Henleaze Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 108934 Inspection date 29/07/2010 Inspector Chris Mackinnon

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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 assesses 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 1996. She lives with her husband and their two children aged 15, and 10 years, in the Landport area of Lewes, East Sussex. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. A fully enclosed garden and deck area are available for outdoor activities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of six minded children may attend at any time, with no more than three in the early years age group. The childminder currently has 12 children on roll, with five in the early years age group. The childminder makes regular outings to the parks, play centres and local toddler groups.

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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 is well organised and provides consistent support for children's welfare and development. Children have access to a well prepared play environment and use a wide range of stimulating resources and play materials. The childminder is highly skilful in her presentation of activities, and her promotion of children's learning progress is excellent. Children's achievement is successfully monitored, through the highly consistent use of observation and assessment. The childminder works closely with parents and other carers, and uses self-evaluation effectively to maintain improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 conduct review of written risk assessment, and record date  ensure outdoor risk assessment includes regular check of fish pond covers.

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the early years provision

The childminder is a trained nursery nurse with a level 3 qualification. She is effective in her organisation of childcare, and demonstrates a consistent ability to understand and support individual children's development needs. Her home is well organised for childcare, and her training and experience in providing play and planned learning, plays a large part in her successful promotion of children's achievement. The childminder is well organised in her management of safeguarding. She provides close support for individual children, and has a good level of safeguarding awareness. A well organised range of policies and procedures are in place, to ensure children are protected and that the childminder follows appropriate guidance, if a concern arises. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has several strong aspects within her practice, particularly in the

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the early years provision

presentation of a well organised and highly stimulating play environment. The successful linking of rooms on the ground floor of her home, provides children with many opportunities to explore play materials, and enjoy free-flow play and learning. Children have access to an excellent choice of resources, including small world play sets, assembly and construction items, and frequent access to the computer. The childminder shows considerable skill, and is highly successful in generating learning projects that engage children with resources, and includes a range of ages.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good awareness of the need to link with other carers and care settings. She in in contact with local schools and pre-schools, and maintains strong links with other local childminders. She demonstrates effective partnership through her consistent work with older children's continued learning, and preparing younger children for school. She has developed many positive partnerships with parents, and works with them effectively, to promote children's social confidence. She also works successfully with parents to encourage children's behavioural stability. For example, she has recently completed a development project with parents, fostering the play skills and concentration level of one minded child. The childminder is aware of the important role parents play in supporting their children's development, and provides consistent information, and daily updates on children's care and development. She also successfully includes parents in the

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the early years provision

observation and assessment of their children's learning, and the steps they need to make to progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder is confident in her promotion of equality and diversity. She works closely with individual children to ensure they develop and progress across the achievement gap. This is demonstrated by her successful work with one child's personal and social skills, and she has also helped another to make progress with physical confidence. The childminder organises specific learning projects to support children's awareness of other cultures, and celebrates a range of festivals with the children. She applies a planned and consistent approach to using diversity based play resources, and successfully explores activities that supports children's awareness of the wider world.

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the early years provision

The childminder is a well established provider, and is skilled in her application of reflective practice. She is consistently able to adapt and modify the play environment, to meet individual children's development needs, and changing interests. She is also consistent in her approach to assessing the effectiveness of her practice. She has produced a self-evaluation document, and uses her own development plan, to identify areas for improvement within the play programme.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's planning for children's learning is highly effective, and her support for enjoying and achieving is outstanding. She successfully provides a wide range of activities, that are well matched to the learning abilities of individual This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children. She also effectively includes children's interests, and their home experiences. The childminder shows a particular strength in her use of well presented projects and play themes, that are highly effective in stimulating children's thinking and active learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder shows considerable ability in the methods she uses to guide children's development, and extend their confidence in all six areas of learning. Through her skilful use of questions and sharing play with children, she successfully encourages their progress and supports their interests. The childminder keeps clear evidence of children's enjoyment of activities, and children's individual achievements are consistently recorded. Her use of observation and assessment is highly effective. For example, she conducts regular development reviews of children's learning progress every few months, to ensure they are successfully moving through the learning stages. Children's next steps in learning are also consistently recorded during observation, which effectively supports their future learning, and contributes to the planning of the play programme.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is consistent in providing activities to support children's communication and literacy. Mark making and learning about letters and their sounds, features significantly in the play programme. Children are encouraged to enjoy books and stories. For example, one child particularly enjoys 'The Hungry Caterpillar'. 'The Owl Story', is also a well loved narrative, that one younger child is currently following on the computer. Older children's use of language is also well encouraged through talking about their ideas and interests.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder places a strong emphasis on encouraging physical development. A good range of specific activities are provided to encourage balance and manipulative skills, and children enjoy many active games and role-play. Good use is also made of the childminder's back garden deck area for outdoor activities, where children have messy play and can hunt for mini-beasts. The childminder also attends locally organised group activities, and makes frequent visits to the shops and to see the ducks, which involves children in learning about road safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health and development is well supported, and the childminder ensures children have healthy foods and snacks. The childminder is also successful in promoting children's food awareness, with learning activities about different types of food and healthy eating. The childminder has a well organised range of safety precautions in place, and effective steps are taken to ensure children are kept safe and secure within the setting. Clearly organised written risk assessments are in place, but they are currently undated and have not been recently reviewed. Outdoor safety is organised and consistently maintained by the childminder. However, extending risk assessment to include regular checks of the fish pond covers, is noted as an area for improvement.

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and outcomes for children

Children's creative and expressive development is well supported, and the childminder shows considerable expertise in the organisation of inventive art and craft activities. Children's awareness of colours, textures and how to combine materials, is successfully promoted through large scale play and construction projects. A recent example is 'the jungle', which involves children in making palm This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 trees from recycled materials, and producing colourful paper parrots. Good use is made of resources to promote children's problem solving and understanding of numbers. Good and consistent learning is provided through the availability of technology based play, and access to the computer for shape recognition and counting games. Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is also included in a wide range of the activities provided. The childminder's current

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and outcomes for children

learning project is 'the planets', which she has successfully prepared for a range of ages. For example, the older children learn about their sizes and measuring distances. The younger children learn their names and enjoy 'moon rock' play dough, which has a dark colour and glittery texture.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is effective in her promotion of children's personal and social development. She helps children to feel confident with others, and provides much close support for younger children and their understanding of feelings. For example, she makes good use of story books to show when we are sad and happy. Children's ability concentrate on learning challenges and new tasks are also well supported, and the childminder provides many activities where children can learn to share. Children often play together during group sessions, where plenty of opportunities are provided to promote cooperation and considerate behaviour. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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 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 1 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 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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