Castle Newnham School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 151042 Inspection date 26/04/2010 Inspector Maria Lumley

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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 has been registered since 1995. She lives in Ringwood with her husband and two adult children. The childminder currently uses the ground floor only for childminding. There is access to an outdoor play area.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for no more than six children under eight years, of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group. Currently there are a total of six children on roll; five of whom are in the early years age range. The family have a pet cat. 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides exceptional care for children in an environment where they flourish and make excellent progress in their learning and development. The childminder recognises the uniqueness of each child and creates highly effective partnerships between parents and other agencies to ensure their individual needs are met. All aspects of the childminder's service are extremely well-organised. She shows a tremendous capacity for sustained improvement as she passionately believes in ongoing training and self-evaluation. The recommendation raised at the childminder's last inspection has successfully been met.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 ensure that children cannot reach sharp utensils in the kitchen.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is robustly safeguarded by the childminder who obtains appropriate checks for all adults living in the household. All visitors are required to sign in and out and are not left alone with children. The childminder has recently attended advanced child protection training and has a confident knowledge of local safeguarding procedures. Good quality risk assessments are in place and effective action is taken to manage or eliminate most risks for children. The newly fitted kitchen has door locks which prevent children from accessing cleaning substances. However, locks have not yet been secured on a drawer unit which contains sharp utensils. The childminder has detailed risk assessments for numerous outings. She has recently measured and weighed the children to ensure that car seats remain safe for them to use whilst being transported in her car. The childminder is vigilant This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

in ensuring children's safety when they sleep. She checks their mouths to make sure there is no secreted food before they lay down and regularly checks them as they sleep. The childminder maintains excellent standards of hygiene. Each child has their own changing mat and bedding to reduce cross infection. Tissues and wet wipes are used to clean children's hands and faces when they sneeze and cough. The childminder ensures that all equipment and resources are thoroughly cleaned, for example, highchairs are wiped with anti-bacterial cloths prior to children sitting down to eat their meals. The childminder has joined 'Change 4 life' and she uses a 'Five a day', tracker chart to encourage the children to eat healthily.

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the early years provision

Children thoroughly enjoy their time spent in the designated playroom. This room provides children and their families with a bright and welcoming environment. Children's art work and photographs are displayed on the walls and give the children a sense of belonging as they point out pictures of themselves, their friends and family. Children are constantly occupied as they choose from an extensive range of high quality, well maintained resources and equipment. Resources are extremely well organised on low level shelving and drawers and are labelled with pictures and words, supporting children's independence and choice. The childminder is very keen to maintain and improve all aspects of her childminding service and uses numerous effective systems to evaluate her practice, for example, gaining feedback from parents and children through questionnaires and regular visits from her area network development officer. This enables the childminder to

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the early years provision

highlight her strengths and areas for development. The childminder is highly qualified and committed to continued learning and development. She has attended numerous courses in the last year including behaviour management and understanding schemas. She uses her skills to mentor and support newly registered childminders in their first year of practice.

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the early years provision

Children are encouraged to develop positive relationships and be involved in each other's lives, for example, sharing photographs of their families and talking about siblings. Children have many opportunities to learn about the wider world as they celebrate festivals throughout the year and play with a wide selection of toys and resources that reflect diversity. The childminder supports boys and girls in their choice of dressing up clothes as they put on fairy dresses and police officer's uniforms. Children are involved in raising money for Red Nose Day, learning about children less fortunate than themselves.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed very effective partnerships with other agencies which greatly benefit the children in her care. For example, she has successfully met with pre-school and school staff to share the Early Years Foundation Stage profile, in order that children receive a coherent learning experience. The childminder has highly positive relationships with parents and carers. They are well-informed about their child's achievements, well-being and development through daily verbal feedback and diaries. The childminder keeps extensive records on the children including observations, photographs, progress reports and reflective accounts, which can all be viewed by parents at any time. She provides an informative portfolio and regular newsletters so parents are aware of what is going on within the setting. Numerous references, entries in the parents' complaints and compliments book and letters from parents demonstrate how

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the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 happy they are with the service she provides. Comments include, 'excellent understanding of children and their development' and 'extremely professional'.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very happy and move freely around the play areas, selecting various resources and initiating their play. The childminder also provides a range of imaginative and stimulating activities to consolidate and extend children's knowledge and understanding in all areas of their learning. Planning incorporates different topics and themes but these are very flexible to respond to children's interests and are often adapted to accommodate these. Photographs are very well used to record children's progress and activities over time. These are displayed on walls and in the children's portfolios. Children enjoy looking at these as they recall events. They also prove a valuable tool in enabling parents to see the kinds of activities their children are involved in whilst with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop a sense of belonging as the childminder creates a warm, homely environment. The childminder has a clear understanding of the uniqueness of each child and responds sensitively to them, ensuring their emotional needs are very well met. For example, a child becomes anxious when the inspector arrives and shows signs of distress. The childminder immediately reassures the child, holding them close saying, 'You're alright, I'm here, don't worry'. This quickly settles the child. The routine of the day is flexible and accommodates individual children's sleep and meal times. The childminder quickly responds when a two-year-old starts to show signs of tiredness and settles them in the cot. Children's understanding of healthy lifestyles is developed as they plant, grow and tend vegetables which they then eat as part of their snack. Some children visit their family's allotments and bring in produce they have grown to share with their

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and outcomes for children

friends. From an early age children follow established routines and develop very good personal hygiene practices. They wash their hands prior to eating and the use of paper towels reduces cross infection. Children have excellent opportunities to develop physical skills within a variety of environments. For example, they climb and balance on large wooden play equipment at Moors Valley Country Park and manoeuvre bikes in the garden. Children's small muscle control is well developed and young children confidently grasp tools as they play with dough.

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and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to problem solve, for example, they use a child's tape measure and measure objects and furniture around the room. They weigh and measure ingredients using scales and spoons as they participate in baking activities. The children use mathematical language, such as large, small, heavy and light. Children confidently use language and gestures to communicate their needs and thoughts. The childminder supports emerging language extremely well, talking slowing to the children and repeating words. Children explore sensory lights at the children's centre and watch coloured bubbles as they move up and down, the childminder introducing new words such as bright, colourful and sparkly. Twice a week the children visit the local library for story sessions and to select new books. Older children 'read' stories to their younger friends. Children have lots of opportunities for mark making using a range of resources, such as crayons, paints

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and pencils. As children role-play and play 'offices' they type on the computer and write receipts.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about safety when walking in public places. Babies are securely strapped in buggies and toddlers on reins. Children wear identity wrist bands that detail the childminder's name and contact number. All children learn, through discussion the importance of staying close by and the childminder always wears a bright orange or green jacket so that children can locate her easily. Children are fully aware of what to do in the event of a fire as emergency evacuation procedures are practised regularly. Children eagerly help the childminder to keep the environment safe and two young children enthusiastically sweep up rice from the floor following a rice activity. Children's self-esteem flourishes as they are praised and thanked for their helpful behaviour, the childminder saying, 'Thank you, well done'. Older children have been involved in writing the house rules which are displayed in the play room. They are taught to share and take turns and be

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and outcomes for children

kind and considerate to one another. Behaviour is excellent and an older child passes resources to their younger friend when they struggle to reach. 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 2 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 2 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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