Longthorpe Primary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 145267 Inspection date 03 November 2005 Inspector Nikki Whinton

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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 satisfactory. 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 1998. She regularly works with an assistant and works from the home of her assistant in Ludgershall, near Andover. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding nine children on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. Two dogs, two guinea pigs and two mice live in the property used for childminding.

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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 The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are developing their awareness of good hygiene practices. For example, they understand the need to wash their hands after toileting and before eating. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of first aid. However, written parental permission is not always obtained to administer medication. As a result, children's good health may be compromised. Children learn about healthy eating through the varied menu of nutritious snacks they enjoy whilst in the childminder's care. Individual preferences are discussed with parents prior to a child commencing in the setting and recorded. They freely access drinks in sufficient quantities to meet their differing requirements. Children's individual dietary needs are successfully met. Children lead a healthy lifestyle whilst in the childminder's care. They exercise in the fresh air when playing in the provision's garden and whilst walking to and from

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Helping children to be healthy

schools or pre-schools. In addition, they take part in outings, such as to the park, where they can use apparatus to help them develop their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and rest within an environment that is clean, suitably maintained, warm and welcoming to parents and children. They learn to start sharing responsibility for their personal well-being through activities including tidying away resources after play. This helps reduce the risk of trip hazards. Many positive measures are in place to help support children's safety and prevent accidents. The premises are secure, hazardous substances are inaccessible to children and smoke alarms are maintained in working order. However, the provision is not consistently well organised to promote children's safety. For example, sleeping children are not always appropriately supervised and emergency evacuation procedures do not include all area of the property. As a result, children's safety is potentially at risk. Children benefit from the childminder's good understanding of safety issues

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

concerning the purchase and maintenance of equipment. As a result, children are able to self-select from an appropriate range of clean, well maintained, age appropriate resources that are safe and suitable. The childminder is fully aware of her important role in the protection of children. There is an appropriate system in place to advise parents of her responsibilities. However, she does not have a clear understanding of the correct procedures to be followed if she has concerns about a child. As a result, children's welfare is at risk.

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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. Children are very relaxed and settled. They freely make decisions for themselves regarding the activities they wish to explore, such as building with construction or making stacking towers. Children are well occupied. They take part in a variety of structured and free choice opportunities, including puzzles and small world play, which are age appropriate and help to support their development. The children have a warm and positive relationship with the childminder, which supports their developing confidence and self-assurance. Children are learning to be independent, through simple tasks including wiping their noses and hygienically disposing of the tissues. Children are developing their social skills. For example, they are able to successfully share craft resources and wait patiently until their peers have finished eating before leaving the table. Children undertake a varied programme of interesting age appropriate outings, such

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

as to Lego Land, the Water Cress Line, Finkley Down Farm and the local market, to help them increase their awareness of the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and acknowledged as individuals, for example, their individual sleep patterns are respected. This has a positive impact on their developing sense of belonging. Children are increasing their awareness of diversity by accessing a good range of resources, including books, small world figures, dolls and puzzles. Children behave well. Children's behaviour is supported by a childminder who is aware of effective, age appropriate strategies to encourage positive behaviour. Children are starting to learn the difference between right and wrong whilst in the childminder's care. Children benefit from the positive partnership that exists between the parents and the childminder. Parents are provided with good quality information about the provision prior to their child starting in the setting. There are regular, informal opportunities to discuss any issues and children's achievements. This helps to support a consistency

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is an experienced childcarer who has undertaken appropriate training. All legally required documentation is maintained and securely stored. For example, children's daily attendance is carefully recorded and personal records are easily accessible to support children's care, such as in an emergency.

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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 She organises the daily routine appropriately to ensure children experience a variety of suitable opportunities and are looked after according to their parents' wishes. However, the provision is not well organised to support children's safety in regard to supervision when children are asleep in the master bedroom or in the event of emergency evacuation. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

As a result of the last inspection, the childminder was given recommendations to help improve the quality of the provision. These referred to ensuring children's safety when using the trampoline, making sure the premises are secure so that children are unable to leave them unsupervised. The childminder was requested to ensure the health and hygiene of the children is promoted with regard to hand washing procedures, access to dog's toys and children eating on the kitchen floor. In addition, the childminder was advised to ensure there are written agreements of the times and purposes for the assistant to be in sole charge of children. The childminder now has detailed written guidelines in place for using the trampoline, obtains written parental permission prior to children using the equipment and has purchased netting to help improve children's safety. The premises are secure, good hand washing routines are in place, children no longer have access to the dogs' toys

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Improvements since the last inspection

and sit at the dining area table for snacks and meals. Written parental permission is obtained for the childminder's assistant to have sole care of the children. All of these improvements have had a positive impact on the quality of care offered to the children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

During an inspection visit on 29 November 2004 it was found that adult:child ratios were not being maintained, the childminder was working with an assistant although not registered to do so, children were left in the sole care of an unregistered person, the attendance register had insufficient information, a first aid certificate was not held and not all contact details for all parents were available. These concerns relate to the following National Standards: Standards 1 Suitable Person, Standard 2 Organisation, Standard 6 Safety and Standard 14 Documentation. We issued six Statutory Notices of Failure to Comply with the regulations, three in relation to Standard 1, one in relation to Standard 6 and two in relation to Standard 14. We continued to monitor the situation and carried out an unannounced visit. Following the visit a formal warning was issued on 26 April 2005 in relation to the six Notices of Failure to

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Complaints since the last inspection

Comply. Following a further unannounced visit we found no evidence that the National Standards were not being maintained. The provider remains qualified for registration. We received a complaint relating to National Standard 5 Equipment, and Standard 7 Health. The complaint related to a child falling from a trampoline. We carried out an

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Complaints 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 investigation visit on 27/09/2005. We observed details were not logged in the accident book and there was no net around the trampoline. There was no evidence to suggest National Standards had not been maintained. No further action was taken. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • ensure written parental permission is obtained prior to administering medication to children • improve knowledge and understanding of child protection issues • improve the organisation of the provision to ensure children sleeping in the master bedroom are appropriately supervised and the emergency evacuation procedures include all areas of the property.

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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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