Standish Lower Ground St Anne's CofE Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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106468 Unique Reference Number 18 October 2007 Inspection date Karen Elizabeth Screen 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 lives with her husband and their two children aged 10 and 13 years old. They live in a three-bedroom house close to Southmead Hospital. Childminding mainly takes place on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family keep a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder provides flexible childcare provision between 07.30 and 18.00. She is able to deliver and collect children from Filton Avenue Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools. She attends Wellington Toddler Group on a regular basis, and takes children to places of special interest such as Cotswold Wildlife Park. There are nine children on roll aged between 6 months and six years old. The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn about personal hygiene and to care for themselves and their environment, for example they know to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Arrangements

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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 for looking after pets are hygienic and keep the children safe. For example, the pet cat is regularly wormed and 'de-fleaed'. Children's health is very well protected within an environment where the childminder has a clear understanding of the treatment of minor injuries and the administration of medication. The sick child procedure works very well in practise because the policy messages are re-enforced. For example, the 'welcome pack' contains a list of examples of when children should not attend, in order to safeguard the health of all children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Drinks are readily available and a range of healthy meals and snacks are offered during the day. Parents may also choose to provide their children with a prepared 'lunch' box; in which case, the childminder encourages children to eat the healthy options first.

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Helping children to be healthy

Babies have good opportunities to develop strong bones and muscles as they practise crawling around on the floor, encouraged and supported by the childminder. In addition, good provision is made for children to develop their hand-eye co-ordination. For example, in response to a child's request, the childminder demonstrates how to 'do-up' buttons and press-studs on a doll's clothes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The home is warm and welcoming, with comfortable adult and child-sized furniture, such as sofas, tables and chairs. There is also a good supply of well maintained equipment for babies and toddlers. Children make choices from well-chosen and good-quality toys, books and resources, such as dolls with hearing aids. The childminder tailors her purchases to suit the needs and interests of the children. She also supplements her collection with items from the childminding resource centre and from the local library.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder carries out regular risk assessments to try and ensure that children are able to move from room to room, free from hazards and harm. However, these are not fully effective in identifying hazards through out the home for example, strings of beads hang from the wardrobe door, near the cot and within the reach of children. The childminder has also not fully considered the implications to children in her care of her role within the toddler group. Risks to children from house fires are minimised through well thought-out emergency evacuation procedures, which are practised by the childminder and children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from abuse and neglect by a childminder who is clear about child protection procedures. She is aware of the possible signs of children at risk and of her responsibility to report her concerns without delay, according to local child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are offered effective support through well-judged interventions, such as knowing when to assist and when to leave the children to explore on their own. She joins in extending their play, posing questions such as 'is it soft?' and 'is it rough?' Children learn about the natural environment through choosing direct involvement, such as filling a small watering can and watering the planted tubs. Their learning is also supported by the childminder, who plans ways of sparking and maintaining their interest, such as feeding and nurturing caterpillars all the way through to the butterfly stage.

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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 Older children influence the choice of activities and resources through discussions with the childminder about what they would like to see provided and their thoughts on those already in place. For example, they asked to repeat the making of a 'story book', made using a digital camera and computer programme with the facility to arrange the photographs and annotate them with speech bubbles.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The plans and patterns within the day and the weekly routines are well established. This helps young children to begin to predict what will happen next and to extend their skills in a secure environment. The childminder uses the Birth to three matters framework to help support her work with young children. She recognises that it is a useful tool in planning appropriate experiences and tracking children's progress, but does not use it to the best advantage as a tool for planning individual children's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are valued and included as individuals. The childminder has a 'can do' attitude towards finding solutions to any difficulties affecting the inclusion of all children. She is committed to working with parents and happy to consult relevant professionals where necessary, in order to support the welfare of the children. She is also aware of where to seek help if she feels a child needs extra support. Children take part in visits to the wider community such as to a toddler group, park and local shops, where they learn about the different activities and the people involved in each setting. They learn to appreciate and value each other's similarities and differences, through activities, books and resources, especially chosen to reflect diversity and acknowledge cultural differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are helpful and polite. They behave very well and respond promptly to guidance about rules and boundaries. The childminder provides a good role model through her calm and polite manner. Children understand that there are rules to follow for everyone's benefit. Behaviour management procedures are clearly set out and shared with parents, so that continuity may be agreed and followed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents value the childminder's commitment to providing a happy environment where their children flourish. Initial contact between the parents and childminder is a positive experience. They are provided with useful and concise information about the childminding facilities and business and are invited to make suggestions at any time.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children's welfare is purposefully promoted through well-organised and well-maintained paperwork. Policies and procedures such as ‘Late Collection of Children’ and ‘Equal Opportunities’, promote the efficient management of the provision. Emergency numbers are clear and easily accessible both on the premises and on outings. Detailed personal information and permission for specific activities is obtained well before the children are due to attend, and is filed securely for each child. The childminder takes positive steps to ensure that parents are kept very well informed about all policies and procedures. This includes reviews of all documents and is done annually or sooner if necessary, in order to reflect any important amendments. Registers and records all meet regulatory requirements and are easily available at all times. The childminder is suitably

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Organisation

qualified and recognises the importance of ongoing training. For example, she has booked a

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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 course on singing with children, in order to further develop her knowledge, understanding and practice, and improve outcomes for children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

As a result of the last inspection, the childminder was asked to: develop her knowledge and understanding of special needs and inclusion for children; make sure that appliances conform to safety requirements and keep all documents about servicing; and to keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has taken appropriate steps promote inclusion for all children. She is aware of where to seek help if she feels a child needs extra support and is committed to working with parents and relevant professionals, in order to support and meet children's individual needs. The childminder fosters children's safety, by ensuring that appliances such as the boiler are regularly serviced. Children's health is promoted. Permission is sought before medicines are administered and parents are asked to sign all medication records. In this way, they are made fully aware of the doses and times that the medicines have been administered.

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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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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 risk assessment procedures are sufficiently robust to fully minimise the risks to children inside and outside the home

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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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