Littledean Church of England Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 115631 Inspection date 22/04/2010 Inspector Linda Margaret Nicholls

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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 1998. Registration is for the Early Years Register and both the compulsory part and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. Registration does not include overnight care. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years of age of whom two may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding seven, one in the early years age, is full time. The childminder regularly cares for children over eight years.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder lives with her three children aged three, twelve and fifteen years in Belvedere, the London Borough of Bexley. Ground floor living rooms are available for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden. The family have two dogs. The childminder has an NVQ level 3 in Child Care and Education. She is a network childminder with the Bexley Childminding Association and coordinates a local Sure Start group.

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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 uses close care and knowledge of each child to support her successfully to meet their unique learning and development needs. Children are welcomed into a stimulating and creatively resourced home. Children's safety and well-being are well met because the childminder has a thorough and professional understanding of the welfare requirements and acts upon these. The positive use of reflection and self-evaluation ensure the continuous improvement of the service she provides.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop methods to record children's achievements and maintain required records to support the professional service provided

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the early years provision

The childminder ensures that all adults in her home have met vetting procedures and remain suitable. She provides direct supervision of the children in her care and visitor details are checked. Safeguarding children procedures are clear, informative and meet local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines. Resources are well- organised and accessible, providing activities for the six areas of learning. Open shelving with a variety of board games, books and electronic toys allow children independence of choice. Children's safety and security are highly valued and maintained at all times with hazards identified and risk assessments carried out This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 annually. Daily visual checks are undertaken before children arrive. A fire evacuation plan is devised, displayed and practised with children so they know what to do in an emergency. A register efficiently records the arrival and collection

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the early years provision

Well-organised systems ensure all required records and permissions are available and these clearly provide all necessary information. Accident, incident and medication records are clear, effective and shared between the provider and the parents. The childminder provides consistent and sensitive direction so children develop the behaviour she wants. Equality, diversity and inclusion of all children is promoted using resources such as small-world figures, positive images and craft activities to celebrate annual festivals, such as St George's Day so that children build positive relationships for the future.

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the early years provision

The childminder makes good use of reflection and self-evaluation to appraise the service she provides. She accurately identifies the strengths and weaknesses of her provision and continues to develop her recording systems following recent training. The childminder is innovative and communicative, planning for exciting outings to the Thames Barrier Park, a Chinese warehouse and the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood to further children's knowledge and understanding. Her clear, thoughtful reports of these visits are shared with providers of the services she uses as well as other childminders. Parent questionnaires are used to gather comment and appraisal of the service the childminder provides. Positive relationships with other childminders, pre-schools and schools are very well established so that children's learning is extended and enhanced.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, confident and very well settled in the comfortable atmosphere of the childminder's home. They are carefully nurtured by the warm, close relationship they have with the childminder. They make decisive and independent choices from well presented resources such as dressing-up items or cars and a garage. Children's learning and development is fully supported by the thorough knowledge the childminder has of each child in her care. She notes children's likes and dislikes and uses these, together with photographic evidence, observations and assessment, to plan for activities linked to next steps to learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children show an active curiosity as they explore the way the balls bounce in the hall. They repeat and learn words such as 'together' and 'apart.' The childminder introduces the names of shapes, such as a circle, triangle and star, so extending their vocabulary. Children use mark-making equipment to make cards, or put on the animal masks for imaginative play. Children play enthusiastically with the cars and learn to count because the childminder challenges them to think how many points a star shape has, or how many shoes make a pair. She listens closely to what they say and responds calmly with open questions or praise in support of the development of language skills. Children learn to problem solve as they twist puzzle pieces to fit or attempt to scale the park climbing frame. Children are self- motivated to operate the interactive equipment, or play games on the computer. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

They are creative and expressive as they use a range of materials such as paint, crayons and glue. They learn how plants grow as they sow the tomato seeds and water the plants. Children move confidently between the rooms and the hall. They view photographs of themselves at play and know the names of other children they meet at the childminders. They know their work is valued because the childminder praises their attempts as well as their successes.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe as they extend their physical skills, learn personal hygiene routines and begin to recognise their individual achievements. They move confidently, negotiating objects or furniture and have safe access to a wide range of resources. They learn to wash their hands to stop the spread of germs or help themselves to drinks of fresh water when they feel thirsty. They learn to make healthy choices for the snacks they eat and to make a positive contribution to tidying away items when these are no longer required. They have a stimulating variety of opportunities to learn about the wider world through regular journeys to and from local venues and occasional outings further afield. They learn to share and to negotiate with other children they meet and to recognise similarities and differences. Children are alerted to the dangers of traffic and the importance of staying close together when out and about because the childminder gives clear

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and outcomes for children

and simple explanations for the behaviour she wants. 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 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 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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