Sacriston Academy

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 144953 Inspection date 21/01/2009 Inspector Catherine Louise Sample

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 has been registered since 1993. She lives with her husband and grown up sons in an easily accessible house in the Harnham area of Salisbury. All of the property is available for childminding and there is an enclosed rear garden for outside play. The childminder lives within walking distance of local schools, parks and shops.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a total of six children under eight at any one time. There are currently eight children on roll, of whom five are in the early years age range.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are making excellent progress due to the high levels of support and encouragement provided by the childminder. She has a thorough understanding of the unique needs of each child and establishes strong relationships with parents to ensure that they are fully met. She takes highly effective steps to ensure that all children are included in activities and that their participation is fully valued. She rigorously monitors and evaluates her practice to identify areas for further development and is enthusiastic about the ongoing improvement of her provision.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 further developing the range of musical instruments in order to allow children more opportunities to explore sound

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provision

Children's welfare is promoted by the efficient maintenance of all necessary records and the highly effective implementation of a comprehensive variety of tailor-made policies and procedures which are shared with parents. The childminder fully promotes children's safety by making, and regularly reviewing, a detailed risk assessment of her home and for a variety of routine outings. She has a thorough understanding of child protection issues and shares with parents her child protection statement and procedures for dealing with any allegations of abuse made against herself. She has over 15 years of childminding experience and has attended a comprehensive range of relevant training, including a recent course on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She monitors her provision highly effectively using feedback from both parents and children and uses this information to make relevant changes to her practice. She works closely with a

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provision

group of other childminders with whom she shares ideas and issues and this helps This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 her to reflect on her own provision. She constantly reviews her practice and is able to reflect on strong aspects of her minding and to accurately identify areas for development.

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provision

Children benefit from a highly effective working relationship between the childminder and the parents. The childminder is particularly good at sharing information with the parents through written diaries, discussion, learning records, photographs and texts and this excellent relationship ensures that she can effectively meet parental requests and fully understand the children's needs. She takes positive steps to make sure that all children can play a full role in activities irrespective of their age, stage of development or cultural background. She works hard to ensure that she provides high levels of support and a varied range of activities and resources to enable all children to gain from their experiences. Children are learning about the wider society through activities such as celebrating Diwali, tasting foreign foods and learning basic French. They have easy access to a varied range of toys that promote diversity including books and dolls. The

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provision

childminder has established excellent relationships with the local school and pre- school. She shares relevant information about children that attend both settings. She has gone into the pre-school to observe a minded child and as a volunteer which has given her a clearer picture of what the child is learning there and how she can complement it.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children thrive as they take part in a wide range of stimulating activities that help them make excellent progress. These include various art and craft, role-play and baking. They also regularly visit local places of interest such as the fire station and library and go on special trips to the New Forest and the coast. They have easy access to a comprehensive range of toys that cover all areas of their development although the range of musical instruments is not extensive. Toys are kept in large boxes with identifying photographs on the front which the children helped to produce. The childminder makes highly effective observations of children's play which are closely linked to the EYFS and demonstrate what they are achieving. She uses them to clearly identify the next steps that each child needs to take and to form the basis of future planning for their individual requirements. She demonstrates an excellent understanding of what children can learn from different

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

activities and provides a good balance of adult-led and child-led play to ensure they make progress in all areas. Children have a very warm relationship with the childminder and the support that she provides gives them confidence to try new activities and develop their independence. They have excellent communication skills and are encouraged to make marks and form letters. They are active learners who ask questions to find out what objects are and what you do with them. They are finding out about shapes and size and use a variety of resources and activities to help them count and identify numerals.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder places a particularly strong emphasis on having a healthy lifestyle and ensures that children's health and hygiene needs are fully met. They have constant access to drinks and are offered healthy snacks such as satsumas and cucumber. They get plenty of exercise as they walk frequently, both in the local This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 area and further afield. There are thorough hygiene measures in place and children are learning about germs and the importance of cleanliness. The childminder checks that children have washed their hands after using the toilet and before eating and they use paper towels to prevent cross infection. She has an excellent awareness of safety issues. She not only takes highly effective steps to provide a safe home environment for children but also encourages them to become aware of their own safety. She talks to them about stranger danger, road

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

safety and the risks of eating unidentified berries and mushrooms. Children are very well behaved. They have excellent manners and politely ask before interrupting and apologise when they inadvertently hurt others. They are good at sharing and show consideration to one another. The childminder has clear ground rules which are displayed both in print and pictures so that all children are able to understand them. 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? 1 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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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