Western School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 129268 Inspection date 09 November 2005 Inspector Kerry Freshwater

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1999. She lives with her husband and two children aged 9 and 11 years in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding with some access to upstairs areas. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding six children under five on various full and part time arrangements and two children over five before and after school. The childminder also minds children over eight years for occasional care. The childminder walks to

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local toddler group. The family have no pets. She is a member of the National Childminders Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a wide range of activities which contribute to their good health. They play in the garden and visit the local park regularly to benefit from the fresh air. Children experience a variety of physical activities using both large and small equipment. For example, they have fun in the garden with wheeled toys, climb on the apparatus at the park and soft play area and walk daily to school. In the house they enjoy building with bricks and completing puzzles. Children learn the importance of good hygiene and personal care. They are cared for in a welcoming, clean home where they understand the importance of regular cleaning routines to keep them safe and healthy. Children have a clear understanding of why they must wash their hands after playing in the garden or using the toilet. Children learn about keeping their bodies healthy through discussion and a broad range of interesting books.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are beginning to understand the benefits of healthy living as they eat freshly prepared meals such as spaghetti bolognaise, pasta, meat balls and fresh vegetables. Children are encouraged to eat healthily and learn about foods that are not good for them through discussion with the childminder. The childminder takes account of the wishes of parents. She works with them closely to provide nutritious meals that appeal to the children as well as meeting their dietary needs and has booked to attend food hygiene training shortly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's safety is a high priority and they are cared for in a home where risks are identified and minimised. They move around safely, freely and independently and adhere to house rules to keep them safe. Children know not to climb furniture and to tidy toys from the floor so they do not fall and hurt themselves or others and to keep small items out of reach of younger children. The childminder helps children understand how to keep themselves free from harm inside and outside of the home through discussion and leading by example. Children learn to be aware of strangers and what to look out for as they cross the road such as, traffic light changes, car indicators and waiting for cars to stop before stopping. There is a wide range of safe developmentally appropriate resources placed in the playroom on organised shelving and storage boxes to enable easy access. This enables the children to independently select their play and activities safely. The

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 childminder has the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. For example, she has a good understanding of Child Protection issues and procedures. However, She does not have the local procedures provided by the Area Child Protection Committee relating to child protection and this could impact on the children if concerns were raised.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has an exceptional understanding of child development and uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework as a reference tool, which enables her to offer flexible, high quality care, which is suited to each child. Children enjoy a wide range of activities, which contributes to their creativity and imagination, such as playing doctors, playing with dolls, listening to music, singing songs, painting and printing. Children display high levels of confidence in their daily activities and are developing very good independence skills, as they busy themselves and become absorbed in their activities. Their early communication skills are extremely well supported through high quality interaction with the childminder as they begin to discuss their activities and talk about what they are doing. The childminder is skilful in encouraging children to make very good progress in all

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

areas of development. For example, children participate in a varied range of planned activities which extend their knowledge and creativity. For example, they collect leaves and make Autumn pictures, prepare seasonal cards and pictures, make chalk pictures for Halloween, sew and cook. Children are able to demonstrate what they know as the childminder uses skilful questioning to make them think. The childminder finds out about the children's skills, interests and needs and builds on this information effectively to help children to fulfil their potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides interesting and meaningful resources to promote a positive view of the wider world. Children enjoy books, dolls, dressing up and activity toys, they learn about different festivals and cultural foods. For example, they make fortune cookies for Chinese New Year. Children are valued and respected. Their individual needs are met as they follow their daily routine which is discussed with parents. Children behave very well. They understand right and wrong through consistent boundaries, praise and the age appropriate methods used by the childminder to manage behaviour. Children are considerate, share, take turns and are polite, remembering to say please and thank you. Children make positive relationships and enjoy each other's company. Realistic challenges are set by the childminder to help the children develop. This promotes their confidence and self-esteem. They feel relaxed and secure and able to make

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Helping children make a positive contribution

independent choices about what they want to do.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children benefit from a very strong partnership between the childminder and parents who exchange information frequently. They have daily discussions about the children and what they have been doing and are provided with detailed information about the service provided. The childminder writes notes to keep parents up to date with daily routines for babies and toddlers. This helps provide consistency in the children's care and keep parents well informed of how their child's needs are being met. References from parents reflect their complete satisfaction with the care provided.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children's needs are met through very effective organisation and good communication with parents. Space and equipment is prepared so that children can access resources easily and independently which enables them to make choices about their play. A balance of child led activities and organised play ensure children have a range of different enjoyable experiences whilst they are with the childminder. They benefit from routines which make them feel secure and relaxed. Children play, eat, sleep and rest as they need to. Documentation is stored securely and information shared appropriately with parents. All of the required policies and procedures are in place to help keep children healthy and safeguard their welfare. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge which she continues to update with relevant training. She has completed child protection training and holds a current first aid qualification.

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Organisation

Overall, the needs of all the children who attend are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to increase the range of toys and resources in order to ensure anti-discriminatory practice and to obtain parent's consent for emergency medical treatment. The childminder has provided additional resources to promote equal opportunities and has obtained parent's consents for emergency medical treatment.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • have regard to local authority Area Child Protection Committee procedures (ACPC)

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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