Boulevard Junior High School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 129276 Inspection date 02/12/2009 Inspector Lindsay Hare

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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 registered in 1997. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 18 years in Welwyn Garden City. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a secure garden for outside play. The family has a dog and two rabbits. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care on each weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

Children on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register share the same facilities as those on the Early Years Register. There are currently eight children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a warm, caring and stimulating home environment where children have their needs met. They make good progress towards the early learning goals and their individual next steps are identified and planned for. Children are safe and secure. Partnerships with parents are excellent and the childminder utilises facilities available in the local community. Generally, children are gaining an awareness of the world around them. All the necessary records, policies and procedures are in place, although parents are not fully informed of the procedure should they wish to make a complaint. The childminder is able to clearly reflect and evaluate her practice and is pro-active in developing plans to improve the care and education she offers to children.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 extend the resources and activities reflecting positive images of diversity to increase children's awareness of disability  provide parents with information about the procedure to investigate all written complaints relating to the requirements and notify complainants of the outcome of the investigation within 28 days of having received the complaint. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of child protection. She is aware of the signs to look for and the steps to take to safeguard children as she has updated her training. All members of the household over 16 years have been vetted. Children are safe and secure in the home and on outings because potential hazards have been minimised. A written risk assessment is carried out and the childminder reviews this regularly to focus more clearly on identifying any potential dangers. Health and safety procedures are followed correctly, such as recording accidents and any medication administered.

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the early years provision

Children's learning is well supported. The childminder is aware of the individual needs of the children. For example, one child enjoys being outdoors so the childminder uses opportunities outside to promote their learning and development, such as counting cars and talking about the colours they see. A wide range of good quality resources is easily accessible to all children and fully stimulates their play, maintaining their interest and concentration. This understanding of individual needs means that she is able to provide opportunities for children and identify additional resources. For example, she visits Willows Farm to enable children to practise their physical skills in the large ball pool. The childminder adequately promotes equality and diversity and tackles unfair discrimination with clear explanations given to children. However the lack of resources positively reflecting disability limits children's awareness of this in the wider world.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are excellent and the childminder shares lots of information, although parents are not made fully aware of complaints procedure. Detailed information is obtained initially to enable an effective settling-in process. The childminder records children's weight and height for parents as she realises it is difficult for working parents to attend the clinic. The childminder has links with the local school and has shared information with them regarding a child's improved handwriting. The childminder is able to identify strengths and areas for improvement, she has attended NVQ training after reflecting on her practice and now has photographs of all authorised people who may collect individual children. Future plans to improve her practice and the outcomes for children are in place. For example, she has devised questionnaires for parents to be involved in the self- evaluation process.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's background and needs. She establishes their starting points from discussion with parents and her own initial observations. The assessment files show how observations are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and children's next steps are planned for. For example, young children using their fingers to eat pasta are given cutlery to use as the next step in their development and children observed enjoying posting items in a box, opening and closing the lid were given inset puzzles to encourage their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 problem solving and fine motor skills. The childminder promotes children's play, joining in and extending their learning. For example, she encourages young children to count as they stack beakers and then they enjoy investigating as she hides small toys underneath the beakers for them to find.

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and outcomes for children

Children have daily opportunities to gain fresh air and physical exercise as they walk or ride their scooters to school and use climbing apparatus at the park and soft play areas regularly. They develop a good understanding of living a healthy lifestyle as they know to use sanitising gel after touching the dog. An activity at the Children's Centre with powder paint, illustrated to children how germs are spread when they sneeze and cough. Children are given reminders to encourage their awareness of keeping safe. For example, they know how far they can run on ahead and to stand back against the wall before crossing the road with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's care and know the routine and the environment well. For example, one young child likes to touch all the rockets suspended from the ceiling before they leave each day. The older children are able to vocalise their feelings and with encouragement accept that sometimes it is alright to feel cross and develop other ways of dealing with these feelings. They have opportunities to socialise and interact with others at the groups they regularly attend. Children are able to learn about the wider world as they send postcards from their holidays and these are pinpointed on the relevant locations on the world map displayed. They talk about what they did whilst there and the different foods they ate. Children use resources showing positive images of different cultures and beliefs and try out games that children play in other countries, shown in a book. However, children's awareness of disability is not fully

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and outcomes for children

promoted as there is limited discussion and no resources available to the children to reflect this positively.

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and outcomes for children

Children's verbal communication is developing well as the childminder models language and introduces new vocabulary into everyday routines. Children begin to recognise numbers through songs and rhymes. They have opportunities to make marks, using pencils, paint dabbers and play dough and their work is displayed around the room. All the necessary documentation is in place for the efficient management of the setting. 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 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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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