Columbia Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 108802 Inspection date 07/10/2009 Inspector Rosemary Davies

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. 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 1987. She lives with her husband in the Liden area of Swindon, Wiltshire, close to shops, parks and toddler groups; other amenities, such as a library, are a short drive away. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools. The family keep two pet cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, of whom three may be on the Early Years Register. Currently, a variation to her conditions of registration, permit her to care for four children in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in the early years age range. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 10 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

Minded children may use the entire house, although in practice remain mostly downstairs. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification at level 3.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children make rapid progress in their learning and development because the childminder makes excellent use of her thorough knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The development of language is a particular strength of this provision. The childminder takes full account of children's differing capabilities, interests and home backgrounds through establishing a close rapport with parents, which results in each child's needs being met exceedingly well. The childminder is highly self-motivated and demonstrates an extremely strong capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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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 evaluate the provision and undertake training as identified through self-evaluation  consider providing parents with information about suitable lunch box contents.

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the early years provision

This experienced childminder takes a professional approach to her role. She has a very clear understanding of child protection, safeguarding children extremely well This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and protecting them from unchecked persons. No one enters her home uninvited and a record of visitors is kept. She keeps a suitable record of risk assessment, which includes careful evaluation of each of the many different outings taken with the children. All required documentation is in place. A range of suitable polices and procedures helps guide her practice, so that days run smoothly.

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the early years provision

The childminder draws on a range of sources to help evaluate her provision, such as feedback from parents and the children themselves. She makes full use of support available from the local authority, actively seeking ideas to improve her practice. She accurately pin points areas for improvement, such as where her knowledge and skills require updating. She enjoys attending training courses to enhance her understanding of the EYFS and uses newly acquired knowledge extremely well to improve outcomes for children; for example, attending a music course results in the provision of additional musical instruments for the children's enjoyment. She makes excellent use of resources, both in and outside her home, to provide a stimulating range of experiences for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder understands the need to work with others involved with the children, such as local pre-school staff, and is establishing good links, so aiding settling-in processes. Excellent relationships with parents contribute significantly to every child's individual requirements being met, although she does not offer parents information about suitable lunchbox contents. The childminder shows strong commitment to equality and diversity, actively challenging discriminatory remarks and positively promoting the differing backgrounds of children in her care, so no one is disadvantaged or excluded.

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and outcomes for children

Children clearly delight in their experiences with this childminder because she provides such interesting activities for them in both her home and garden. An imaginative range of outings in the locality and further afield, such as to Avebury and a railway museum, along with frequent visits to the 'town gardens', enriches children's lives and helps them learn about the wider world.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides an excellent role model to the children, who reflect her questioning, up-beat attitude by being curious and active learners. Children have excellent relationships with the childminder, who is warm and caring towards them. They play extremely well independently, happily concentrating at self- chosen activities, such as bead threading or card matching. Older children show they have learnt to share resources; they trust the childminder to sort out minor disagreements when their younger friends do not. The childminder's fair, consistent approach means all enjoy their play.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from a good mix of indoor and outdoor play. They enjoy choosing things to do from the varied range of high quality items available. At other times they follow the childminder's choice, doing sticking and gluing activities with her or visiting the local library. Even these experiences are based around children's evolving needs and interests because the childminder gets to know their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 capabilities extremely well, so is fully aware of what they need to achieve next. She has high expectations to which children respond well; older children manage their personal hygiene routines independently, help prepare their fruit for snack and readily help tidy toys away. They learn to behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others, such as carrying child-sized chairs safely.

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress in gaining skills for their future lives, particularly in their language acquisition and conversation skills. They say that 'you can find snails outside in the damp and they don't like dry paths'. They express their feelings competently, one child declaring, 'I don't want to live on that because it's a boat and I don't like boats'. All the time, the childminder varies her interaction according to each child's needs, extending an older child's language by use of words such as 'penguin' and 'Inuit', whilst also repeating familiar words expressed by the younger ones, such as 'cat' and 'mummy'.

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and outcomes for children

Children use an extremely clean, homely environment. They learn a great deal about healthy living, benefiting from plenty of daily fresh air and exercise, either in the garden, the adjacent play park or on special visits, such as to Liddiard Park. They play in safety because the childminder identifies potential hazards extremely well and minimises these effectively. Their evident trust in the childminder is justified because their welfare is her first concern. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

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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