Claypool Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 105195 Inspection date 19/05/2010 Inspector Lynne Kathleen Talbot

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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 September 1997. She lives with her children aged seven, 13 and 15 years in Toddington, Bedfordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the home is used for childminding with sleeping on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder has one dog, one cat and four chickens.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to provide care on each weekday during term time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. There are currently six children attending part-time hours, three of whom are within the early years age range.

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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's individuality is recognised by the childminder who has a sound understanding of their needs and interests. She creates a good relationship with parents, offering information, providing flexible hours of care to meet work patterns and beginning to build relationships with other settings; attention to these are as of care helps to ensure that children's needs are met and that activities offered promote good progress overall. The childminder takes sound steps to promote children's health and welfare through established daily routines, minimising risks and safeguarding awareness. However, the record of risk assessment does not yet include that undertaken for outings. The childminder has a positive attitude towards continued development but this is yet to be developed to enable reflection on the overall care and continued outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of information gathered about children's learning to enhance their good progress towards the early learning goals with particular reference to identifying starting points, showing progression and including parents in identifying next steps to assist planned learning  use self-evaluation and quality improvement processes as the basis of ongoing internal review  review policies and procedures required for the safe and efficient management of the setting and to meet the needs of children with reference to accuracy of information shared with parents and updated procedures  update the record of risk assessments to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is promoted because the childminder has a sound understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has a clear understanding of her roles and responsibilities relating to safeguarding and holds all required information. The childminder ensures that all persons required to undertake the appropriate checks to safeguard children. However, some documentation shared with parents contains inaccurate references which means they are not fully informed of current requirements and procedures. Risk assessments for the home and outings are undertaken to minimise risk for children. Records of assessments for the home are detailed and include daily health and safety checklists as well as the annual check required but the record does not include risks for outings which means there is potential for the assessments to fail to fully protect children. Children are encouraged to learn about personal safety and follow emergency evacuation

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the early years provision

routines. Safety is promoted as they play linking role play, for instance, to road safety and road crossing procedures which reinforces their understanding. Procedures for illness and medication are planned and meet all requirements helping to maintain children's well-being.

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the early years provision

The childminder offers an inclusive service to children in her care and ensures that she works with parents to understand each child as an individual. She is aware of each child's learning styles and uses this when organising the day thereby ensuring that each child achieves. This is shown when discussing the progress made by children attending and the differing approaches needed for those attending infrequently as well as the development shared with parents. Children explore the local community and the wider society in which they live. For example, they explore cultures through foods, languages and comparing well-known words which originate from other countries. Children share their own family backgrounds and are becoming socially aware. The relationship with parents is good, offering flexible hours of care as needed and enabling them to share information verbally each day. However, there is yet to be a system to show parental involvement in

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the early years provision

the planned learning for children through a baseline assessment or ongoing input. The childminder is developing plans to work in partnership with other settings that children attend who offer provision within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows an awareness of development and seeks informal feedback from parents to ensure that her care is having a positive effect on outcomes for children. She has sought training including fire safety awareness and is booked to attend several other courses in the near future. Self-evaluation processes have been initiated but do not yet form the basis of internal review to focus strengths or areas for development. The home is welcoming and conducive to learning because the childminder ensures that resources are accessible and inviting enabling children to initiate learning and direct their play. This means that children are consequently making good progress overall in their learning and development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and enjoy their time spent with the childminder. They make good progress overall because the childminder follows children's interests closely. She observes children as they play, sharing this with parents within daily welfare books, and is beginning to plan journals to support children's learning. At this time there is no baseline starting point from which to build with progression shown, nor are next steps identified and shown to feed the planned learning and activities. This means that potential learning opportunities may fail to be maximised to progress children towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children are actively involved in their learning. They talk confidently with the childminder and new adults, for example, as they begin to set up a role play town. They request additional track to enable them to make the tracks bigger comparing sizes and shapes of pieces and manipulating them to make them fit together. Children problem solve as they match shapes and sizes of adjoining structures to form a town, identifying the roles of vehicles such as ambulances and post services and discussing the safety aspects of road crossing patrol persons and traffic lights. The childminder is skilled in listening to children as they play and gently introducing new concepts yet still allowing children to direct the play. Children make active choices about their play moving between one activity to another such as from role play to puzzles. They show good levels of concentration whilst they take part in conversations with the childminder about what they are doing and

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and outcomes for children

things around them. For instance, children begin to understand the concept of time and clocks as they anticipate when other children will arrive and how long it may be until lunchtime.

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and outcomes for children

Children show an interest in things around them and the natural world. For example, they help to care for the childminder's four chickens discussing their care, collecting eggs and comparing the size of the eggs. They take part in composting understanding, for instance, that giving the egg shells back to the chickens will improve the eggs. Children have stored bricks to help to construct a planting area in which they will grow vegetables. This will enhance the plants already grown such as tomatoes and strawberries. Children link other activities to planting such as art works where they decorated plant pots in which to plant tomatoes caring for them, measuring and comparing them as they grew. Art and craft works are enjoyed regularly helping children to explore creativity. Examples include designing and printing their own tee-shirts, designing and building drums, and making garden lanterns. Children are active outdoors enjoying a well-equipped

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and outcomes for children

garden area as well as trips to parklands and other outdoor venues. They pick berries and freeze them, later making smoothies and desserts for healthy meals and snacks. Children learn about healthy eating and are encouraged to enjoy a good range of fruits and vegetables linking this to personal health. Hygiene routines are robust and help children understand personal hygiene and its link to well-being. Children are encouraged to understand socially acceptable behaviours using developed house rules and observing a good example from the childminder. This helps them to develop the attitudes that will help the to develop skills for the future. 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 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 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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