Woodhouse CofE (Aided) Infant and Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

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107735 Unique Reference Number 27 February 2008 Inspection date Ann Hilary Guy 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 registered in 1999. She lives with her three children, two of whom are over 16 and one is aged 11 years in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding and 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 is currently minding two children under five all day and four children over five before and after school and school holidays. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local parent toddler groups and takes children to the local park. The family have a pet cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children remain in extremely good health as the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. The children follow good hygiene and personal care routines clearly supervised by the childminder. They are encouraged

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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 to be as independent as possible, especially when washing hands and going to the toilet and deciding what to play with. Suitable facilities are in place for children to rest and sleep according to their needs and parental wishes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy lifestyle with lots of exercise and fresh air. The childminder does not drive and so they all enjoy walking to and from school, sometimes stopping at the park on their way home. This enables the children to experience the larger play equipment available there. The childminder also takes children to the local woods, where the older ones can learn to climb the trees. They play in the garden on the wide variety of equipment, including sit and ride toys, slide, playhouse and see saw. Meals are pre-planned and prepared by the childminder. She offers a full range of hot and cold meals which are nutritious and balanced and meet all the children's dietary requirements. Snack times, both morning and afternoon, become social times and children enjoy a snack of fruit with a drink of squash or water. Drinks are available for the children throughout the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in this extremely safe, child-friendly environment. The entire ground floor is available for them to use with easy access to the toys, some of which are pre-set out before they arrive, and free access into the garden. Toys are stored all over the house and the childminder plans what the children will use, in order to give plenty of variety. When possible the older children help in the planning and so can have the choice of equipment they would like available. The toys offer stimulation in all areas and for all age groups.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Toys and equipment are regularly checked for safety, and the childminder ensures the house is as safe as possible for the children to play in, with all potential hazards being removed before they arrive. Whilst out with the children she uses a combination of buggies and wrist straps for the younger children and has strict rules about holding on to the buggy or walking close together as a group. She encourages the older children to help the younger ones adhere to this rule. Children's welfare is safeguarded at all times, supported by clear and informative information, together with the excellent knowledge and understanding the childminder has of child protection and the procedures to follow if she has any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children of all ages enjoy a well planned and organised time, with a wide range of stimulating age appropriate activities and experiences. During the day activities are planned to stimulate the under fives and help them develop their skills in all areas. The childminder interacts extremely well with the children and through their play helps develop their language, numeracy and understanding. During the inspection the childminder was sharing her attentions between a young baby and a toddler. Both felt important and the baby sat on the childminder's knee watching the older child complete some jigsaw puzzles, talking about the colours and shapes he could see.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A wide range of activities are planned for the children after school, based around a theme. The children help the childminder to think of the themes and then she sorts out an activity for them after school each night. Sometimes these are based around requests from the children. When planning the activities the childminder has a number of things available for self selection in case she has to sort out the baby and leave the older children to get on. The plans include

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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 activities based around different countries, languages and festivals and the children enjoy a range of activities including various types of art and craft and cookery. The childminder has started putting story sacks together with the help of the older children. These are really appreciated by the younger ones. The children greatly benefit from the positive interaction they have with the childminder, who is skilled at developing their play, knowledge and understanding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are fully included and feel a strong sense of belonging to an extended family, whilst in the childminder's care. Their individual needs are skilfully met and their routines, as discussed with the parents, intertwined with her daily routine. The children relish the opportunity to discover about other countries and cultures as well as finding out about nature and their locality whilst out for walks in the area. They have a wide range of resources available to them including books in other languages, disabled figures and figures from other countries, together with other resources enabling them to find out about traditions in other countries. The children of all ages play exceptionally well together, showing a very caring attitude towards each other. The childminder is experienced in supporting the needs of children with learning difficulties or disabilities but has not been approached to care for any child with these additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The very clearly understood behaviour management strategies and rules when in the house and away from it, enable the children to remain safe at all times with the childminder. The older children particularly enjoy the reward system for carrying out daily tasks, like hanging their coats up and putting their shoes and bags away tidily. This system is not used with the younger children. All understand the strategies used for behaviour management, including, as a last resort, a short period of time out. These have been discussed and agreed with the parents. Close liaison with the parents helps the childminder to offer the best possible care to the children and ensures the parents are kept fully informed of the care their child receives.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Space, time and resources are extremely well organised to give the most effective care to the children and create a friendly, inviting atmosphere. The children's needs are of paramount importance and the childminder effectively meets these, helping them to develop into caring individuals. The clear registration system, policies and procedures fully underpin the care offered and promote extremely well children's health, safety and well-being at all times. The children greatly benefit from the amount of individual attention they receive from the childminder who is generally playing alongside them, talking to them and developing their understanding and skills. The children greatly benefit from the amount of training the childminder has undertaken to ensure her practise is of the highest quality possible.

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Organisation

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 ensure her equipment is checked for safety before allowing children to access it and to improve the procedures for checking the safety of the premises. Both issues have been addressed and the childminder now daily checks the toys she is getting out for the children to ensure they are as safe as possible. She has a risk

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Improvements 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 assessment check list for the house that is gone through each morning before the children arrive to ensure the environment is as safe as possible for the children.

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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 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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