Broad Square Community Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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133335 Unique Reference Number 20 November 2007 Inspection date Sheila Collins 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 1993. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Abingdon in Oxfordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house and one bedroom upstairs is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available 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 under eight at any one time and is currently minding a total of 12 children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. These include six children under five years and six school aged children of whom four are aged over eight. The childminder regularly works with an assistant.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children.

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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 outstanding. Children learn about personal hygiene through their daily routine and know the importance of good hygiene practices. The childminder has excellent hygiene practices herself and supports the children well, chatting with the children when changing nappies and ensuring that each child has an individual flannel when washing hands. Each child has made their own tag to go on their towel peg so that they can easily identify their own towel which minimises the risk of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder actively promotes the good health of the children and responds appropriately when they are ill. The childminder has a very good back up system in case of an emergency. She meets regularly with these childminders, so ensuring that the children are familiar with the adults should a real emergency happen. The childminder has a current first aid certificate, which ensures that she is able to effectively manage any accidents that may occur. The children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of their individual health needs and all the relevant documentation is in place, to support the meeting of these needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder consults with parents about their child's dietary requirements and preferences. The parents supply the children's meals and the childminder ensures that they are able to choose healthy options for snack. They are able to access drinks easily when they are thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children enjoy physical exercise and the childminder successfully plans their day to ensure that they have a wide range of excellent activities to help them develop physically.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder gives high priority to ensuring that the children are safe both within and outside the home. She conducts regular risk assessments but does not keep any written records of these. She is aware of potential hazards and minimises these to ensure the children's safety. She involves the children in safety procedures such as regular evacuation practises, which increase the children's awareness of safety issues. However, she does not record these. The childminder promotes the children's safety when she is out walking with them and is teaching them to cross the roads safely. She is clear about the action she would take if a child was to become lost but does not have this in a written format.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has equipment suitable for the age and stage of the children attending, which includes items such as safety barriers. The childminder checks the equipment and toys frequently to ensure that they are safe for the children to use. The children are able to select resources for themselves from the varied range in the play room. The range of toys and equipment for the children to use covers all areas of their development. The toys for the younger children are at ground level in appropriate containers, which the children can reach easily themselves. The childminder rotates these with other toys to ensure that the children get a variety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder promotes the children's welfare through a good knowledge of child protection issues. She has a clear understanding of the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child which safeguards their welfare.

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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 outstanding. The children are happy and confident and have good relationships with the childminder. They settle down to play with the toys which the childminder has put out to make the playroom feel welcoming for them. The childminder is aware of individual children's developmental needs and ensures they receive appropriate support. The younger children get on well together and are learning to share and take turns. They enjoy playing alongside each other and involving the childminder in their activities, for example, looking at books with her. They enjoy imaginative play, for example, playing with the farm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children make choices about what they would like to do and direct their own play. They confidently select alternative items to play with from the range available in the playroom. They know the daily routine which makes them feel secure. They receive lots of praise and encouragement from the childminder, which promotes their self-esteem and confidence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The older children are involved in the planning during the holidays. They enjoy playing in the garden and have fun helping to wash the play house. They enjoy imaginative play, for example, turning the play house into a café and making play food, menus and serving their friends. They have a very good selection of resources which are stage appropriate and take part in activities, such as cooking and craft.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children take part in a variety of activities, both indoors and out. The childminder plans each day according to the needs of the children attending and their individual routines. The children go out daily with the childminder. They meet up with other childminders and their minded children, which promotes their social development. Other outings include trips to the local toddler clubs, parks and shopping.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has good knowledge of the individual needs of each child through ongoing discussion with parents. The younger children's own routines and sleep patterns are followed which ensures continuity. The childminder has a variety of resources for the children to use which reflect positive images of the diversity of today's society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All the children enjoy free play but also have the opportunities to take part in planned activities, such as, finding out about different cultures and foods in a fun way. The children made passports and 'visited' other countries, for example, China, making dragons, looking up how to write their names in Chinese and sampling traditional foods such as prawn crackers, noodles and pancake rolls. When planning, the childminder considers the children in her care, their stage of development and ability and chooses activities which the children can take part in at an appropriate level, for example, making and cooking pizzas. The childminder is supportive of children's interests and helps them to achieve in these, for example, one child who is a Brownie organised a party at the childminder's house for their hostess badge.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses age appropriate behaviour management techniques. She takes into account the age and stage of the children, for example, using distraction for the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works very closely with the parents. She exchanges information on a daily basis so that they know what has happened during the time when their child is being cared for.

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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 The childminder shares with parents the written policies, which are in place. By working in partnership with parents, the childminder ensures that she is meeting the children's individual needs and she uses the appropriate documentation to support this, for example, children's details forms and contracts.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. All the children benefit from the childminder's excellent organisation of the day.

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Organisation

The childminder has attended training courses to extend her knowledge of working as a childminder, for example, signing training, learning through play, safeguarding and first aid courses. The children benefit from her knowledge and experience, which she uses to ensure their ongoing well being, safety and care.

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Organisation

The childminder has all the required documentation in place to make sure that she is able to meet the individual needs of the children in her care. An attendance record is kept. Her certificate of registration and insurance details are displayed for parents to see, so they are aware of the conditions of registration.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, four recommendations were made. These were to request written permission from all parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and keep a record of existing injuries; to make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint and ensure that they are informed of the childminder's responsibility with regard to child protection; ensure that the record of attendance clearly identifies occasions where the assistant is present and to expand the range of available resources that reflect positive images of disability.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has acted on all these recommendations and has obtained the necessary permissions from parents for medical advice or treatment. She has effective procedures in place should she need to record any injuries which a child may come with, and a clear record of attendance. The childminder has policies in place regarding complaints and child protection. She has reviewed her resources to ensure that these include more which reflect positive images of disabilities and these now include more books and toys such as people in wheelchairs.

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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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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): • consider implementing a written risk assessment, a fire log and a policy to show procedures which would be followed if a child became lost.

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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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