Compass Community School Mountfields Park

Inspection report for early years provision

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149200 Unique Reference Number 20 November 2007 Inspection date Kerry Freshwater 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 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 was registered in 1971. She lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and upstairs for sleep purposes only. 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 six children at any one time and 11 children when working with two assistants. She is currently minding 15 children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also cares for children over eight years. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder has a pet dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder welcomes children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is 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 outstanding. Children thrive because the childminder has a highly effective approach to health and hygiene. Thorough procedures and documents are in place to ensure that children's individual needs are very well met. Accident and medication records are in place, appropriate treatment given and parent's signatures and consents have been obtained. Children learn about the importance of being healthy through the childminder's skilful support and guidance. For example, they know to flush the toilet before washing their hands and re-wash again if they forget because they may have collected more germs. They wash their hands after touching the dog and before snack and lunch. Children learn about germs as they talk about covering their mouths when they cough. Children begin to understand the importance of keeping their teeth clean and practise how to brush their teeth properly. The childminder reduces the risk of cross infection

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Helping children to be healthy

by ensuring that her home is always clean and well maintained. Children know to remove their shoes as they enter the house and use individual bedding which is changed and washed regularly.

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Helping children to be healthy

Physical activity is highly regarded and children are able to develop their physical skills in a wide range of activities on a daily basis. They participate in a variety of activities in the garden such as ball games, they use bean bags, hoops and purposefully move around on 'ride-on' toys. Children like to bounce on the trampoline, use the slide, explore sand and water and practise skipping. Indoors children excitedly dance to music. They competently complete puzzles and build with a variety of construction toys. This helps to develop their coordination and physical abilities. Children are able to rest and sleep as they need to.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are clearly aware of good nutrition and understand the benefits of a healthy diet. They enjoy an excellent range of freshly prepared meals and healthy snacks following a six-weekly menu rota which is shared with parents for information purposes. Meals provided include salmon fish cakes, roast chicken, spaghetti carbonara and a range of fresh vegetables. The childminder is happy and confident to meet individual dietary requirements of which she has obtained clear information from parents. She works closely with the parents to ensure that these requirements are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in an exceptionally safe, warm and welcoming environment. The childminder has an excellent understanding of safety issues, children have space to move around safely and freely as she has minimised risks to keep them free from harm. Children learn about danger as the childminder helps them to understand how to keep themselves safe. They practise fire evacuation, they learn about stranger danger in relation to the gingerbread house, learning not to stop and talk to people that they do not know. Children learn about road safety as they cross the road and additional safety at night time. Children understand the hazards within the childminding setting through constant reminders and explanations given. For example, they learn which is the hot and cold tap through the assigned colours, they know not to run in the house in case they fall and hurt themselves and how to use knives with care when they are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

participating in food preparation activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All children have access to a superb range of quality toys and resources which are suitable for their ages and stages of development. Resources have been carefully chosen to support children's

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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 play and are regularly checked for hygiene and safety. All children readily help themselves to the exciting range of equipment which is organised to enable them to follow their own interests.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All required documents and procedures are in place and are consistently maintained to safeguard children's welfare. Children are very well protected as the childminder has a clear understanding of child protection and has attended training to update her knowledge and inform her practice. The childminder has obtained books to help children to deal with difficult situations and understand about acceptable adult behaviour. Children are closely monitored at all times and the childminder gives top priority to their welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has an exceptional understanding of child development which enables her to offer flexible, high quality care, which is suited to each child. Children enjoy an extensive range of activities, which contributes to their creativity and imagination such as singing songs and making music, making bread and cakes, model making with dough, participation in Christmas plays and dressing up. Children extend their knowledge through a range of interesting themes which are planned in line with the Foundation Stage areas of learning and are adjusted to meet the needs of all children and appeal to their interests. For example, children create pictures of themselves and produce time capsules in line with the 'all about me' theme. They discuss past times with grandparents, copy their own coat of arms, write and draw information about themselves, their families and favourite things.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children display high levels of confidence in their daily activities and are developing very good independence skills, as they busy themselves and become absorbed in their activities. Their early communication skills are extremely well supported through high quality interaction with the childminder as they enthusiastically discuss their activities and talk about what they are doing or planning to do. They clearly enjoy listening to stories and show great interest as the childminder relates the story to something that is happening. For example, she reads them the story of 'Tina's trio and the Ofsted inspection' which helps children to understand about the inspector's visit. Children also enjoy looking at books independently and tell their own stories based on the pictures. They enjoy drawing and writing and gain pencil control as they carry out a range of different activities such as odd one out, joining pairs, colouring in specific objects

