Farnborough Road Infant 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 104863 Inspection date 24/04/2009 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 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 registered in 1995. She lives with her one adult child in Luton, Bedfordshire close to shops, parks, schools and transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than four may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to nine years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from the local school and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. Children are happy and very well engaged in purposeful, inclusive activities. The childminder has made a good start in implementing the learning and development requirements and has begun to develop a system to evaluate her practice to identify and celebrate the many areas of strength and ensure that future plans are well-targeted. Children's welfare is promoted with great success which ensures they are safe, secure and their individual needs are extremely well met. The partnership with parents is a key strength and contributes significantly to ensuring that the needs of the children are well met and they get any additional support they need. This means that children make excellent progress, given their age, ability and starting points.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the system for observation and assessment to clearly identify and plan for the next steps in learning for each child  develop further the system of self-evaluation and quality improvement processes to extend effective practice and help improve outcomes for every child.

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provision

Children are very well safeguarded because the childminder has a secure knowledge of the procedures to follow in the event of child protection concerns. She is meticulous in her risk assessments to ensure that risks are reduced through taking preventative action. For example, cushions and boxes of play materials are placed in front of the hearth to prevent babies and toddlers having access to it and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 by placing safety gates across the internal doors where necessary. The childminder has devised high quality written records and specific policies and procedures that underpin the safe and very efficient management of the provision.

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provision

The exemplary partnerships with parents and carers based on trust, honesty and respect significantly contribute to children's sense of well-being and belonging in the childminder's home. Parents are kept fully informed of their child's progress through daily verbal feedback and have regular access to their child's achievement records. Parents are asked to provide information about the activities their child enjoys doing at home and the childminder successfully incorporates these into her planning for individual children. The childminder provides a great deal of support to the parents and works closely with them on any issues that arise. This consistent approach has a very positive impact on children's progress. The childminder is very keen to continually improve her practice and has begun to implement systems of self-evaluation. She has sought the views of parents and older children about the service she provides and received highly complimentary

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provision

comments. This consideration to reflecting on her own practice ensures that the plans for future development are well-targeted. For example, she has taken appropriate action on the recommendations made at the last inspection and has identified some specific training to enhance her practice.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's needs are skilfully met by the childminder. They are provided with an extensive range of play materials and activities that cover the six areas of learning and are appropriately challenging for their ages and abilities. Children enjoy a fully inclusive experience in this setting. The childminder knows them all very well and is successful in anticipating their needs. All children have equal access to the activities and play materials and the childminder ensures they begin to learn to play together through entirely appropriate behaviour management strategies. For example, using facial expressions and the word 'no' when babies pull other children's hair. Children thrive on the childminder's highly positive interaction with them during their play. For example, she smiles and engages babies through singing, eye contact and tickling which promotes them to squeal with laughter and crawl back to her for more. Older toddlers enjoy looking at books with her, she

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

encourages them to point out familiar objects in the pictures. Children's achievements are recorded through written observations and photographs. However, the learning and development requirements have not yet been fully implemented because the childminder does not currently use the 'Practice Guidance' document to consistently identify each child's next steps for learning and the activities she will provide to clearly show their progression.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's welfare is managed with great success. High standards of hygiene are kept by the childminder and very effective procedures for nappy changing, food preparation and maintaining the play materials reduce the risk of cross-infection. The childminder ensures that the children's meals, provided by their parents, are stored in the fridge and are thoroughly re-heated. Children begin to learn to feed themselves using a spoon or their fingers and have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, babies are curious and crawl to their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 chosen toys and look in low-level boxes to make their own selections. Older children are encouraged to make decisions about their activities and enjoy exploring puzzles and musical toys. The childminder's dedicated and sensitive support and guidance provided for each child enhances their developing

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

confidence and self-esteem. 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

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