Fountain Head House School

Inspection report for early years provision

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148497 Unique Reference Number 13 November 2007 Inspection date Marie Thompson 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 was registered in 1993. She lives with her husband and two children aged 18 and 16 years old in Lower Earley, Reading. The whole of the downstairs of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently eleven children on roll. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family do not have any pets. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children keep healthy because the childminder takes exceptional steps to prevent the spread of germs through the rigorous daily cleaning routines in place. Children play in a warm clean home where they learn the importance of good hygiene and personal care. The childminder

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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 encourages the children to wash their hands after playing and before eating. They use the downstairs toilet which has a soap dispenser and each child has their own colour coded separate towel. The childminder takes stringent measures when changing nappies to ensure children are kept clean and comfortable and the spread of infection is minimised. For example, when she is changing nappies, she wears gloves, uses wet wipes and creams provided by the parents, cleans the mat thoroughly between changes and afterwards and puts the nappy in the outside bin. The childminder has an outstanding commitment to making sure the children are kept healthy and safeguarded against the spread of germs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents provide the snacks and meals for the children which the childminder stores in the fridge and warms thoroughly before serving to the children. Children are offered plenty of drinks throughout the day which prevents them from becoming dehydrated. Detailed and comprehensive information is gathered from the parents regarding allergies and health needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to develop their physical abilities as they play in the garden on wheeled toys or during the summer months in the swimming pool. Children benefit from fresh air and exercise everyday when they go for a walk. Indoors, children have opportunities to take part in a variety of physical activities. They have great fun dancing or moving to the musical toys. Children develop fine motor skills as they have good opportunities to handle a range of tools and materials such as rolling and squishing play dough, cutting and sticking, painting and drawing. They manipulate jigsaws and construction toys with increasing skill. They are very proficient at playing musical instruments and they really enjoy shaking the maracas. The childminder helps the younger children increase their dexterity by encouraging them to put on their own socks or to turn the pages of the books when she reads to them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the Birth to three matters framework. She has attended a vast amount of training and uses this knowledge to enhance her practice. The childminder is clearly perceptive to the children's needs and ages and stages of development. She has a lovely rapport with the children and is obviously aware of the need to have a balance between allowing the children to explore freely under supervision and when to help them in order for them to progress further.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children stay safe because the childminder has an excellent awareness of hazards and takes steps to minimise them. The childminder has a fire blanket and extinguisher in the kitchen, a safety gate in place at the bottom of the stairs and dangerous substances are stored in cupboards out of children's reach. Children develop their knowledge and understanding of how to keep themselves safe as they undertake daily activities. For example, as the children walk with the childminder to and from school. The childminder encourages them to look and listen out for cars and to hold onto the buggy or hold hands.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children choose from a wide range of good quality toys to enable them to make good progress in all areas of development. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises their use to make sure that they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development. The childminder routinely cleans and checks the toys and resources. She will remove any that are broken and she makes sure that there are no small parts to the toys that can harm the youngest children. Children freely explore as they have sufficient space both inside and outside the home, using the living room, the kitchen for messy play activities and the garden.

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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 The childminder has all required procedures and documentation in place including recent information regarding seat belts, first aid kits and personal liability insurance which makes sure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. The childminder has attended a first aid course and a course which increases her awareness of how to treat anaphylactic shock. Children keep safe as the childminder has a very secure understanding of child protection procedures that are enhanced through the training courses she has attended and her own child protection policy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children play cooperatively and are clearly becoming good friends. They are very happy in the childminder's care and smiles, conversation, games and toys are abundant. The childminder is responsive to, sympathetic and understanding of individual children's temperament, characteristics, interests and needs. Encouragement is freely given, enabling children to play with toys, participate in activities of their choice, and learn at their own pace. Children spend their time purposefully and the childminder supports and encourages them in their personal development. She takes time to play with each child in turn and is always sat with the children playing with them on their level. The childminder rocks each child on her lap in turn as she sings, 'Row, row, row your boat', 'Fishes in the sea' and ' See saw Marjory Dore' to them. The children laugh and smile and obviously really enjoy this activity. They then present their toes

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to the childminder and giggle in anticipation as she plays ' This little piggy went to market'. There is a lovely sound of laughter as their toes are tickled.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are able to access the toys because they are on the floor in boxes where they are able to help themselves. They choose a book to take to the childminder who happily reads to them. A popular book is 'A visit to Abuela' and a 'Dora the Explorer' book which contains Spanish words that the children like to learn to say. The childminder reads with great animation and encourages the children to turn the pages and asks them questions about the book. When the youngest children are asleep the childminder makes sure she has some games and puzzles ready to do on a one-to-one with the other children. The children learn to become independent and increase their self-esteem through making choices in a positive environment. They are able to spend their time purposefully by exploring a wide range of activities which encourage creativity and imagination. The children have great fun making pizza, smoothes, and Angel

