Portland College

Inspection report for early years provision

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131959 Unique Reference Number 03 March 2008 Inspection date Christine Stimson 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 December 2000. She lives with her husband and three children aged nine, six and 16 months in a house in Kingston, Surrey. The premises is situated close to local parks, schools and public transport links. All the rooms in the house are available for childminding purposes. The rear garden provides outdoor play space.

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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 and she is currently minding three children on a part-time basis. The childminder has a National Vocational Qualification at level three in Childcare and Education and a level three in a quality assurance scheme for registered childminders.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive because their physical, nutritional and health needs are very well met as a result of effective procedures and practices employed by the childminder. Children enjoy an excellent range of activities and experiences indoors, outdoors and away from the childminding setting,

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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 which actively contribute to their health and well-being. For example, children are taken to soft play centres to practise their physical skills and also visit large parks to experience fresh air and photograph the changes in the seasons.

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Helping children to be healthy

Regular opportunities are made available during indoor and outdoor play for children to develop and build upon their existing skills and range of physical abilities. Children develop fine motor skills as they take part in craft activities where they paint and explore, using different textured materials. Large physical activities are very well provided for and as a result children's physical skills and abilities are developing well. Children practise climbing and balancing skills as they successfully use trampolines, climbing frames, slides and swings. In the house there is a rope ladder that converts into other apparatus for children to practise their skills on. Children ride bikes and scooters at toddler groups and in the childminder's garden and use a variety of equipment within soft play centres. Younger children develop hand/eye coordination and finger control as they play with construction kits, explore cardboard boxes filled with interesting items,

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Helping children to be healthy

attempt small puzzles and pick up and look at laminated photos of their family members.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for within a well maintained and hygienic environment. The childminder employs effective and thorough hygiene routines and procedures in relation to children's hand washing and nappy changing; this ensures children are kept healthy at all times. Children understand the purpose and need to keep themselves healthy and are actively encouraged to wash their hands before meals, after using the toilet and after certain activities. For this purpose the childminder has designed a rainbow chart where children get reward stickers for various tasks. These tasks include washing hands after visiting the toilet, before eating and after playing in the garden and for showing they are eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water. Younger children are supported in these tasks by the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

A comprehensive written sickness policy, which is shared with parents and carers, ensures all children are cared for within a very safe environment which is free from infection. The childminder ensures all relevant health information is obtained from parents so she is able to respond to children's individual needs. The childminder is first aid qualified and maintains a first aid box so that she can deal with children's minor accidents effectively.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of very healthy and nutritious snacks, meals and drinks throughout their day. The childminder is flexible about providing food for children and will re-heat food provided by parents in accordance with their wishes. There is a system in place where older children place laminated pictures of the fruits and vegetables they have eaten to make sure they have had at least five portions a day. A similar procedure is in place for glasses of water. Children access drinks on a regular basis throughout their stay at the childminder's home. She liaises closely with parents and carers regarding meal provision, allergies, preferences or needs on religious grounds. The childminder cooks nutritious meals from fresh produce, which are suitably stored and served.

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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 environment where their safety is given high priority by the childminder. She makes sure she identifies possible risks or hazards to children, and takes prompt action to make the environment safe for them to play. This ensures children are cared for in a very safe, secure and supportive environment. The outdoor play space has been designed to be child friendly and very safe with high fencing, good supervision of play apparatus and gentle reminders to children to be careful. The childminder liaises closely with parents and

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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 carers, discussing children's individual needs in terms of their safety, allowing them optimal challenge to develop new skills. For example, older children have ample opportunities for outdoor play and are always closely supervised by the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The use of suitable equipment, such as safety gates, to prevent accidents ensures children's safety and well-being is promoted. High priority is given to close supervision at all times and particularly when using the garden. Children develop physical skills and independence through the childminder's superb detailed planning and supervision. Regular evacuation of the premises is practised and this gives children a clear understanding of the importance of staying safe in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children confidently select toys from the range set out for them, from low shelving and from those offered to them by the childminder. Children access an extensive range of toys and equipment which are age appropriate, safe and hygienic. The regular checking of furniture, toys and equipment ensures that the children are kept safe at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected because the childminder has an excellent understanding of child protection policies and procedures; this actively contributes to children's safety and well-being. Access to information, training in this area and a written policy which the childminder shares with parents and carers ensures children's welfare is given a high priority. Parents and carers are made aware that the childminder's ultimate responsibility is the safety and welfare of the children she cares for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy, settled and relaxed in the company of the childminder. They are motivated, eager and actively participate in and enjoy the activities and experiences offered to them. Children are extremely confident and self-assured because of the excellent support and encouragement they receive from the childminder. For example, the older children were disappointed they would be at school when the inspection was taking place, so made a scroll of why they like being cared for by the childminder, to be shown at the inspection. Comments such as 'yummy food, we love roller skating and the trampoline' were written by children along with other endearing words of appreciation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is enthusiastic in her practice and uses her wealth of experience to plan an extensive range of opportunities and activities, which are often organised around particular themes of interest. Children benefit from the childminder's highly skilled ability to balance her time interacting with children effectively. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the Birth to three matters framework, having undertaken training in this area. She plans interesting activities for children under three years of age that are designed to stimulate and help them develop at their own pace.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children access a wide range of stimulating activities and experiences both within and away from the childminding setting, which support the growth of children's development across all areas. During the inspection the young children were engrossed in playing with jigsaws, looking at books and puppets, exploring large cardboard boxes full of interesting items, banging on activity centres to make things work and making sounds with musical instruments. Children use a variety of equipment, toys and different areas of the available space to play. Access to a wide range of multi-cultural resources and themes helps children understand diversity. Children have access to very good resources and are animated and excited by interaction with the

