St Wenn School

Inspection report for early years provision

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111901 Unique Reference Number 11 January 2008 Inspection date Tonia Chilcott 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 was registered in 1997. She lives with her four children, one of whom is aged under five years, in Fair Oak, Hampshire. The whole of the childminder’s house is registered for childminding with the exception of the back garden. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding seven children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder has a pet dog and pet cats. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She takes children to the local park.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from the childminder's effective procedures relating to health. Written procedures are in place and practised by the childminder to ensure that children are protected from the spread of illness and infection whilst in her care. For example, children learn healthy practices such as hand washing throughout the everyday routine. Individual paper towels are readily available within the fitted dispenser that is within easy reach of all children. Paper towels and individual flannels are used to ensure that children are protected from risk of cross

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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 contamination. The childminder has completed relevant first aid training, thus ensuring children are treated appropriately in the event of an injury; this together with written permission to seek emergency treatment or advice, ensures that children receive appropriate treatment in the event of injury. Children enjoy a good range of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks, all of which are prepared taking into account the individual dietary requirements of each child. Drinks are readily available throughout the day to ensure that children remain hydrated at all times. Children take part in a range of activities which promote their physical development, such as regular outside play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment that is decorated with examples of children’s work, posters and stickers that the children have placed around the home. Children remain safe and secure within the home, and benefit from the childminder's secure understanding of safety. For instance, children learn to keep themselves safe in an emergency whilst regularly taking part in fire drills. The childminder ensures that records are maintained regarding fire drills and checks on smoke alarms, and that each child is able to undertake a fire drill on a regular basis. A good range of toys and resources are available for children of all ages to access, all of which are clean and well maintained. Children freely make choices from the good range of toys and materials that are easily accessible to them and presented well. Children are well protected by the childminder, who has a good understanding of child protection procedures

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. Younger children are happy and settled and respond to the childminder with smiles and laughter throughout the day. They benefit from the caring relationships that the childminder fosters with them and the effective, but gentle questioning and support that the childminder provides whilst playing directly with the children. Younger children learn about size and shape whilst playing with building blocks with the childminder. They begin to learn about colour when the childminder encourages the children to think about the different colours of the blocks. Imaginative resources are available to encourage children’s understanding of colour. For instance, children make glitter bottles, containing different coloured glitters and feathers, that are then available for children of all ages to look at and play with. Younger children become immersed in shaking the bottles and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

then looking carefully at the contents. Children of all ages enjoy a wide range of exciting and stimulating activities that promote their learning. For instance, children regularly take part in art and crafts, making and using musical instruments and messy play activities. The childminder records details of the children’s achievements within scrap books that are then made available to parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children access a good range of toys, materials and activities that enable them to learn about the wider world. For instance, children of all ages access colouring sheets and activities that allow them to learn about the wider world. The childminder shows a positive attitude towards inclusion and would work closely with parents to support children with learning difficulties

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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 and/or disabilities. Children behave well in response to praise and encouragement from the childminder, who calmly and kindly talks to them, offering praise throughout. Parents are provided with diaries and/or diary sheets that are completed on a daily basis and are used to share written information about the child’s day with the parents. Scrap books are used to display examples of children’s work, photographs of them engaged in activities and written observations of children’s progress and involvement with activities; scrap books are readily available to parents to ensure that they remain up to date with their child’s time with the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a wide range of thorough and clearly written policies and procedures that are used to effectively promote the welfare and development of all children, all of which are shared with parents. Space is used well to allow children to move safely and securely within the home. The effective organisation of the space ensures that children have suitable space to play freely, whilst being supervised at all times. A register of children’s attendance is in place, although it is not consistently completed as children arrive at the childminder's home; consequently, the register does not provide an accurate picture of the actual times of arrival and departure. Children are protected by the childminder, who is aware of her duty to ensure that other people living or working on the premises are suitable to be in contact with children. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that all documentation supports the childminding practice, including parental consent to seek emergency treatment or advice and written agreements setting out the expectations of both parties in regard to the care of the child. Parents of all children have provided written permission to allow the childminder to seek emergency medical treatment or advice, thus ensuring that children receive appropriate treatment in the event of an emergency. Written contracts are now in place for all parents, thus ensuring that parents are fully aware of the of the service provided. Additionally, the childminder was asked to ensure that sufficient toys and resources are available to develop and stimulate children's imagination, thinking and learning and allow children choice. Children of all ages now access a wide range of toys and materials that promote their learning. The storage of all

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Improvements since the last inspection

resources enable children to freely make choices from the good range of toys that are readily available.

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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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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 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 that the register of children's attendance records the actual times that children arrive and depart

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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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