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

cakes and particularly like having strawberries dipped in chocolate.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children have enjoyed some super outings and the childminder captures all of these with her camera, then puts the photos in an album which the children can look at. At the beginning of the year they made snowmen when there was a brief flurry of snow. They go to Reading Museum and lunch in a café, to California Country Park or Caversahm Park where they can take a picnic and stay all day. The children really like going to Laurel Park because they can feed the ducks and go on exciting nature walks. When the children leave the childminders care she makes a photo album to commemorate their time with her for them to have. This is a lovely way for the children to look back and recall their memories.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Conversations, hugs, endearments and smiles are frequent, kind, warm and genuine. Children are developing a healthy self-esteem and confidence. They enjoy their play, are engaged in their activities, take great pride in their efforts and achievements and form secure friendships and attachments to others. Children's pleasure in their activities is facilitated by the childminder's knowledge and understanding of development and play, while her care and kindness ensure they feel valued and accepted without reservation.

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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. The childminder provides a range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world, increasing the children's awareness of diversity. The commitment to including all children regardless of ethnic origin, background, gender or ability ensures children feel welcome that their particular cultural background is respected. As a consequence, they learn to respect others. The children have lots of fun making cards for Diwali and are looking forward to making picture frames, table arrangements and chocolates for Christmas gifts for their family and friends. The children have a fantastic time when it is one of their birthdays because the childminder organises a party.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder responds with kindness, patience and skill to children who demand her attention at the same time, and as a result, children learn to take turns and to accept limits. Their understanding, personal circumstances and temperament are taken into account and managed in an age-appropriate manner. For example, the childminder deftly distracts children from inappropriate behaviour with toys she knows are of particular interest to them. Frequent praise raises their self-confidence and this approach ensures children feel secure and develop empathy for others. The childminder is extremely calm and patient in her management of the children. She has attended a course 'I've told you a million times' and courses on how to effectively manage children's behaviour which consolidate her existing practice and provide her with some alternative ideas.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shows a very good awareness of the information she would need to care for a child with learning difficulties or disabilities. She feels communication is paramount between the parents and herself for meeting the children's needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has excellent relationships with the parents. Children's needs are discussed thoroughly before the children start to ensure their entire individual needs can be met. The childminder gives parents useful information and written policies about her business. Parents receive daily verbal feedback on their children's progress. The childminder uses daily care diaries for the children which provide information about the day's events and children's well-being and achievements. Many parents have written very positive comments about the care the childminder offers and theses and cards expressing their gratitude are presented in a scarp book as a testament to her ability.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children play safely as the childminder organises toys and the environment extremely well. Toys are rotated to maintain children's interest and are presented exceptionally well. This means they are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning whilst safely exploring their personal boundaries. The space is used effectively to ensure children have plenty of room to play. The kitchen is used for messy play activities and the children enjoy playing outdoors in the secure garden.

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Organisation

The childminder has excellent policies and procedures in place and has attended several training courses. For example, these include child protection courses, a course which will enable her to help children who are left handed, an activities course for children under eight and courses which explore different art and craft ideas. This enhances her practice and promotes the welfare, care and learning of the children. The childminder embraces new changes and strategies and

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 has already attended a course which focused on the early year’s Foundation Stage training. The childminder has all documentation, mandatory and relevant available, which includes a daily record of the children's attendance. This is meticulously organised into separate folders which are then divided into separate sections and clearly labelled. This means the childminder can easily access any information about any aspect of her work or the children immediately. She is extremely knowledgeable about the National Standards and childcare is clearly a vocation for her.

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Organisation

The childminder has outstanding and friendly relationship with the parents. Discussions with the parents to exchange information and care diaries ensure all information is shared. The regular informal discussion and written information ensures continuity of care for 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: ensure children's arrival and departure times are recorded accurately; make sure the documentation for all children contains signed permission by parents for the childminder to act in a medical emergency; and all emergency contact details are complete.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The attendance register shows clearly the hours that children attend and signed documentation is in place for emergency medical advice or treatment, with completed emergency contact details.

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Improvements since the last inspection

These measures contribute to ensuring children's continued health, safety and well-being.

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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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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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