Avening Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 149619 Inspection date 05/11/2009 Inspector Susan Tuffnell

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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 1995. She lives with her husband and their children aged 11 and 15 years in a residential area of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding purposes. The first floor of the premises is used for supervised access to the bathroom and for children to rest in a travel cot only. Children use the enclosed side garden for outside play. The premises are accessible by a low step to the front entrance.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care every weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for three children on the Early Years Register and currently two children attend on part-time and flexible contracts. The childminder currently provides care for one child on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and two children attend on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. All the children share the same facilities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds the Introduction to Childminding Practice (ICP) qualification in childcare and is a member of the National Childminding Association. She works in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development. The childminder offers a welcoming environment that generally supports children's welfare, learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children benefit from some planned and imaginative activities and a satisfactory partnership with parents contributes to ensuring that the individual needs of the children are generally met. Children are valued at the setting because the childminder understands diversity and equal opportunities. Some procedures are in place for evaluating her practice, identifying the strengths and weaknesses and setting some priorities for improvement in the future.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a systematic approach to using observations and assessments to track children's progress through the early learning goals  ensure that children's identified learning needs are carried forward (next steps), implemented into future planning and evaluated to give a clear picture of progress  update the child protection policy in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and procedures. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Most major aspects of leadership and management are satisfactory, some areas of weakness have been identified, and the childminder demonstrates that she has the capacity to improve. For example, she has attended the EYFS observation, assessment and planning course to help her plan effectively for children in the early years age group. Children are generally protected because the childminder knows and understands child protection and has attended safeguarding children training to enhance her knowledge. However, the child protection policy is not in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and procedures, to ensure safeguarding regulations and duties are met and in line with current requirements. The childminder takes positive steps to eliminate risk and helps to raise children's awareness about how to keep themselves safe. For example, children discuss what would happen if they had an accident in the childminder's

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the early years provision

house and the role of the emergency services in emergency situations. Some resources are freely available to the children and are adequate to generally support their learning and development. However, children's identified learning needs are not securely carried forward, implemented into future planning and evaluated to give a clear picture of their progress and a systematic approach to using observations and assessments to track children's progress through the early learning goals is not in place. The childminder promotes equality and diversity through effective policies, procedures and practice. Children begin to understand about diversity as they experience the wider world with art and craft activities and stories. Parents are encouraged to be involved in supporting their children’s learning and development, through an exchange of verbal feedback and the sharing of some of the children's work and photographs. However, as there are no

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the early years provision

detailed observations and assessments, the information is limited and does not give parents clear information about their children's achievements and progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children achieve well in most aspects of their learning and development. The childminder uses a reasonable range of teaching methods and adequate resources to generally provide a sufficient range of activities and experiences to meet children's needs. The level of challenge is sufficient to interest and engage children. Observations and assessments and their use in planning is improving in response to the childminder's recent training. Children develop a sense of how to stay safe within the setting and some children use their initiative and take responsibility for their own safety. They practise road safety on outings and take part in regular fire evacuation. Young children develop confidence within the setting, due to good interaction with the childminder. They confidently introduce themselves and show an interest in visitors to the setting. Children follow appropriate personal hygiene routines and they are beginning to understand the

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and outcomes for children

importance of regular exercise and healthy eating. They enjoy opportunities to engage in physical activities, both inside and outdoors. For example, children sing and dance enthusiastically as they join in with a fabulous music and movement This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 session, they follow instructions well and keep in time with the music. Children have opportunities to use equipment to climb and balance with regular visits to the park. Children's knowledge and understanding about healthy lifestyles is encouraged as they learn about healthy eating.

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and outcomes for children

Resources are available to help children's fine motor skills, such as art and craft activities, toys, puzzles and construction. Children make choices independently and sometimes with the cooperation of others. For example, children help each other complete puzzles and together draw the faces of members of their family on post- it notes which are attached to lollypop sticks to make puppets. The childminder talks to the children about bonfire night and fireworks and they all decide what colours they want to use. They sing the colours of the rainbow and decide there are seven colours, as they count on the childminder's fingers. They make attractive pictures using a range of materials, such as shiny stars and glitter to create vibrant fireworks. Children's creative development is encouraged as they make masks and stick on feathers 'to frighten people away'. Children are secure in the setting and display a strong sense of belonging. They are happy and settled and display

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and outcomes for children

confidence and self-esteem. Overall, children's behaviour is satisfactory.

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and outcomes for children

Children make steady progress in the six areas of learning, they join in with others and have opportunities to meet others and make friends at the childminder group meetings and toddler groups. Children learn to respect each other through positive role modelling from the childminder and are beginning to respond to others by playing cooperatively and sharing resources. Children join in with daily routines, such as tidying their environment and generally secure the skills they need in order to progress in their learning. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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