Statham Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 148456 Inspection date 18/11/2009 Inspector Heidi Abernethy

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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 was registered in 2001. She lives with her husband and one child aged 10 years. They live in a house in Three Mile Cross, near Reading. The whole of the home is registered for childminding although minding mostly takes place downstairs. Toileting facilities are downstairs. Sleeping facilities are on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to provide overnight care for two children under eight years at any one time. The childminder is currently caring for children who have English as an additional language.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from local schools and pre-schools and is within walking distance to local shops and parks. She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). The family have a fish in an outside pond and chickens in a pen in the garden.

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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

The childminder offers an inclusive environment and recognises the uniqueness of each child. Highly effective partnerships between parents and other providers ensure children's individual needs are consistently well met. The childminder has an excellent awareness of future areas for development and is extremely passionate in providing a provision which continually improves the outcomes for the children and their families.

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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 risk assessments to include details of when they will next be reviewed.

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the early years provision

Children’s welfare is safeguarded exceptionally well because the childminder has a very secure knowledge of how to recognise, record and report any concerns. She is extremely dedicated to ensuring children’s safety is of utmost priority and has This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 conducted very detailed and comprehensive risk assessments of her home and all outings. The childminder is very keen to continually develop these assessments such as ensuring dates for the next review are clearly detailed.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made many alterations to her home since starting her childminding business such as having a large conservatory area built at the back of the home. This provides children with a purpose built playroom where they are able to independently choose from an extensive range of high quality equipment and resources which are suitable to support their learning and development. The childminder has organised the environment very effectively to ensure children have the space to be active and develop their physical skills whilst at the same time providing them with relaxing areas where they can rest on blankets and cushions.

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the early years provision

The childminder is currently caring for children with English as an additional language. Excellent partnerships with parents ensure she is has an exceptional knowledge of each child’s backgrounds and individual needs. For example, she has an extremely good knowledge about children’s individual dietary requirements to ensure she is wholly meeting the needs of the children and their families. Children have fun as they look in mirrors and talk about their differences in hair, skin and eye colour. They have a wonderful time as they measure their different heights and the childminder talks to them about how some people are taller and some are shorter than others. This fosters a very good understanding for children of themselves and those around them.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an extremely professional approach to her role and is focused on helping all the children to progress to the best of their ability. She embraces regular training opportunities which she very effectively evaluates the outcomes of in order to identify where any improvements are required within her provision. The childminder has highly effective partnerships with parents ensuring the needs of each child and family who use her service form as part of the evaluation of her provision.

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the early years provision

Parents are provided with very comprehensive and current information, policies and monthly newsletters to ensure they are very well informed. The childminder is very meticulous with her documentation and requests parents update their contracts, personal information and written parental permissions on a termly basis to ensure the information she holds is current and correct. Parents are kept highly informed of the children’s progress through the use of very detailed daily diary sheets and high quality learning records. In addition, the childminder provides parents with termly reports and opportunities to meet with her to discuss their child’s well-being, learning and development. The childminder has taken a lead role in establishing effective working relationships with other early years providers. She meets with them regularly to share information about the children’s well- being, learning and progress which ensures a collaborative approach is achieved

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the early years provision

for the children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has an extremely good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. She knows the children exceptionally well and provides an extensive range of activities to effectively challenge and stimulate them. The childminder very effectively observes and records children’s progress linking the learning skilfully to the early learning goals. She then very effectively collates the information she has obtained to fully identify children’s next steps in learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has very skilfully provided children with a highly stimulating and welcoming environment which reflects their backgrounds and the wider community. For example, children access an extensive range of resources such as books, puzzles and dressing up outfits which reflect an awareness of other cultures and positive gender roles. They are all involved with looking at a local map of the area and have great fun placing sticky dots on the roads in which their home is situated.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate a very clear sense of belonging in the environment where their individual needs are very well met. For example, the childminder recognises when children are due a sleep or hungry and holds children in her arms to feed them their bottle of milk. Excellent relationships have been formed and the children respond really well to the childminder. They confidently call her name when they need some help going to the toilet and say ‘excuse me’ to gain the attention of the childminder when she is talking with the visitor within the environment.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder very skilfully talks to the children about the effects exercise has on their bodies after running the length of the garden and talks about how milk is good for their bones and teeth after reading books the children have chosen from the library. This ensures children are developing a very good awareness of how to keep their bodies fit and healthy. Outside play and outings to local parks, woodlands and farms are a very regular activity which promote extremely positive attitudes towards exercise and fresh air.

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and outcomes for children

Children have extensive opportunities to explore mark making within the environment and access the activities at their individual ages and stages of development. For example, young children are able to explore paints with their whole hands whilst older children use a range of tools such as paintbrushes and feathers from the chickens in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

Children become very engaged as they play with the shape sorter and extensive range of shapes. The childminder interacts very closely and skilfully extends the learning as she encourages the children to turn the shape sorter on its side and talks to them about the different names of the shapes. They are actively involved with the whole process of planting in the garden and go with the childminder to the local garden centre to choose what vegetables, fruit and plants they would like to grow. They develop a very good understanding of nurturing the plants as they water them and pick the end products to chop up and eat as part of their meal. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 This ensures children foster a very good understanding of where and how fruit and vegetables grow.

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and outcomes for children

Children show exemplary behaviour and are continually given positive praise and encouragement by the childminder who gently reminds them of and reinforces the ground rules. When a dispute arises over a toy the childminder talks to the children about sharing and taking turns. Children take on responsibilities within the environment such as helping to feed the fish in the garden pond and by feeding and collecting the eggs from the chickens. This equips children with a very good understanding of what other living things need to survive and how to look after them.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate an excellent awareness of road safety as they inform the childcare inspector that they look and listen for the cars. The childminder states how she incorporates all of the children’s senses when reinforcing road safety such as feeling the ground rumbling from the traffic, smelling for car fumes and listening for the sound of the traffic. This helps to prepare and equip children with an excellent knowledge of how to manage their own safety independently in the future. 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 1 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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