys up in case we trip over them. The childminder has a very good awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. She has attended training to underpin this knowledge. She has extensive procedures in place to record concerns and is aware of the procedures to follow

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

should she need to refer any concerns regarding a child in her care. The childminder holds all of the required paperwork to record concerns. This ensures the welfare and safety of the children at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very settled and happy within the home. They enter the home enthusiastically and select the toys and resources they wish to use from the excellent variety available and attractively set up for them. Older children are confident in their use of language to express themselves. They ask questions and converse easily with other children, the childminder and visitors to the home. Children develop very good relationships with their peers and the childminder. The childminder acts as a good role-model and treats the children with kindness and respect. The children have many opportunities to make independent choices about the toys and resources they wish to use. The childminder has an exceptionally good awareness of the individual children's likes, dislikes and preferences in play. She provides them with a wide variety of resources and activities to meet these needs. The childminder ensures that

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children receive individual attention and time within the daily routines; for example, when the younger children slept she read stories to the older child. The childminder regularly undertakes a good variety of outings with the children and these include visiting local toddler groups, outings to parks, library and school runs. This provides children with excellent opportunities to socialise and make friends with a wider group of children. The childminder ensures she is flexible to meet the daily needs of the children; for example, cancelling a planned outing to stay at home for a quiet time if children are tired or have had a busy time at home. The childminder has a good knowledge of child development and the individual stages of the children she is caring for. She spends time playing with the children and makes suggestions to extend their play, such as sorting the bricks into different colours. The childminder has good techniques in place to reinforce children's

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

learning, for example, activities linked to events happening in the world, re-visiting favourite activities and questions.

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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 The provision is outstanding. Children are learning to share and show consideration to others when playing. The childminder acts as a good role-model and encourages the children to play happily alongside and with each other. Older children are able to take turns and share the toys and resources. They show consideration to younger children and happily include them in their play; for example, passing them toys to play with. The childminder has established house rules and boundaries in place. She displays these within the home and shares them with parents to ensure consistency. This enables children to feel secure and comfortable within the minding environment. Children receive constant praise and encouragement within the home, this helps them to build their self-esteem; for example, praising the children for helping to tidy up before lunch. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder has effective arrangements to support children with special educational needs although none currently attend. Children have access to a variety of resources, activities and outings to develop their understanding of the world around them; for example dressing up clothes, small world toys and books. The childminder uses the library to provide children with further resources to reflect different cultures and traditions. Monthly planning sheets show different festivals and traditions and these are included within the activities the children participate in. The childminder respects and values the children as individuals; this ensures the children are extremely settled and comfortable within the home. She plans activities to suit the individual children's preferences and ages and stages of development. Children really benefit from the excellent communication and relationships in place between the childminder and parents. They verbally exchange information at each

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Helping children make a positive contribution

end of the day. Written information is given to parents of younger children and parents who do not collect their child; this ensures they are fully aware of their child's day with the childminder. Parents receive extensive documentation through the policy document and monthly newsletter; this informs them of the policies and procedures in place, activities their child will participate in and daily routines. The childminder shares information about children's development through annual reports, these identify children's progress and their next steps in learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder has a comprehensive knowledge of the Birth to Three Matters framework and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage and uses this to plan an interesting, stimulating and varied range of activities and outings for children. Children are very happy and at home within the environment and move freely around all areas of the home identified for childminding. They have access to an extremely good range of activities, resources, quiet and active times within their daily routines. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of the children she is caring for and plans activities to suit their individual needs. Children receive a very high level of support from the childminder when playing together and in one to one situations. Excellent relationships are in place between the childminder and parents; this enables children to feel secure and safe within their environment.

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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 The childminder has a businesslike approach to childminding. She has extensive policies, procedures and documentation in place to support this. The childminder shares all information relating to the childminding service with parents through the policy document. Parents receive further information through monthly newsletters and annual reports. The childminder is committed to providing a good service and regularly undertakes training to update her skills and knowledge. 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 inspection the childminder was asked to use pen to record information on all paperwork. The childminder now uses pen to record all information on required paperwork, this ensures the health, safety and welfare of the children in her care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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