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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 childminder, which helps sustain their interest and enables them to successfully develop their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are offered an extensive range of different play experiences and activities on a regular basis; this enables them to learn new skills and consolidate existing ones. For example, children attend a variety of child-centred settings away from the childminding premises. These encourage the development of social skills and as some of the venues are soft play centres, they also encourage the development of a range of physical skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder encourages children's behaviour and achievements through the use of positive praise and encouragement. This positive praise encourages children to persevere and practise skills. The childminder uses positive language to actively encourage children's enjoyment and pride in their achievements when they complete an activity; this boosts their self esteem and confidence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are welcomed and have equal access to all activities and experiences offered, which are stimulating and age appropriate. Children access an extensive range of resources that reflect multicultural and disability issues. Children's understanding of others is encouraged through well planned themes and spontaneous activities. The childminder's written equal opportunities policy and practice ensures children's equality of opportunity. The childminder has attended a course for inclusive play. She ensures that all children's individual needs are known, enabling the planning and adapting of care accordingly to meet their individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very happy and content in their play, their self-confidence is evident and is very well promoted as they receive lots of positive praise and encouragement from the childminder. Children are encouraged to behave well as the childminder is clear about the need to promote children's positive behaviour and self-esteem. She has developed her expertise in this area and produced a rainbow reward chart and a written behaviour management policy which she shares with parents and carers.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit greatly from the excellent partnership with parents and carers. Children's individual needs and requirements are discussed carefully and in detail with parents and carers, prior to placement. Successful relationships with parents and carers support the children's development very well. Letters of support from parents were seen during the inspection. These were extremely positive about the care the childminder provides for their children. Feedback on children's development and general well-being is given on a regular basis in an informal verbal way on a daily basis and in written form by means of a daily diary. Written observations of children's development are noted and a report about individual children's development is produced and shared with parents. Parents have access to information on what the childminder has to offer, information about Ofsted and children's records. They also have individual folders

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Helping children make a positive contribution

containing the childminder's polices and procedures and other relevant information.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for within a very well planned and organised environment. The childminder is very clear about her role and responsibility in providing a high quality service to children and their families.

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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 Children access toys, equipment and activities which are well planned and prepared prior to the children arriving, enabling children to feel welcome, confident and happy. Children confidently access and are involved in a range of interesting and age appropriate activities both within and away from the childminding setting. The childminder has, and continues to undertake, appropriate training to enhance her existing meticulous practice, enabling her to provide high quality childcare.

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Organisation

All legally required documentation and records relating to the minded children are retained, ensuring that the childminder is able to care for children in a safe and confident manner. The childminder holds a current first aid qualification, helping to ensure that children are cared for safely and that any incidents or accidents are dealt with in an efficient and prompt manner. Children's individual needs and requirements are well known and discussed with parents and carers prior to children starting, ensuring their individual needs are well addressed and provided for. Children's safety and enjoyment are given a high priority as the childminder obtains parental consent for several aspects of her care.

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Organisation

Observations relating to the child's minded day, development and general well-being are fed back to parents and carers informally as they collect their children at the end of their minded day. The childminder also completes a daily diary and observations for young children, which are shared with parents. Children benefit from the excellent communication between the childminder, parents and carers. Overall, 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 improve the recording of children's medication. Since then good progress has been made and the childminder now keeps accurate medication records for prescribed and non-prescribed medication. She makes sure she has written consent from parents before giving children medicine and asks parents to acknowledge the entries in her medication book to show their wishes have been respected. This supports children's health and well being.

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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. 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 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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