Thorpe St Peter County Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 129575 Inspection date 12/03/2010 Inspector Valerie Fane

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 1996. She lives with her adult daughter in Hemel Hempstead. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is up one step. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has two dogs, two rabbits, a guinea pig and a selection of birds.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a 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. There are currently four children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 14 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She 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

Children settle well with the childminder and develop a close relationship with her. Their welfare needs are mostly met effectively because the childminder works closely with their parents to ensure that she is well-informed. She takes into account children's cultural needs when planning her provision and provides all children with opportunities to learn about different cultures. However, she does not ensure that children who attend other providers benefit from continuity of care by developing links with staff at the other settings. Children make good progress because the childminder understands how to offer suitable play opportunities that support children as they take their next steps in learning. The childminder has worked hard since the last inspection to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively and all welfare requirements are met except for the requirement regarding prior consent for medications.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 obtain prior written permission for each and every medicine from parents before any medication is given (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 26/03/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the opportunities for partnership working where children receive care This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and education in more than one setting.

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the early years provision

Children are protected because the childminder has a secure knowledge of the possible signs of child abuse and the procedures that she would follow if she was to have concerns about a child in her care. She has revised her knowledge by completing recent training. Children are safeguarded because she has also ensured that adult members of her household have completed the appropriate checks to confirm their suitability to be in contact with young children. Children are supervised well at all times and the house is safe and secure. The childminder has completed detailed risk assessments of the property and for outings to identify possible hazards and she has taken steps to minimise these. She keeps a daily record of safety checks around the home and she supports children well to understand how they can keep themselves safe.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the childminder's clear vision and commitment to improve her childcare provision. She has made considerable effort since the last inspection to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively. She has also met the recommendation that was made. As a result parents are now well-informed about her provision and children's privacy is maintained because parents give prior consent for the childminder to take children's photographs and use them for different purposes. The childminder has completed a detailed self-evaluation that clearly identifies her strengths and a number of areas for improvement, in particular the need to increase the range of multi-cultural toys available to children. In other respects children use a very good range of toys and resources that supports their learning well and the childminder attends regular training, such as 'Letters and sounds', to enhance her understanding of how children learn.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder works closely with their parents or carers to ensure that she is well-informed about their individual needs. Parents provide most required information and consents before their children attend. However, children's welfare is potentially compromised because the prior consent for medication does not specify which medicines the childminder may use. Children are well-placed to continue their learning at home because the childminder gives parents regular updates verbally. She also shows them children's learning journeys which contain detailed observations of children's progress and photographs of them enjoying a range of activities. Parents can request daily diaries to support an exchange of information about particular concerns such as children's eating habits. Children who attend other Early Years Foundation Stage provision do not benefit from continuity of care because the childminder has developed very limited links

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the early years provision

with the other providers to share information regarding children's welfare and learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good support because the childminder works closely with their parents and uses information provided by other agencies to inform her care of 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

Children enjoy their time with the childminder and develop a close relationship with her. They make good progress because the childminder has developed a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and she provides children with a balance of opportunities for free play alongside planned activities and outings. The childminder observes and assesses children's progress and uses the assessments to identify their learning priorities. She includes activities to support their next steps in learning in her future planning.

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and outcomes for children

Babies enjoy a wide range of age-appropriate activities. They have fun exploring the sounds made by musical instruments. They explore the texture of paint and make hand prints. They develop balancing skills on the swing bridge in the park. Older children like exploring the snow. They are curious about the feel of it and explore how it sticks together as they make snowballs. They help to build a snowman in the garden. They make flowers for Mother's Day and cover the flower with glue using spreaders with great enthusiasm. They choose some feathers to stick on their flowers and chat to the childminder about what they are doing. When they have finished the flower they decide to use coloured glue to make their own pictures. They use mathematical language because they talk about the shapes they are using to make their pictures. Before lunch they cuddle up to the childminder and listen to favourite stories such as 'I want my potty'. Children of all

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and outcomes for children

ages use a range of toys that supports their technology skills. Younger children use the hand-held computer and older children enjoy the games console. Activities such as these also support children's development of skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children's home background is taken into consideration by the childminder. Children learn to accept one another and their differences. If children speak English as an additional language the childminder asks parents to teach her some words in their language and then uses pictures labelled in both languages to communicate with the children. The childminder finds out how children celebrate different festivals such as Christmas and includes their customs in her celebrations with all minded children. This supports all children's awareness of diversity well.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about healthy lifestyles because they spend time outside each day. They walk to and from school and go on regular visits to parks, woodlands, nature fields or the shops. They have fun on the swings and crawling through the tunnel in the park. They play games on the hills and around the trees in the local woods. They can bring their own meals but many children have food provided by the childminder. This is nutritious and always includes fruit and vegetables. Children talk about which foods are good for them and learn not to eat too much of any particular item.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave well for the childminder and develop habits appropriate to good learners. This is because the childminder sets clear boundaries for their behaviour. She also encourages good manners. Children become aware of their personal safety. They have regular opportunities to practice and discuss the emergency evacuation procedures. When older children are out with the childminder they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 know they must walk in pairs. They learn about road safety and to anticipate hazards. 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 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 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 keep a record of a parent/guardian/carer’s consent for any medicine administered to any child who is cared for on the premises (Records to be kept) 26/03/2010

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