Colwell Road Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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104539 Unique Reference Number 01 February 2008 Inspection date Juliet Eileen Hartridge Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory. the time of the inspection there were no children in receipt of nursery education. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide nursery education.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1989 and lives with her husband and two children in Ivybridge, within walking distance of the school, shops and other local amenities. Childminded children have access to most of the house, apart from the children's bedrooms, and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years, three may be aged under five years, two of whom may be aged under one year. Overnight care is not included. There are five children on roll at present. The childminder is an accredited member of the local childminding network, but there are currently no children attending who receive nursery education funding.

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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 thrive because of the childminder's vigilant and caring approach, and the familiar routines most evident in her home. Children have excellent opportunities to learn about good hygiene through discussion, and the importance of hand washing before meals and after using the toilet is promoted when they see the informative posters displayed in the bathroom. Their growing independence is very well encouraged, and children are learning to blow their own noses using the readily available tissues. Children select their own colour coded towels from their individually labelled pegs after they have washed their hands, and their matching toothbrushes are hygienically and accessibly stored in readiness for tooth brushing time after meals. The childminder is a good role model for the younger children, washing both her and the children's hands carefully after nappy changing, and disposing of nappies in the sealed

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Helping children to be healthy

nappy bin. Very clear documentation further supports children's welfare, including medication consents and administration records and fully completed accident records. The childminder cares for children appropriately in an emergency as she has a current first aid certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is particularly well promoted. They dress up warmly and go out for walks or outdoor play every day, and also enjoy a very wide variety of carefully planned outings including walking to the park, feeding the ducks or pond dipping. Excellent use is made of the outdoor area, where children have regular opportunities to develop their skills when they pour and measure water, dig in sand or pedal trikes. Children's health is also extremely well promoted as mealtimes are a most enjoyable and pleasurable experience, when healthy food is invitingly presented. Packed lunches are safely refrigerated and the temperature of the fridge monitored daily, and this further supports the good health of children. They are encouraged to linger and enjoy their food, and have a wide variety of nutritious and healthy choices as well as opportunities to try new tastes at snack time. These include small waxed

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Helping children to be healthy

cheeses which the children enjoy opening, as well as raspberries, apples and banana slices and oatcakes. Again children's independence is encouraged when they use their own small round edged knives to spread their spread and cut their cheese.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely well cared for in an inviting and child-friendly home where they receive a very warm welcome. Children feel at home and their safety is very well promoted as child height tables and chairs are available for activity and meal times. The friendly displays of the names and photos of the children present, as well as a variety of informative posters, create a welcoming and interesting backdrop for children's play. There is an excellent range of toys and resources, which are well presented in labelled storage boxes or on shelves and low table for children to choose. Toys are regularly rotated according to the needs and interests of the children from the storage area, where a vast range of good quality and well maintained resources are meticulously labelled and tidily stored for ease of rotation. The childminder also borrows resources and books from local toy and lending libraries.

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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 a most conscientious approach regarding safety and this ensures that children's safety is very well promoted in the home as well as when they are out and about. The home is safe and secure as the front door is locked, the garden is securely fenced and gated and risk assessments are carefully recorded and updated. Safety measures in place include a safety gate at the kitchen door, and children are well protected from the hazards of fire as smoke detectors and fire blanket are in place and the evacuation plan is regularly practised. Sleeping babies are carefully checked and the checks are rigorously recorded. Children have excellent opportunities to learn about keeping safe when they are out and about as road safety issues are regularly discussed. Children are encouraged to learn the difference between parked

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and moving vehicles, and they wear reins as well as identification wrist bands containing their emergency contact numbers. Children's welfare is particularly well promoted as the childminder also has an excellent understanding of her responsibility to safeguard all children in her care. She has completed child protection training and has a detailed policy which is available for parents and carers to read in the prospectus.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children clearly relish being at the childminder's because they are provided with a very well planned and interesting variety of stimulating and enjoyable activities according to their developmental needs and interests. Children are confident and very well settled, and are eager to learn. For example children have superb opportunities to explore the very inviting and well resourced outdoor environment. Children demonstrate considerable concentration and co-ordination when they carefully pour and strain the warm water in the water tray, or thoroughly enjoy experimenting with floating and sinking objects. Children's powers of observation are very well promoted when they are encouraged to listen to and watch the aeroplanes in the sky and speculate about where they are going, or observe squirrels and birds feeding. The wide range of water and sand play resources most effectively promote and sustain children's interests

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and helps their play to evolve as they can easily choose the resources they want to use. The childminder cares for the children with very warm and good humoured enthusiasm, she carefully listens to what they have to say, and encourages them to express their ideas whilst most successfully supporting their developing communication. Children have many rich opportunities to learn about growth when they grow beans in plant pots, and make a beanstalk growth chart to record their heights, or harvest produce from the garden or observe caterpillars and butterflies. Children's enjoyment and interest in books is most effectively encouraged; books, including reference books, are close to hand in a basket, on a low table or on nearby shelves and children regularly choose books to look at independently, or read with the childminder. Story bags borrowed from the library are used to bring favourite stories to life.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a thorough knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework and also has an excellent awareness of how children learn through play and exploration. She uses this, as well as detailed recorded observations of the children at play, to most successfully plan a stimulating range of interesting activities for the children to enjoy. This includes a wide range of sensory experiences, including discovering interesting objects in treasure baskets, or exploring jelly or the texture of pasta shapes in water. Children have outstanding opportunities to widen their experiences and learn about the world around them when they visit the zoo, donkey or

