Dame Janet Community Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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118413 Unique Reference Number 03 March 2008 Inspection date Deborah Jane Starr 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 1998. She lives with her husband and one adult son in Easton in Gordano, North Somerset. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed back garden. The family has pet cats.

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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. She is currently minding six children; four of whom are under five years and two under eight years. Two children under five years attend on a full-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes and collects children from the local school and local nurseries and attends a number of local toddler groups. She takes children to the library, local parks, shops and local places of interest.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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 to be healthy

The provision is good. Well-established daily good hygiene routines effectively promotes children's health. Policies, such as the exclusion of children when unwell prevent the spread of illness. The use of individual hand towels, regular wiping of runny noses and regular inoculation of family pets safeguards children from the risk of cross-infection. The childminder holds a valid paediatric first aid certificate and provides appropriate care if a child has an accident. The systems in place for the management of accidents and the administering of medication are appropriate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a varied range of activities that contribute to their physical health and development. Young children's emerging mobility is appropriately supported by placing toys out of reach to encourage stretching and forward movement. Low-level furniture offers support for walking, aids stability and promotes muscle development. Regular visits to local parks and access to the garden provide opportunities for children to develop control and co-ordination of their bodies. A see-saw, slide, low-level trampoline and climbing frame, sit and ride toys, scooter, parachute and swings promote children's balance and co-ordination. Movement on a whirly gig and action songs and rhymes promotes co-ordination skills whilst inside the home. Children develop throwing and kicking skills using a variety of balls and bats. Daily walks around the village to and from school and nursery provide plenty of fresh air. Children are able to sleep

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Helping children to be healthy

comfortably in a travel cot or on a sofa according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are discussed fully with parents and taken account of. Some parents provide food for their young children. The childminder encourages children to make healthy, balanced choices at snack and meal times from a self-made chart that represents fruit and vegetables. Light meals at tea time include sandwiches of ham or cheese; whilst more substantial home prepared meals include a variety of vegetables. Diluted fruit juice and drinking water is easily accessible throughout the day from individual drinking bottles placed within easy reach of children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder organises her home effectively to accommodate a varied range of play activities. Her use of space and organisation of toys ensures children move safely and independently around the well-maintained home where hazards are clearly identified, minimised and checked. For instance, through the use of cushions arranged around young babies when sitting, door jams, stair gates, sockets covers and smoke detectors. Children play with and use a varied range of good quality toys and equipment that are regularly checked, age-appropriate and meets their developmental needs. Children's understanding of their own personal safety is promoted within the home. Children help to tidy toys away to prevent tripping and are reminded why specific toys with small pieces must be kept out of reach of babies and toddlers. Clear evacuation procedures are in place; however, they are not regularly practised with all children. When outside

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

of the home young children are strapped securely into the buggy and car seats, wear reins when walking and hold onto the buggy. Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of road safety on their daily walks. Clear laminated personal detail cards; carried by the childminder, provide emergency details in the event of an accident to the childminder. Young children play within close proximity to the childminder in enclosed areas of the park. Older school age children play within agreed boundaries and within sight of the childminder when

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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 on outings, playing in the park and when walking home from school. Discussion about stranger danger promotes children's understanding further.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded and protected through procedures such as, steps to be taken in the event of an uncollected child and the collection of children by authorised persons. The childminder's good knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms of child abuse, her responsibilities and local reporting procedures protects children from harm. Parents are informed of her responsibilities through their own copy of a written statement and access to local authority and the Department of Health guidelines that clearly identifying the steps to be taken when reporting concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young children separate happily from their parents and are very attached to the childminder. They contentedly snuggle into her when looking at objects such as rattles, home made shakers, stacking beakers and rings. The positive relationship between the childminder and children promotes their self-confidence. Young children confidently approach the visiting inspector showing her their drawings, photographs of themselves and asking questions. Children are settled and secure within the childminder's home. They select from a range of toys and resources set out for them and make independent choices from accessible low-level storage boxes and shelving. Children happily engage in their own play; for instance, recreating families with small world people when playing with a dolls house, investigating how doors open and close on vehicles and sorting and matching a range of blocks and rings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses her good knowledge of the children and secure understanding of child development to support children's next steps. For instance, she encourages young children to feel the movement of air on their hands when they make a range of sounds. While clearly repeating words to reinforce initial letter sounds and their pronunciation with older children. Regular use of a weather and date chart encourages children to develop an awareness of change. Visits to local shops, offer opportunities to make choices. Children participate in regular messy play and creative activities such as gluing and sticking, painting and moulding dough at local toddler groups and when in the home. Older school age children make choices from a varied selection of table top games and creative materials such as beads, construction blocks and card games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Regular visits to a range of toddler and childminder groups, the local library and shops help children develop their social skills. Visits to local places of interest such as local visitor farms help children develop a sense of their local community.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Effective settling-in procedures and a flexible approach to each child's care, supports children's wellbeing. Children's individual needs are clearly identified and met. This is achieved through regular discussion to ensure consistency of approach and a positive attitude to working side-by side with parents and other professionals. The childminder has a positive attitude to the care of children with learning difficulties and/or difficulties. Use of Makaton aids communication and promotes children's sense of security. They develop a strong sense of belonging, happily looking through photographs of themselves and others in albums and hanging displays. Resources such as posters, books, small world figures and puzzles, reflect positive images of

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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 ethnicity, culture and disability. Children participate in regular meaningful activities through craft, stories, food, dressing up clothes, use of world maps and access to selected TV programmes that promote a positive attitude towards difference and help develop an awareness of the diversity of the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder's calm, respectful and consistent approach to children and use of age and developmentally appropriate strategies, helps children understand what is expected of them. The childminder's role modelling of acceptable behaviour and use of praise and encouragement effectively builds children's self-esteem and promotes their sense of wellbeing. Children's behaviour is very good.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the close relationship between parents and the childminder. They are well-informed of the childminder's policies and procedures and their children's daily experiences through some written policies and procedures, a daily diary, daily discussion and clear display of documentation. Parents are well-informed of the procedures to be followed should they wish to make a complaint.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder creates a welcoming environment in which children are relaxed and at ease.

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Organisation

The organisation of the play area ensures children have plenty of floor space and table top areas to participate in a varied range of activities according to their interests. Children freely access toys and self-select from well-organised, clearly labelled, low level storage boxes and toys set out on shelving or at floor level. A flexible approach to the day ensures children's individual needs are met; for example, their need for sleep and the taking to and collection of children from school and nursery. Forward planning ensures children's individual needs are met in the event of an emergency or holiday by the identification of alternative childminder's known to the children.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of the National Standards, as reflected in most aspects of her practice and policies and procedures. Documentation is appropriate, accurate, well organised, and maintained confidentially.

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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 provider was requested to make the following improvements. To ensure that all persons over 16 years living in the household have completed appropriate checks. And to

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Improvements since the last inspection

ensure that records of attendance are maintained accurately.

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Improvements since the last inspection

These recommendations have been considered and steps taken to improve the provision. Appropriate checks are now in place for all persons over the age of 16 years to ensure their suitability. Records of attendance accurately record the times of arrival and departure of each child; as a result, children's safety is promoted.

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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

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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): • practise regular evacuation procedures with all children.

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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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