Bronte Girls' Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 147067 Inspection date 14 December 2005 Inspector Maggie Thorp

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 registered in 1994, She lives with her adult son and in Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. The whole house is used for childminding with the exception of one bedroom and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 3 children under 8 and of these 2 may be under 5 years at any one time. She is currently minding a 2,3, and 8 year old. The childminder is not registered to care for children overnight. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has no

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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 pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children are cared for in clean, healthy surroundings and are very effectively protected from infection. The children have separate towels, bedding and changing mats and the childminder has good routines in place to maintain the standard of cleanliness. In addition she is clear with parents about keeping sick children at home to safeguard the health of others. The children are learning about keeping healthy in ways tuned to each child's age. Tasks such as hand washing are made fun and children are learning to brush teeth after meals with the childminder's help. Children's well being if hurt or if they have a medical condition which requires treatment, is well provided for and the childminder ensures her first aid knowledge is kept up to date. Children are very well nourished and their independence is encouraged effectively at meal times. They enjoy freshly prepared meals each day

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Helping children to be healthy

and those with any particular dietary needs receive the appropriate food. The children have sufficient opportunity for exercise, they enjoy playing in the park and going for walks to feed the ducks. In the childminder's garden children have fun with wheeled toys, balls and sand to play with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children have a safe, well maintained environment for playing, eating and sleeping. There are many examples of children's artwork on the kitchen wall to create a very child friendly environment. The children have a good range of toys and care resources to encourage their all round development and meet each child's needs. The large range of toys are sorted into plastic lidded tubs, and childminder rotates what is available, putting a little out each day. The children have all the necessary equipment such as buggies and high chairs and these are in very good condition. The children can play safely indoors because safety is a high priority to the childminder and she has helped children learn how to keep themselves safe. The children are strapped in buggies, on reigns or hold hands when out. They learn to stop at curbs and the childminder and children say together "no cars coming" before

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

they cross roads. Their safety indoors is ensured by the good fire precautions in place, a fire blanket fixed on the kitchen wall, a planned emergency evacuation and smoke alarms on all floors for example. The children can play safely in the garden on the area of decking and on the lawn. They are very well protected by the childminder's thorough knowledge of child protection.

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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 The provision is good. The children are learning as they play, this is particularly so in regard to children's language development. The childminder promotes this very effectively by asking open questions and giving children plenty of time to respond. Children are learning to work things out by the encouragement the childminder provides. One child discovered how to operate the lift in the toy garage through the help of the childminder gave her without taking over. Younger children are learning the names of colours and shapes as the childminder chats to them as they play. The children enjoy helping around the home and the childminder turns these into opportunities for children to learn. They match socks and discuss size as they help unload the washing machine. The children's imaginative play and creativity is

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

supported well. The children use felt tips, and chalks. They pretend with dolls, taking them for walks and putting them to bed for example. Older children enjoy making things with recycled materials.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The children are happy and settled as they have secure relationships with the childminder, However, the opportunities they have to learn decision making skills and to make choices from the range of play resources the childminder has is less well supported. The childminder has lots of toys in boxes in the open space under the stairs but a wide selection of each type of play is not set out each day so children can make their own choices. Boys and girls are encouraged to enjoy and use all the play resources. However, children have limited opportunities to explore their own and other people's cultures and to learn about the positive role those with disabilities can play. The childminder is aware of the need to help children with special needs to develop and be included. The children are well behaved and co-operative, helped by the good role model of the childminder. She shares her guidelines for managing the children's behaviour

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Helping children make a positive contribution

with parents and children respond well to her encouragements to be kind to each other and to say "excuse me" and "thank you". The children's security is aided by the good partnership between parents and the childminder. She works closely with new families and has a slow settling in procedure to help children feel confident before their parents leave them. The childminder has written information for parents about her service and obtains detailed information about each child. This enables the children to continue in the routines they are used to and keeps parents fully informed of their children's daily care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children enjoy the security provided by the childminder's care in regard to

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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 ensuring that the environment they play in is a safe and healthy one and that adults that are not fully checked do not have access to the children. Children’s welfare and individual needs are largely met by the childminder who has most of the appropriate records in place as prescribed by the National Standards. However, her understanding of the latest requirements is less secure. Records are kept confidentially thus maintaining children’s privacy. The childminder has sought to develop her provision by attending courses. her understanding of how to put training material about working with children under three into practice is not well understood. However, children benefit from the knowledge she has gained from recent child protection training. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has further improved children's safety by ensuring hazards are inaccessible to them rather than trusting children not to touch.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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): • provide more ways of helping children develop self assurance in making choices and in valuing their own backgrounds and abilities and those of others by using frameworks such as Birth To Three Matters • develop your documentation by keeping up to date with any new requirements regarding the National Standards and recording the times children are present.

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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 procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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