Rushall Community College

Inspection report for early years provision

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134263 Unique Reference Number 31 January 2008 Inspection date Ruth George 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 1991. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Thame, Oxfordshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local park. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding six children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children’s good health is promoted, they are learning about personal hygiene through the daily routine. Children use tissues to wipe their noses and wash their hands before cooking activities and eating. Older children have individual hand towels to help prevent the spread of infection. The nappy changing area is kept clean and children use individual changing mats. During a nappy change the childminder talks about using a potty soon and recites known sentences with

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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 a cheerful voice from a well known story book about using a potty. Positive steps are taken to prevent the spread of infection and a sickness policy is in place and is shared with all parents. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, any accidents are attended to appropriately and recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with drinks at regular intervals and can access drinks independently. Children enjoy healthy snacks, such as fresh orange segments and banana. Most meals are provided by parents and are stored in the fridge.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children spend as much time outside as possible when the weather allows. They enjoy their time in the garden playing in the play house, sand pit and with the water play. They walk on most days to and from the school and often call at the park on the way home where they develop large motor skills as they climb and play football.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a well maintained and secure home. It is well laid out with space available to allow children to move freely and safely between activities. The kitchen is clean and children sit together at a child size table and chairs to eat their meals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Most hazards are minimised ensuring children’s safety is promoted; however, detergent is kept in a low level cupboard. The garden is secure and provides an area where children can play safely. There is a good range of toys that children access from low level storage boxes. Toys and equipment are in good condition. Older children learn about and practise fire evacuation, the younger children learn through play with the use of small world toys. For example, a fire engine will come to put out the fire and that they leave the house quickly holding the childminder's hand.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder demonstrated a good knowledge of child protection and children’s welfare is her first priority. She has all the up to date Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and knows who to contact if she has a concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children confidently access resources from low level storage boxes. The large selection of resources promotes curiosity and interest. Children look inside boxes and take out the small world emergency vehicles. The children are excited to discover the fire engines with flashing lights and look deeper in the box for the engine driver and other fire people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have regular opportunities to mix with other children at the local toddler group, giving them good opportunities to develop social skills. Photographic evidence show children experience a wide range of activities inside and outside the home. Basic planning is on display for parents and shows a weekly plan including a theme and planned outings, but these do not identify play opportunities to promote individual children's development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy and settled showing that they are confident and relaxed with the childminder. Children have a close relationship with the childminder communicating their needs, chatting and laughing together. They enjoy baking a cake in preparation for a indoor picnic the next day. Mathematical language is introduced as the childminder counts the eggs and cracks them

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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 into a bowl for the cake mixture. Children use an electric whisk with the support of the childminder to mix the ingredients together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have good opportunities to learn about the local community. They go on regular outings to toddler groups and the park. Children are learning about the wider world through planned activities including the festival of Hanukah. For Divali children learnt about the festival of lights and made divas. There is a good range of resources to develop children’s understanding of others differences, including books, dolls and small world toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Individual children’s needs including routines are discussed with parents and information is recorded. The childminder has a very good knowledge of caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. A good partnership with parents ensures information is shared to help promote children’s development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and they know the boundaries set in the childminder’s home. They are learning about responsible behaviour, for example, children wait at the kitchen doorway whilst the cakes are taken out of the oven. House rules are discussed both with children and parents so children all know what is expected. The childminder has realistic expectations for the ages of children she cares for. Children receive lots of praise and encouragement, for their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from good continuity between the home and the setting. There is a good partnership with parents and information is shared with parents about their children verbally at the end of the day or later in the evening by telephone if more appropriate to do so. A parent pack containing all the childminder’s policies and procedures is shared with the parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are making good progress as the childminder organises the space in the home and resources well. Children are provided with some stimulating activities both inside and outside the home. The childminder maintains the adult to child ratio at all times to ensure that she can supervise children appropriately. She is proactive in seeking training opportunities and attends relevant workshops to further develop her practice. All regulatory documentation is in place to promote the welfare and care of the children. 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 develop her familiarity with the regulation to notify Ofsted of significant changes and events. The childminder demonstrated her awareness of notifiable events, for example she has recently applied to vary her conditions of registration and is aware that when a family member reaches 16 years old she must inform Ofsted.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 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

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 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): • ensure hazardous materials in the kitchen are made safe • further improve the planned activities to enhance individual children's learning and development capabilities.

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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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