Manor Primary School, Ivybridge

Inspection report for early years provision

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113255 Unique Reference Number 24 July 2007 Inspection date Heidi Wilton 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 2000. She is registered to provide care for five children and is currently minding six children at various times during the week. She lives with her husband and two children in a bungalow in a residential area of Fareham that is within walking distance to local schools, pre-schools, shops and parks. The whole of the bungalow is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and takes the children to toddler groups on a regular basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children know to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before having meals. The childminder ensures all eating areas are cleaned with appropriate cleaners to ensure cross contamination is prevented. She has a detailed written sick child policy to ensure parents are fully informed about incubation periods should their child contract a communicable disease.

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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 The childminder has gained written parental permission to seek or gain emergency medical advice or treatment. This ensures children's care and treatment is not delayed.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has appropriate medication and accident records in place which ensures parents are well aware of any accidents or administering of medicine. She has suitable first aid supplies in place and replenishes these as necessary. The childminder uses robust nappy changing procedures to ensure children are protected from cross contamination.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents provide children with their meals and the childminder stores all foods appropriately and at the correct temperature. She washes her hands before preparing foods and encourages parents to provide healthy foods for their children. Children enjoy a healthy morning snack of fruit and enjoy a lunch of pasta and vegetables. Children have access to drinks at all times to ensure their needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have many opportunities to engage with physical activity both inside and out. They enjoy walks in woodland area and on the beach and have fun balancing as they walk along wooden beams at the park. Children regularly go to local music and movement sessions and toddler groups where they engage with arts and crafts and have fun moving their bodies to familiar music. They have fun on outings to local theme parks and places of interest and love going raspberry picking and tasting the fruits when they get home. Children move themselves around in toy cars and ride tricycles in the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play safely within the lounge, hallway and dining room areas. They independently choose toys and resources from low level storage and boxes. The childminder supervises children at all times to ensure they are safe and protected. She has appropriate safety equipment in place such as high bolts on doors and safety latches on cupboards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

She ensures children are safe as all doors are secured when not in use. She has obtained all required written parental permissions from parents to ensure children are safe and parents well informed. The childminder has valid public liability insurance and up-to-date car insurance including business use. This ensures children are safe when being transported. The childminder has appropriate safety equipment for the children such as a buggy, highchair, car seats and travel cot.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has working smoke alarms throughout the house and checks these on the first day of each month. She practises the fire drill with the children regularly and discusses with them the importance of doing so to ensure they know what to do in a fire. The childminder has a fire evacuation procedure in place and has a fire blanket mounted on the wall in the kitchen. She risk assesses the environment and resources on a daily basis to ensure hazards are identified and minimised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and demonstrates a clear knowledge of where to make referrals. Through discussion the childminder shows a good knowledge of how to record signs and symptoms and the importance of doing so. She has a written child protection policy which she shares with parents. However, this policy does not clearly state her professional responsibility to protect the welfare of children in her care, therefore parents are not made fully aware of her duty to report suspicions of abuse or neglect.

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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 opportunities to play with a wide range of activities and resources. They can independently choose toys from the low level storage and toy boxes. The childminder gains information from parents at the outset about their child's likes, dislikes, favourite toys and games and things that frighten them. This ensures the childminder has knowledge about the child and can make the transition from the main carer to the childminding provision smooth and relaxed. In addition, the childminder offers settling in visits to parents and their children to ensure the child is settled and happy within the environment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play well together and the childminder gently reinforces sharing and being kind to each other. Young toddlers have fun with push along and light up toys. They explore the toys and resources with both their hands and their mouths. Young children love playing with the dolls house and have fun arranging the furniture into the different rooms. All children explore the role-play equipment as they press the buttons on the shopping tills and make cups of tea for the visitor with the tea set. The childminder continually interacts with the children, sitting at their level and offers lots of praise and encouragement for their achievements. This in turn boosts the children's self esteem and confidence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children love moving their bodies to familiar music and rhymes but also have opportunities for quiet play and rest. They can relax on the sofa as they take a nap, watch television or look at books. Children are happy within the environment and move around freely as they choose from the assortment of toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has resources which reflect diversity within society. Children dress up in saris with a range of scarves and enjoy reading books which reflect people from different cultures. Other books foster an awareness of positive gender roles as they portray women doctors and magicians and men doing household chores. The childminder encourages the children to all have equal access to the resources and toys and involves them all with household jobs such as mopping the floor or cleaning the tables. She treats all the children with equal respect and has a clear equal opportunities policy which she shares with parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has some experience of learning difficulties and/or disabilities and is happy to care for children with additional needs. Through discussion she states she would consider the children already in her care and her home first to ensure she is able to meet the needs of all the children. She feels it is important to work in conjunction with both parents and outside agencies to achieve continuity of care for the child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a written behavioural management policy in place and shares this with parents from the outset. She uses positive praise, encouragement and support for good behaviour and achievements. The childminder uses distraction methods, timeout and talking to the child at their level for any unacceptable behaviour. She communicates with parents at the end of the day, rewarding children for their good behaviour or informing of any unwanted behaviour that has occurred.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder gives good verbal feedback to parents at the beginning and end of the day. She gives parents copies of her policies and procedures from the outset to ensure they are well

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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 informed and to allow them to reference these when they are at home. The childminder has a complaints policy in place although Ofsted's contact details are incorrect. This does not ensure parents are fully aware of how to contact Ofsted should they have a concern. The childminder has a complaints log in place although some information detailed is not confidential.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She displays her registration certificate and demonstrates a good understanding of the need to do so to ensure parents are well informed. The childminder has an attendance record and ensures children are marked into the record at the actual times of arrival and departure. She has gained all required information about the children from the parents and stores this information confidentially.

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Organisation

The childminder has an up-to-date paediatric first aid qualification which ensures children are treated appropriately in the event of an accident or emergency. She is enrolled on a course to do her NVQ level 3 in September and is keen to attend further training to update her expertise and knowledge. She has a good understanding of the National Standards for childminding and updates her knowledge by reading current childcare magazines and literature.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was given two recommendations. She was asked to ensure the arrangements to notify parents of and to care for sick children do not expose other children to the risk of infection. The childminder now has a detailed sick child policy which she shares with parents from the outset. This ensures they are well informed of incubation periods should their child contract a communicable disease. Children are therefore protected from the risk of infection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to ensure children's full names are recorded in the daily register. Children's full names are now recorded which ensures children are accounted for and identified in the event of an emergency or fire.

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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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Complaints 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

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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 the complaints log maintains confidentiality • update some policies to ensure all required information is detailed.

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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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