Newbury Hall School

Inspection report for early years provision

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135819 Unique Reference Number 16 January 2008 Inspection date Anahita Aderianwalla 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 outstanding. 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 1988. The childminder lives with her husband and four children in a five bedroom end of terrace house in Winchmore Hill, in the London Borough of Enfield.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The property comprises of three floors, the main childminding activities take place on the ground floor. This includes the front and back reception rooms, and kitchen. The first floor is accessible to minded children for the purpose of toilet and washing facilities. The outdoor area is used for play and is accessible via the back reception room and the kitchen.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to look after a maximum of four children, and is currently minding two children under five, full time. The childminder attends various local parent/toddler groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The property is in walking distance to transport facilities, schools and local amenities.

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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 enjoy a vast range of stimulating activities that positively contribute to their good health. They are cared for by a childminder who has a thorough understanding of appropriate activities and levels of support for each child. This continuously promotes children's confidence to try out new skills, set their own limits and recognise when to ask for help. There is daily opportunity for physical play, whether in the substantial garden or in the hazard free rooms that are dedicated to children in the home. The childminder offers a sizeable array of toys, games and play equipment which fully support the development of children's physical skills. Children benefit from regular visits to local parks and playgrounds which further underpins the improvement of their physical competence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming home where they learn the importance of high levels of hygiene and personal care. The childminder helps children to gain an excellent understanding of hygiene and encourages them to become gradually more independent in their personal care, and substantially reduces the risk of cross infection in the home. For example, younger children have a clear understanding of why they must wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. The childminder has very comprehensive selection of purposeful policies and procedures which she has devised in relation to health, hygiene, medication and illness. She holds and regularly updates a suitable first aid qualification and regularly checks the fully stocked first aid kit to ensure that children receive appropriate first aid. Extremely robust procedures are in place for children who are unwell to safeguard the good health of

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about good nutrition and healthy eating as they enjoy home cooked food from an excellent range of fresh ingredients that they have selected themselves. The childminder promotes children's knowledge and understanding of nutritional issues through discussion and activities. The childminder is rigorous when dealing with particular allergies and demonstrates a strong knowledge of the dietary needs of children in her care to ensure that their specific dietary needs are met. The childminder and children always sit at the table to eat which underpins their good manners and social skills and helps them develop a positive attitude towards healthy eating. Children respond to the childminder with outstanding courtesy and care and treat each other with warmth and respect. Children have free and constant access to water and understand the need to replenish their fluid levels in order to stay healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder's meticulous procedures and excellent practice help keep children safe at all times. Children are protected at all times because the childminder has identified and minimised all risks, and sets safe limits for children. Children actively learn to keep themselves safe because the childminder has clear rules and routines in order to maintain their safety at all times in the home. Children demonstrate a clear understanding of the rules of safety in the home. For example, children are aware of the dangers of toys lying around and put things away.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected by the childminder's daily premises checks, thorough, clear policies and their own fast developing understanding of safety in and out of the home. Children have access to a large, child-centric space in which they can move freely between a choice of rooms. The

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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 two playrooms for children's use and supervised access to a very well organised kitchen give children more than ample space to play safely. Children move with high levels of confidence around the home and show particularly good awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Children have access to a very well organised, child orientated space in which they can move freely between a choice of inside and outside.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an detailed knowledge of the resources she has in the home and checks these regularly to guarantee that they are safe and suitable for children's use at all times. She carefully monitors and supervises children's choice of toys, to ensure they are appropriate for their age and stage of development. For example, the children in her care are engaged in pushing prams and pretending to go shopping and then cooking the play food, in the role area.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is strongly safeguarded because the childminder has an excellent knowledge of child protection issues and has a thorough understanding of her responsibilities to report any concerns to the appropriate agency. The childminder's comprehensive written policy is displayed, and shared with all parents so that they have an exact understanding of the steps that she would take to protect children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in an environment that offers stimulating and varied activities, both inside and outside the home. The childminder provides activities that enable the children to develop and progress in all areas. They learn a great deal about the world around them and enjoy creative activities that are meticulously planned, that promote learning and enjoyment. For example, making shapes with different cutters and tools when playing with play dough and making wooden spoon puppets.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children have access to a vast array of toys and activities from which they can freely choose. Children are encouraged to self select their own activities, by an extremely attentive and supportive childminder. The childminder offers children many activities to fully stimulate their inquisitiveness. The childminder has very detailed plans, that incorporate the Birth to three matters framework. The plans are extremely flexible and activities are often planned according to age and stage of development for each child, and activities are child led to allow spontaneous play to develop daily. Children are allowed to fully immerse themselves in an excellent range of creative tasks, including messy play, painting and collage making, which are displayed in the childminder's home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder arranges a number of well prepared outings to increase the already strong range of experiences for children. For example, children play an active part in shopping for food, and posting letters that they write, and visiting different playgroups throughout the week. In addition, they go to the local parks and library and feeding the ducks. The childminder indulges children's natural curiosity through a range of questions and varied discussions. The childminder is extremely skilled at developing individual children's knowledge and understanding through providing stimulating activities, discussions and play that effectively meet the needs of all the children in her care.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit greatly from the close links that the childminder has made with all parents. Parents receive a very comprehensive range of policies and procedures, which include information about the childminder and her family, when their children first attend the setting. Parents are fully informed about the provision through daily feedback forms and discussions at the end of the day, and through extremely detailed and evaluative child observations about the development of each child. This promotes a clear exchange of information between the childminder and parents which supports children's welfare and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a significant awareness of equal opportunities and her excellent example teaches children to value diversity both in the home and in the wider world. Children learn about diversity as information about other cultures and human difference is woven into daily activities. Children have access to a range of resources and experiences that increase their understanding of the diversity of our wider world. For example, the childminder has a variety of multicultural books, dolls and games that all promote inclusive and non-discriminatory practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has excellent procedures in place to manage any negative behaviour and she rarely has to intervene in disputes between children in her care. Children show a very mature understanding of right and wrong and well planned daily routines offer children suitable boundaries which enables them to manage their own behaviour. The childminder is a good role model to all children in the setting and this has a clearly positive impact on the behaviour of the children in her care.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder is responsible and enthusiastic with children in her care and shows particular creativity when planning activities for children in her care. The childminder carries out detailed risk assessments which ensures risks are minimised. A flexible daily plan means that the childminder can always respond to the spontaneous needs of the children in her care. She has a mature approach to dealing with any concerns about minded children, ensuring that their needs are always met.

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Organisation

The childminder has extremely effective procedures in place to ensure that children's needs are continuously met to a high standard. Fully comprehensive and up to date documentation enables the childminder to implement current best practice at all times and this ensures that children make impressive progress. The childminder uses her well thought out, clear policies, which cover all aspects of the National Standards, to promote positive outcomes for children. Children are comfortable in the well-organised, suitably prepared and inviting family environment. This contributes greatly to the excellent standard of care that children in the setting receive daily.

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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

There were no recommendations made at the last inspection.

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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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