Glynwood Community Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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108372 Unique Reference Number 25 October 2007 Inspection date Christine Cutts 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 1998. She lives with her husband and two children aged 14 and 19 on the outskirts of Maidenhead. Local shops, parks and schools are all within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with sleeping facilities provided on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder attends the local childminder drop-in group on a regular basis. The family have a pet dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years and there are currently four children on roll, all on part time basis. There are currently children attending who have learning difficulties, but none for whom English is an additional language.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have access to a very clean and hygienic environment. Health is promoted, as cloakroom areas are very clean. Children are independent and take responsibility for managing their own

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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 personal hygiene; washing their hands after going to the toilet, children identify their individual towels 'My towel is the blue one'.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has devised a written sickness policy to share with parents, informing them of her responsibilities. Should children become unwell, parents are contacted and children are excluded from the provision. Medicine has been administered and very detailed records are in place. Children further benefit as the childminder liaises closely with parents, ensuring children's medical conditions are managed correctly. Records include all required details and as a result, children's health is very well fostered in line with parents' wishes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit as the childminder provides a range of freshly made and prepared foods and offer fruit for snacks. The childminder is well informed of children's dietary needs. All details are recorded in children's day books. Regular drinks of water are available for children to access freely when they feel thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good awareness of health and hygiene. They wash their hands before eating and after toileting; they eat fruit and have plenty of opportunities for physical play. As a result, children are developing a good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. They know to dress up when playing outside in the cold, 'I'm all cosy with my gloves'. Children have good opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They use local parks and the garden in all weathers; toys are taken outside and children enjoy spending time fixing things with play tools, ball games or pushing dolls in prams.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children further benefit from good opportunities for rest and relaxation. They have access to most areas of the home allowing them to seek peace and quiet if needed. Children can also use the comfortable sofas to relax. As a result, children are well rested.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children have a very safe and secure environment. It is spacious, bright and stimulating, in which the children have very good opportunities to enjoy playing and learning. Children access age appropriate, safe resources, which are well organised to develop their independence skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s risk of accidental injury is minimised as there are good safety and security precautions in place, such as, socket cover, stair gates, fire blanket and regularly tested smoke alarms. The children learn to keep themselves safe through reminders to play safely with the toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder's very good knowledge of health and safety issues and vigilant monitoring of the children ensures that they are very safe and secure in their play, happy to move around, chatting and playing. The children are learning to keep themselves safe, through the childminder explaining safe practices, such as, practising evacuations and road safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

To safeguard the children's welfare and protection, the childminder has all the required procedures and documents in place. For example, the childminder has a very good understanding of child protection procedures in line with the local safeguarding children board procedures.

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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 are cared for in a friendly and welcoming family environment, where they are happy, included and valued. Children are settled, secure, and have access to very good play opportunities, which promote their development and provide them with challenges and a sense of achievement. Children's independence is encouraged by the availability of appropriate equipment, such as, low table and chairs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Every opportunity is taken by the knowledgeable childminder to extend the play opportunities for children in her care, building on the children's own interests. The childminder supports those that need help and challenges more able children to name colours and shapes when making spiders, helping them with the 'bendy legs'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are absorbed in the stimulating and well-planned range of play activities available. Children's skills are encouraged by the childminder recognising the children's developmental needs, providing resources and activities to take them onto their next steps. The childminder is beginning to make observation notes of the children to help her ensure they have developmentally appropriate activities. The childminder refers to the Birth to three matters framework to support young children's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children learn to value themselves and others in an atmosphere where their ideas, thoughts and feelings are respected and where they learn about others, through socialising and the provision of very good activities and resources. All of the children are valued and respected as individuals, with children's work displayed in the lobby area. The children have equal access to all the toys and the childminder encourages them to play together, sharing toys and building good social interactions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder discusses any special needs with parents and works closely with them, endeavouring to meet children's individual needs. The childminder is experienced in supporting children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and in particular ensures that all children are included in activities throughout the day. The children benefit from the childminder's commitment to ensure that all the children develop to their highest potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is generally good with the childminder giving gentle reminders on expected behaviour. The childminder explains clearly, so children know what she expects of them, helping them to build their sense of right and wrong and manage their own behaviour. Children feel comfortable and at ease, they are learning to share and respect each other and their surroundings. The childminder shares the behaviour policy with parents and keeps them fully informed of their children's well-being.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents to ensure that they are informed of their children’s progress and needs. The childminder keeps detailed daily diaries to support the verbal feedback she gives parents and parents have access to a very detailed information folder with a comprehensive range of policies and procedures. A parents' notice board displays the registration certificate and parents poster. The childminder therefore ensures that individual children’s well-being is promoted through partnership with parents.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the childminder's good organisation; she keeps her childminding commitments low to ensure that there is a good level of space and resources to meet all the children's needs and to ensure that she is able to offer them individual time and attention.

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Organisation

The childminder has undertaken all relevant checks and training to enable her to support the children she cares for. The childminder also continues to update her knowledge and understanding of childcare issues through regular training.

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Organisation

A good range of documentation is in place to ensure welfare of the children is maintained and that parents are kept fully involved in their children's care and well-being. The childminder has very good relationships with parents and exchanges information to help meet the children's individual needs.

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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 update the records to include the times of children's daily arrival and departure and maintain these accurately. Children are well protected as times of arrival and departure are now recorded daily.

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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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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): • Continue to develop good practice by recorded observational notes on children's development.

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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 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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