Seathorne Primary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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147412 Unique Reference Number 12 December 2007 Inspection date Kay Williams 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 1989. She lives with her husband. They live in Burnt Oak which is located within the London borough of Barnet The whole of the childminder’s house 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 three children at any one time and is currently minding three children under eight.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups and takes children to the library and the park. The family have a pet dog, two cats, a rabbit, tropical fish and a covered fish pond in the garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the local childminding network and the National Childminding Association.

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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 satisfactory. Children's health and well being is effectively promoted overall. The care routines for the family pets encourages children to learn about the importance of good personal hygiene. They know that they must wash their hands after stroking the animals. Children are less likely to be exposed to the risk of cross infection as they use their own personal flannels and towels and nappy changing routines are hygienically clean. Children who become ill are appropriately cared for. The childminder has a current first aid qualification and there are appropriate systems in place for recording and tending to medical conditions and accidents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered a well balanced diet overall. The childminder has a generally good understanding of the importance of healthy eating and appropriate regard for children's individual dietary needs. They are encouraged to make healthy choices through the fresh fruit they are offered as a snack. The menus are planned in advance and are nutritionally varied although some of the food provided such as frankfurters and sausage balls are not consistent with healthy eating. Should children become thirsty they are able to access a drink from their own beaker at any time.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy daily walks in the fresh air as they journey to and from school to take and collect children. They are able to engage in robust physical play at the toddler groups that they visit each week. They make regular use of the garden and local parks during the summer months, though this is significantly reduced during the winter consequently opportunities for the children to climb, run and exercise are less frequent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children feel comfortable in the safe and secure environment that the childminder has established. Displays of photographs of the children strengthen their sense of belonging and they love to point to the pictures as they recall past events in their lives. All resources and play materials are easily accessible and children help themselves to toys from the boxes and shelves. Children enjoy looking through the 'equipment photo album' which enables them to choose additional resources which, at their request, is then brought down from the store cupboard upstairs. The childminder monitors resources to ensure they remain in good condition.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a high regard for safety and has taken appropriate steps to minimises hazards; for example, the radiators are regulated to make sure that they are not too hot for the children to touch. Safety equipment such as smoke detectors and a fire blanket are in place. The childminder has planned an emergency evacuation procedure which the children practise and she monitors the success of theses drills by recording the event. Children are cared for in a hygienically clean environment. The childminder is vigilant with her cleaning routines, ensuring good standards of hygiene are in place regarding the family pets.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected as the childminder has a good understanding of appropriate child protection procedures. Parents are informed of her duty to safeguard the children in her care. She has recently attended training and consequently has appropriate systems in place to record and report child protection concerns.

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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 good. The childminder has a good understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and uses this effectively to plan and provide an appropriate range of activities for the children in her care. Children are very well settled and enjoy a positive relationship with the childminder and she clearly enjoys their company. The children benefit from the good sense of fun that the childminder creates through her cheerful attitude. She is very attentive of the children’s needs, spending good amounts of time playing with them, helping them to persevere with tasks such as completing a jigsaw puzzle.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are becoming competent learners, increasingly developing their independence as they choose their own resources and move freely between the hall and the lounge as they play. The warm, friendly atmosphere created by the childminder is very supportive of children’s all-round development especially their self esteem. Children are confident of the childminders support as they seek comfort from her clearly feeling secure enough to request to be picked up and cuddled. Children’s language development is well fostered as the childminder talks to the children about familiar events such as their siblings and recent trips that they have enjoyed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Routines include regular trips to the local toddler group where children are able to enjoy a good range of creative activities such as painting, gluing and drawing. They also have fun as they socialise with other children and enjoy using the outdoor play area where they are able to climb and balance play group games with the parachute and ride bikes. Children are developing a fondness of books as they often visit the library and have fun as they participate in the 'rhyme time' session where they listen to stories and sing songs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well settled into the childminders home. They are confident individuals who move freely around the available space. They have developed a strong bond with the childminder and are happy to seek attention when they need her support, for example, when they become tired they go to the childminder for a cuddle. The childminder treats all children with individual concern and works effectively with parents to ensure that children are cared for according to their own familiar routines. Children are learning to develop an appreciation of their own culture and those of others as they enjoy learning about different festivals at the groups that they attend.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is good. They enjoy a positive rapport with the childminder who has created a calm environment which the children respond well to. She has effective strategies for managing children's behaviour and effectively promotes their good behaviour with praise and recognition of their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's care is enhanced by the positive partnerships that the childminder has established with the parents. Many of whom express in writing their satisfaction with the good quality service that they receive. The childminders portfolio offers parents good quality information about her policies and procedures. Most of the relevant consent forms have been completed although parents have yet to give their written permission for the childminder to leave the children in the care of another childminder in the event of an emergency.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The environment is well organised and children feel secure within their daily routine. Children’s individual information is carefully collated. Each child has their own personal folder containing information which effectively supports the childminder in knowing the children well and enabling her to best meet their needs. Documentation and record keeping is effective and well organised, although parental permission for emergency cover is not recorded.

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Organisation

This well established childminder is committed to developing her service and keeping her practice up to date. She is aware of the changes to be introduced to the Early Years curriculum and is preparing for this by evaluating her practice and attending relevant training.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of the children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to familiarise herself with child protection procedures, make dangerous substances and loose cabling inaccessible to children and ensure that parents signed medication records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children now benefit from improvements to safety. The childminder is familiar with child protection procedures, loose cables and dangerous substances are inaccessible to children and all medical records are signed by parents.

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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): • review the menus to further enhance the nutritional value of the food offered • provide more opportunities for children to engage in robust physical outdoor play, particularly during the winter months

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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 • seek written permission from parents to leave children in the care of another childminder in an emergency situation.

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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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