Lowton West Primary 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 106428 Inspection date 12/03/2009 Inspector Carol Cox

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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 was first registered in February 1997. She lives in the Ashley Down area of the city of Bristol. Her home is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac close to Sefton Park Infant and Junior Schools. The childminder lives with her children aged 11 and 13 years; the family have two pet cats. The whole of the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed patio garden used for outside play. The childminder's home is approached up a steep path and is therefore difficult to access for anyone with a mobility disability.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and is currently caring for five children in the early years age group at different times during the week. The childminder also offers before and after school care to older children.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and uses this extremely well to promote children's care, learning and development in all areas. Children make excellent progress with regard to their ages, abilities and stages of development. The childminder ensures children's individual welfare needs are met effectively through her meticulous policies and procedures which underpin her practice, these are all shared in writing with parents. The childminder has made a careful and detailed evaluation of her provision and demonstrates her commitment to ongoing improvement through her implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage and improvements effected since her last inspection.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop the good system already in place to record children's achievements and plan for their future learning

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provision

Children are warmly welcomed in the childminder's well organised home. She carefully considers the needs of each child and ensures that their individual care, learning and development needs are met. There are rigorous policies and procedures in place to promote children's health and welfare. For example, the childminder has instituted a stringent procedure when children need medication. She ensures that specific health needs are met in line with specialised guidance This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 from health professionals. For example, the childminder has accessed specialist training in order to administer and respond to the particular health needs of a child. The childminder has built excellent relationships with parents who she regards as valued partners; with their permission, she has extended these partnerships to include other settings attended by children. Parents are given clear

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provision

information about how to make complaints to Ofsted; no complaints have been received.

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provision

The childminder has made a detailed and thoughtful evaluation of her provision, it is comprehensive, descriptive and identifies areas for development. She invites parents to share their views. The childminder is committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attends appropriate training to ensure that she is best equipped to meet the individual needs of each child in her care. Children benefit from her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and make excellent progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder uses her very good knowledge and understanding of how children learn to promote children's progress. She has developed a system to record their interests and achievements and uses this very effectively to identify next steps in learning. These learning diaries are evidenced with photographs, pertinent observations and examples of children's work. They are cross referenced to the Early Years Foundation Stage and provide clear information about children's progress and what they need to learn next. Using these detailed records the childminder plans a wide and varied range of exciting and interesting activities designed to promote children's progress in all areas of learning. She is skilled at supporting children of different ages. For example, when helping one child plant seeds she supports a younger child playing with small world toys by talking with him about his game. Children practise making marks using a range of implements

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and learn that written words have meanings when identifying their own names on the towel rail. They are enthusiastic and confident learners who happily share news from home and freely access toys and resources to develop their games. Children use their number and counting skills when helping to cut and share out pieces of apple at snack time and older children are encouraged to start simple addition. With parental consent the childminder has started to build relationships with other providers to offer children consistent care.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children quickly learn good self-care skills. For example, young children know when they must wash their hands and find their own towels easily because the childminder has made attractive labels with photographs and clearly written names. They are kept safe through robust risk assessments and learn to keep themselves safe through everyday walks in the local community where they observe and learn about others. Children are secure and all visitors to the home are identified and registered. The childminder has a very good understanding of child protection issues and ensures her practice is always current through attending regular training. Children are cherished and flourish in the loving attention offered by the childminder who values the individuality of each child in her care. 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? 2

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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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