The Downs Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 129126 Inspection date 05 October 2005 Inspector Gail Groves

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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 1985. She lives with her husband and adult son in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house and one bedroom upstairs is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children at any one time and is currently minding 6 children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group, takes children to the local library and to the local park. The

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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 family has a dog and some goldfish. The childminder supports children with special educational needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have regular opportunities to enjoy physical activity, which enables them to develop their coordination and physical development and encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, they go out every day for walks with the childminder and her dog, they visit the park to play on the large apparatus or with balls and they play in the childminder's garden with bikes, buggies and a small slide. Children can rest and sleep according to their needs so that they do not become overtired and unable to enjoy the play opportunities available to them. For example, periods of quiet play, such as listening to stories or singing, are built into their routine so that they can be less active and regain their energy levels. The childminder works with parents to meet children's health and dietary needs and is careful to comply with their wishes. She asks that children bring their own lunch but she provides snacks and

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Helping children to be healthy

drinks, encouraging children to eat fruit and to enjoy drinking water. This helps them to develop good eating habits. Children are cared for in an extremely clean and tidy environment, in which the childminder's use of appropriate hygiene policies generally protects them from infection. For example, there are boxes of tissues readily available in all areas of the house and the childminder uses these to ensure that children's noses are kept clean. She is careful to wash her hands after changing a child's nappy and children always wash their hands after playing in the garden and before eating their lunch. However, some procedures, such as the childminder washing her hands between consecutive nappy changes and children being asked to wash their hands before eating snacks, are not always consistently carried out. This means that children could suffer from cross infection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming, secure and safe indoor and outdoor environment in which risks have been minimised. This enables them to move round safely and independently. They use a wide variety of suitable and safe toys and equipment that are appropriate for their differing ages and needs and which the childminder maintains in good condition. This ensures that children can play and take part in activities safely. The childminder also uses the Toy Library to extend her range of resources and children help her to select which toys to borrow. This helps them to feel that they have an active part to play in decision making and provides them with the chance to enjoy new play activities. The childminder has appropriate procedures for outings, such as holding hands to cross the road and walking on 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 inside of the pavement, which minimise risks and help children learn to keep themselves safe. Discussions during daily routine activities also encourage children to learn about safety. For example, they are told not to climb on chairs in case they fall and to be careful not to tread on a toy in case they slip and hurt themselves. The childminder has the relevant experience, knowledge and skills to keep children safe. She holds a current first aid certificate and she has attended training in Child Protection. Consequently, she has a clear understanding of her role in protecting children and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder spends a lot of time talking and playing with children, both in small groups and individually. She gives them time and attention so that they develop confidence and self-esteem and throughout her interactions with them, she supports and extends their language development and thinking. As a result, they are involved and interested in the activities provided for them and show good levels of concentration. Children are able to use their initiative to independently select activities and resources from boxes kept on the floor and seek help to access those that are not readily available. They make positive relationships with familiar and unfamiliar adults and are beginning to do so with each other. This helps to build and extend their social skills. Children confidently ask questions to seek information and through play and practical experiences, such as visits to the park or the local parent and toddler group, begin to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

acquire new knowledge and skills. With support and praise from the childminder, some children are beginning to respond positively to challenges such as climbing up steps, using a slide or threading shapes carefully onto a lace. They show perseverance with difficult tasks and are therefore developing good attitudes to learning. When young children disagree, the childminder quickly intervenes to prevent them hurting each other. However, she does not always explain the consequences of their behaviour. As a result, their understanding and ability to distinguish between right and wrong is not always fully supported.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder works with parents to understand individual children’s needs and to provide appropriate support to meet them. For example, she reinforces and extends a child's language and praises his attempts to communicate clearly and ensures that a child with coordination difficulties has time to complete a threading activity. Children with special needs are included fully in all activities and the childminder shares information regularly with their parents so that their progress and development is monitored. She knows the children well and has been looking after many of them since they were babies. She treats all children as part of the family and as a result, they have a strong sense of belonging and are assured and settled. This allows them

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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 to confidently and eagerly participate in all the learning and play opportunities available. They make choices and take decisions throughout their daily routine, such as what they wish to play with or whether they wish to play inside or in the garden and this encourages them to feel that they have an active part to play in their care. Children are always praised for good behaviour and a consistent routine enables them to understand what is expected of them. For example, they know that they must always sit down in the kitchen to eat their snack and have a drink. Politeness is valued and encouraged and in this way children are helped to develop self-esteem and respect for others. However, opportunities and resources which help children to become aware of diversity and the wider society are limited. This means that they are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

less likely to be able to develop a positive understanding of the differences between people. Children are beginning to learn how to play harmoniously with each other so that they can develop good relationships and extend their social skills. They are encouraged to share toys and the childminder steps in quickly to provide an alternative toy when a problem with sharing arises. However, this means that children do not have the opportunity to learn that they sometimes have to wait for a turn or that they need to give up a toy when it is time for someone else to play with it.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well protected and cared for because the childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of child development and regularly attends training to update and enhance her skills. She organises her time well and carefully plans and prepares in advance the resources and activities she will need so that they are ready when children arrive. This means that she can give children as much individual or small group attention as possible and be effective in supporting their care learning and play. She has all of the necessary documentation for the effective management of the provision in place and the information she keeps about the children is relevant and helps to promote their welfare. Most of her policies and procedures work in practice to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. She keeps a record of all the necessary details when she

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Organisation

administers medication to children and tells parents when they collect their child that she has given the required dose. However, she does not ask parents to sign her written record to acknowledge that they have been informed. This means that there is no system in place to monitor that parents are fully aware of the fact that their child has had medication and could result in children being given an overdose. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the previous inspection the childminder agreed to improve her medication

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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 record. She now has in place a clear record of any medication which has been administered to children. She asks parents to provide written permission to give the medication and records details concerning any previous dose given by them that day. After giving the medication herself, she records the time and amount of the dose and signs this record. This improves children's safety because the childminder is able to clearly monitor that a child is not given an overdose whilst in her care. At the end of the day she informs parents that she has administered the medication.

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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): • increase the range of resources which reflect the diversity within society • ensure parents always sign the record of medication which has been administered to their child to acknowledge that they have been informed.

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The quality and standards of the care

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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