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and learning to write their own names. Children make positive relationships, they play exceptionally well together and are encouraged to consider younger children as they play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is skilful in encouraging children to make very good progress in all areas of development. For example, children extend their knowledge through a wide range of stimulating activities and themes. They learn about the natural environment on outings to a local farm, as they search for insects and play with dinosaurs. They grow beans, tomatoes and strawberries which they eat for their lunch, they dig the soil and plant crocus and daffodils ready for Spring. Children collect leaves and create leaf print pictures. Children develop their independence skills as they spread their choice of fillings on biscuits for snacks. They make their own bread, kneading the dough and rolling it into balls. Children develop their mathematical skills as they sort, match and compare colours and shapes. They enjoy number rhymes such as, 'six little ducks'. Children are able to demonstrate what they know as the childminder uses skilful questioning to make

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

them think. The childminder finds out about the children's skills, interests and needs and builds on this information effectively to help children to fulfil their potential.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs and characters are clearly understood and respected by the childminder. All children are warmly welcomed and fully included in the provision. The childminder provides a meaningful range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world and to help children understand differences and similarities. For example, children use books and play with characters from different cultures, they acknowledge different festivals like Chinese New Year. They thoroughly enjoy a Chinese meal and practise using chopsticks. Children learn to value differences through sensitive discussions, stories and the use of developmentally appropriate resources. They are receptive to the childminder's inspiring role modelling.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is exceptional. The childminder has a positive, clear and consistent approach to behaviour management, which means children know what is expected of them and they feel secure. For example, written house rules have been drawn up through discussion with the children and include 'being kind to each other and to the dog', 'remembering to say sorry if we hurt someone or their feelings' and 'to tell the childminder if we are not happy'. Children play very happily together in the childminder's care, they learn to share and take turns as the childminder uses her effective skills to encourage and help them develop their relationships with one another.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The excellent partnerships with parents and carers contributes significantly to the children's care and well-being. The childminder provides detailed information about the service that she provides including her clear, well written policies, daily routines, certificates and insurance. In additional to this a range of clear, attractively displayed information is provided for parents including the daily menu, curriculum and information about what children have been doing. Clear written information is provided for parents daily in children's individual files. Information relates to their child's day, what they have enjoyed, areas of learning that they have focussed on and information about what children have eaten. This keeps parents well informed of their child's activities and achievements. Regular newsletters are also provided to keep parents informed of planned activities or events and an opportunity to share recipes for parents to try

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Helping children make a positive contribution

at home if children have particularly enjoyed a meal.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's care is greatly enriched by the childminder's enthusiasm, her highly effective organisation of time, space and resources and her committed approach. Consistent routines and effective support ensure children feel a sense of belonging and are part of a bigger family. The childminder is highly motivated and actively seeks and attends regular training opportunities. This ensures she is well informed and able to implement new ideas and childcare practices within the childminding setting. For example, the childminder has recently completed the Herts Quality Standards accreditation for the second time and holds a current first aid certificate.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder's sound and secure knowledge of child development and of her legal responsibilities. All required documentation is in place and regularly reviewed, which contributes to children's health, safety and well-being. The high quality policies and procedures are shared with parents, which means they clearly know about the provision and the care their child receives. Overall, children's needs are met.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable. There were no recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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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 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

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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