Lawrence Infants' School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 104608 Inspection date 17 May 2005 Inspector Juliet Eileen Hartridge

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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 good. 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 and lives with her husband and two school aged children. The family live in a three bedroomed house, which is situated in a quiet residential area in Totnes. The childminder has a Diploma in Nursery Nursing and previously worked as a nanny. The ground floor of the home is used for childminding. There is a secure front garden, which children access from the front door, as well as a secure garden and patio area at the rear of the house, accessed from the conservatory. Children do not play in the first floor rooms.

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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 currently caring for three children aged under eight years. The family have no pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children's good health is enhanced and well supported through the provision of a healthy lifestyle. For example children enjoy daily 'baby aerobics' sessions, when the children exercise to music. The childminder talks to them about the benefits of exercise and encourages their awareness of the effects that exercise has on their breathing and energy levels. Children also enjoy regular walks and outings to the local park and the surrounding area, sometimes taking their trikes or ride on toys. Children are given healthy and well balanced snacks including bread sticks or fruit, and water to drink. Their parents supply their main meals. Children's health is safeguarded by appropriate hygienic routines; they wash their hands before meals and dry them on their own individual towels. The childminder further supports their health by maintaining clear records, for example an accident

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Helping children to be healthy

book, medication consent and administration records, and appropriate consent forms and policies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are well cared for in a safe, secure and well arranged environment. The home is well equipped with safety devices, which ensure children's safety when indoors; this includes smoke detectors and a fire blanket. However children are not familiar with the emergency evacuation plan as it has not been practised. Children enjoy playing in the secure and well equipped outdoor play areas. Children are safely cared for and encouraged to develop good safety awareness when they are out. For example road safety and 'stranger danger' are discussed. Younger children walk safely and are secured by wrist straps or reins, or are transported in a double buggy; appropriate car seats are used by all children. Children have access to a wide range of good quality and well maintained toys and resources. They are organised according to children's age or stage of development and regularly rotated in order to maintain the children's interest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is further enhanced by the use of appropriate procedures and documentation. The childminder has a good understanding of appropriate child protection procedures. She has public liability insurance, and business cover car insurance.

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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 happy, settled and confident. They enjoy the security of a familiar and well planned daily routine, which includes interesting free play and art activities in the morning. Children also enjoy daily walks and regular outings to places of interest. Their enjoyment of books is encouraged through their ready availability, frequent spontaneous story times, and use of books to find information. There is also a longer planned story time every day, when children select 'special books' before their afternoon rest. Children play well together and are well occupied and absorbed in their play. They are well supported by the childminder, who plays and talks with them with warm good humour. Children are encouraged to think and talk about what they are doing, and are helped with their developing new skills, for example catching balls. Children have opportunities to recall and discuss what they did on previous days, including

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

searching for bugs in the garden, and identifying the bugs in a book. Children are presented with increasing challenges; for example more difficult puzzles, games and complex books and construction activities. Older children are taken on visits to the local nursery in preparation for starting full time education. The childminder is supportive, enthusiastic and aware of the needs of the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well behaved and their behaviour is encouraged and rewarded in a positive way. For example they are presented with badges or certificates when they achieve something special. The childminder discusses and agrees her approach to behaviour management with the children's parents. This ensures that children's behaviour is managed in a consistent way. Children are encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards diversity and the wider community, through discussing issues such as disability and other cultures with the childminder. There is an interesting range of books that help children explore moral aspects such as right and wrong and the importance of helping others. Children's individual needs are carefully considered. The childminder communicates effectively with parents to ensure their children's needs are met and appropriate support is provided. Children's progress and development is monitored through use

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Helping children make a positive contribution

of individual scrapbooks for each child, which contain examples of their art work, developing pencil skills and photographs of them participating in activities.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are secure and comfortable in the well organised environment and with the

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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 familiar daily routines. The home is welcoming to children and the toys and resources are invitingly stored and easily accessible to the children. Children are well cared for due to the childminder's knowledge and experience of childcare. She has a child care qualification, and a current first aid certificate; she is also interested in further training and meets regularly with other childminders. She is a positive and enthusiastic childminder. The children's needs are well supported through good communication with their parents. Agreements have been drawn up with all parents, and all the necessary records relating to the children are methodically maintained and confidentially stored. Information about the children's day and progress is regularly shared with their parents. New children and their parents are warmly welcomed with an informative

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Organisation

welcome letter; termly updating newsletters are also circulated. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to record individual achievements and stages of development to aid provision of appropriately challenging activities. The childminder has set up individual scrapbooks which enable her to monitor the children's progress and provide them with increasing challenges, and further supports good communication with parents.

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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 good. 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): • practise the emergency evacuation plan

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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 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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