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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 otter sanctuaries, Dartmoor, or the South Devon Railway. They learn about their local environment when they walk in the lanes to see the new lambs, enjoy picnics and walks in the woods. They benefit from socialising with groups of children when they visit a variety of parent and toddler groups, or join in with singing time at the library.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are currently no children currently on roll who are receiving funding for nursery education. However the childminder has a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and how young children learn. She is able to plan and provide a suitable range of activities and experiences across the six areas of learning, taking the needs of individual children into account. She is able to assess children’s progress towards the early learning goals and help move children to the next stage in their learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has a detailed understanding of the individual needs and stage of development of each child in her care. Meticulous and very detailed records are maintained, which clearly chart the progress of all children and are effectively used by the childminder to ensure their needs are met, as well as having suitably interesting and challenging play opportunities to enjoy. Children who have specific needs are very well supported and the childminder works with parents and carers as well as professionals to ensure all children are included and receive appropriate support. Children are learning about diversity in a meaningful way when they celebrate a variety of festivals or taste a range of ethnic foods. The childminder is particularly sensitive regarding the needs of children with varying cultural heritages, for example collating a picture book and asking the library to source specific books, in order to ensure all children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

feel included and valued. This means that children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well occupied and this has a most positive impact on their behaviour. They play harmoniously together, happily sharing their toys and they concentrate for considerable periods of time whilst they play. Suitable behaviour is promoted most effectively by the childminder who readily praises children when they have done well, and cheerfully re-enforces the behaviour and safety expectations in the home by clear explanations and discussion.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Communication with parents and carers is outstanding, and the childminder is held in high regard by parents and carers. The childminder works very closely with families to ensure they are kept well informed and included in the provision for their children. The childminder is well aware of what the children do and their stages of development, and uses the initial meetings with new parents and carers to observe the children and complete an 'All About Me' book together. This ensures that the childminder is aware of the starting points of all children which helps her most effectively track their development and plan interesting and challenging play opportunities. Parents and carers learn about the play opportunities provided when they look at the displays and albums which contain photos of their children playing, and are helpfully linked to the areas of learning or components of the Birth to three framework. Excellent journals

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Helping children make a positive contribution

are also maintained for each child and provide a most detailed and vibrant account of the child's

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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 day, these also contain information about Birth to three framework and the information about the activities children have enjoyed are colour coded and clearly link with the framework. This information also provides helpful ideas for play activities, which could be followed up at home. Parents and carers are encouraged to talk with the childminder at the end of the day, as well as record helpful information or updates about their children in their journals. All parents and carers also receive a detailed written play plan for the week, again linking with the framework. Comprehensive documentation, including detailed record of information forms, a range of consent forms and a most informative prospectus further involves parents and carers and ensures they are aware and consulted about the care provided for their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from an exceptionally well organised routine and most stimulating programme of activities, and they are very happy in the childminder's most caring, friendly and welcoming family environment. The home is very well organised and the childminder makes good use of the available space by using a foldaway low table and stacking chairs, which can be packed away to create more floor space. The outdoor area is particularly well thought out and effectively used every day to create a most interesting extension to the play and learning environment. The childminder is motivated, very hard working and conscientious, for example she evaluates her provision every term and records points for development to improve her provision for children, which ensures it is of consistent high quality. She is very knowledgeable and well read and keeps up to date with any new developments and ideas, as well as current regulations

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Organisation

which benefit the children. This ensures that the children develop to their full potential and their welfare needs are met. The childminder has a meticulous approach towards planning, and creates detailed planning sheets indicating how each activity is planned according to the areas of learning or aspects of the Birth to three framework, including learning extension ideas for older children. Regular observations are undertaken of the children at play, which clearly link with the planning system. Planning is also flexible and adaptable according to the needs of the children attending or any unplanned events occurring during the day. These various aspects ensure that children spend their time purposefully enjoying interesting and stimulating play according to their individual interests and needs.

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Organisation

The childminder has a strong commitment and enthusiastic approach towards training, having completed at least 12 courses and workshops during the past year. Carefully maintained documentation includes detailed policies as well as contracts and carefully recorded attendance registers, and all members of her family have undergone appropriate checks. The childminder's registration certificate and the Ofsted information poster are also prominently displayed and this further effectively supports the welfare of the children.

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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

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to improve the use of space in order to extend opportunities for children's learning and play. The play area has been re-organised and the outdoor play area developed, which has improved the opportunities for children.

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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 1 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. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory. the time of the inspection there were no children in receipt of nursery education. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide nursery education.

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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 nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • there are no recommendations raised, as children were not on roll at the time of inspection.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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