Russet House School

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 130958 Inspection date 28/01/2009 Inspector Lisa Toole

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Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 1996. She lives with her husband and two children aged 14 and 11 years in Hove, East Sussex. Her husband is also a registered childminder and they work together. Some of the ground floor of the premises are used for childminding and first and second floor bedrooms are used for sleeping children. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time, three of whom may be in the early years age group. When working with another childminder she may care for six children at any one time, six of whom may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding nine children under five years. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is not registered to provide overnight care.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Each child is valued as a unique person and positively encouraged to be proud of their individuality, for example, by celebrating other languages children speak. Children enjoy a rich programme of activities both in and outdoors and they demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning. The children's welfare is promoted, as they learn to be healthy, stay safe and make a positive contribution. The childminder ensures she is complying with all requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This enables her to deliver quality care and education that is adapted to meet the individual needs of the children attending.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review the procedures for maintaining/cleaning toys and resources as part of the systems to promote children's good health  continue to develop opportunities for children to increase their knowledge and understanding of the world around them  continue to develop opportunities for children to make independent choices about what they do and play with

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provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder takes necessary steps to ensure children are protected from unvetted persons; she has a secure knowledge and understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection and risk assessments are routinely carried out. All of the required documentation for the safe and efficient management of the childminding provision is in place and being routinely maintained. The childminder is confident, organised, and works well This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 together with her co-childminder. This means that children are well cared for, are gaining new skills and being challenged as they progress towards the early learning goals. Good links are being forged with other settings the children attend to ensure their learning needs are being consistently and appropriately supported. Her systems for self-evaluation and continuous improvement are in their infancy in

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provision

order for her to clearly identify areas for further development. An effective partnership with parents enhances the care children receive; the childminder engages with parents on a daily basis and sends home the developmental records regularly so that parents are kept well informed of their children's progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make good progress in their learning and development through a variety of interesting activities, with a general routine in place for the day. They form strong relationships with the childminder and feel secure in her care; children are confident learners, who are chatty, happy and have fun. They learn songs about other cultures, which children can then be heard singing to themselves cheerfully; they enjoy snuggling up together for story times and have fun as they practise their dancing skills around the play room. Children enjoy celebrations of other cultures and have some opportunities to learn about technology and the natural world; this is an area for further consideration to support children as they learn to make sense of the world. Children's learning is appropriately supported by the childminder, who closely monitors each child's progress, identifying their future steps for learning. This information is really well recorded and carefully displayed

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

in the children's scrapbooks and learning records to show clearly how well each child is developing across the six areas of learning. Children have opportunities to make their own decisions about what they do and play with, though this is an area for further development as part of an enabling learning environment.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are kept safe and secure; they enjoy physical play experiences as part of keeping healthy, eat and drink regularly through the day, with the food provided by parents. Systems are in place to safeguard children from sickness and to teach them about personal hygiene but not all the toys and play equipment are maintained on a regular enough basis to ensure they are kept clean an suitable for the children to use. This impacts on the children's health and hygiene. The children are learning important messages about their social development as they learn about right and wrong and using good manners. Children behave well and enjoy regular praise and encouragement to foster their self esteem and feelings of self- worth. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 2 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 2

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 2 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

Concerns were received in October 2008 about a minded child sustaining a serious unexplained injury and Ofsted had not been notified by the childminder. These relate to the following Welfare Requirements: Providers must ensure that adults looking after children, or having unsupervised access to them, are suitable to do so; The provider must promote the good health of the children, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when they are ill. We liaised with outside agencies and an unannounced visit was conducted on 29 October 2008. During the visit the childcare inspector made observations, looked at documentation and discussed the concerns in detail with the childminder. As a result of the visit the following actions were set: Ensure that Ofsted is notified of all significant events as part of the system to safeguard children Ensure that the premises and equipment is organised in a way that meets the

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Detail of the complaint/s

needs of children and that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed to ensure that hazards to children are kept to a minimum.

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Detail of the complaint/s

An action reply slip was received with information showing that the childminder took appropriate steps to meet the actions set. We were then satisfied that the Welfare Requirements were being met and the childminder remained qualified for registration.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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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