Hindley Junior and Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 106415 Inspection date 13 May 2005 Inspector Yvonne Campbell

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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 1997. She lives with her husband and 2 children aged 14 and 13 years in Stapleton, Bristol, close to Blackberry Hill Hospital and the University of the West of England, Glenside campus. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and 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 eight children of various ages on a part-time basis. The childminder attends a pre-school group at Little Hayes Nursery on a regular basis.

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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 The family have a Doberman dog which is kept in the kitchen. Minded children do not have contact with the animal. The childminder is a member of the East Bristol Childminding Network and is working towards the Bristol Standard.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder has regular hygienic routines and practices which ensures children are cared for in a healthy home environment. She cleans the home, disinfecting the appropriate infection risk areas in the kitchen and bathroom. Items of shared use such as toys and changing mats are cleaned between use with anti-bacterial solution to prevent the spread of infection amongst children. Children are encouraged to be responsible for their own hygiene needs. The childminder reminds them to wash their hands after using the toilet. They know not to share drinking utensils and the childminder provides separate and distinctive looking individual drinking beakers for each child so they easily recognise their own. The childminder makes the appropriate arrangements to keep children safe and healthy in the proximity of pets. The dog is inoculated and has monthly flea treatment. Children do not have contact with dog.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have a nutritious and balanced diet. The childminder has good understanding of nutrition for growing children and provides a varied range of meals and snacks to promote their healthy physical development. Children eat attractively presented fruit and raisins for snacks. They handle and talk about the food as they eat. The childminder provides satisfying protein and carbohydrate based light lunches such as sandwiches, scrambled eggs or beans on toast. Children feel free to ask for more food if they are still hungry. Special dietary needs are met well. The childminder has the relevant information about the kinds of food individual children eat. She is flexible and plans meals to ensure that children who have expressed dietary needs such as vegetarian or specific meat prohibition only have those foods which comply with their parent's instructions. Children are beginning to understand the value of healthy eating. The

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Helping children to be healthy

childminder encourages children to try small amounts of different food. She talks to them about where things come from and why many different foods are good to be eaten.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has sound understanding of safety issues for young children. She carries out risk assessments to ensure that children are cared for in safe and secure

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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 surroundings within the home and during trips. Safety features such as smoke alarms and safety gates are in place on the premises. Children are familiar with the procedure for leaving the home quickly if there is an emergency. The childminder has regular fire drill practices, she ensures all exits remain accessible and that children know which door to go through when instructed. Children are protected when travelling in motor vehicles. The childminder provides a selection of age appropriated seats to secure, support and keep children safe when they are transported from home to community resources. The childminder is helping children to develop their own awareness of potential hazards. Children are appropriately excluded from areas of high risk. They know that they do not use the kitchen. Toddler age children experience and benefit from minor

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

risk taking such as learning to negotiate steps. They also have good awareness of space as they bend crawl through confined areas such as under the dining table which they enjoy using as a enclosed play space. Children know not to stand up in a height restricted area. Children are protected from the risk of abuse through ongoing observations by the childminder. She knows some signs and symptoms of abuse and she makes sure that children are not left in the care of unauthorised adults during childminding. However, although discussed with parents, minor pre-existing injuries are not recorded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are confident and outgoing. They form supportive relationships and relate well to each other and to adults. Children are purposefully supported during play. The childminder engages and supports them by joining in and asking appropriate questions to make them think. Language is extended through discussion. Children negotiate with each other without conflict and are involved in good quality imaginative group play. The easy to access resources stimulate their ideas and they spontaneously develop their play. The childminder fosters children's creativity by allowing them the freedom to use some household furniture such as tables, chairs and cushions to create stable structures. Children use a large table as a den and chairs are arranged as obstacles for moving around on hands and knees. Children enjoy the challenge of learning how things work. They are motivated, concentrating for reasonable periods as they manipulate and successfully join

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

connecting play materials. Children are also experimenting by using wooden bricks to build balanced structures. Babies enjoy individual attention during interaction with the childminder. Children have frequent opportunities to develop social skills when they meet with larger groups of children at toddler groups. Children anticipate and enjoy playing in different surroundings. They also benefit from the availability of more space for energetic play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a thorough understanding of each child's care requirements. Through observation and discussion with parents, the childminder has developed good awareness of children's characteristics and play preferences. She provides universal activities which are adapted to provide varying levels of challenge, according to each child's ability. Children are developing a good understanding of people in the community. The childminder provides an inviting range of toys such as ethnic dolls and books with positive images of different cultures. As they look at books with people who have freckles and or glasses, children are able to consider differences and similarities between themselves and others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder understands the need to work closely with parents and professionals to meet children's special needs. She has given careful thought to the methods used for communicating with children who have limited speech and she helps children to express their needs through basic baby signing. The childminder has some understanding of the makaton sign language method for older children. Children are confident and have high self esteem. The childminder gives them lots of praise and encouragement, and gives children time to express their feelings. They readily accept new challenges during play. Children behave very well. The childminder has a calm and patience approach when dealing with unacceptable behaviour. She discusses the boundaries with children and makes the appropriate corrections to moderate behaviour if necessary. Acceptable behaviour is recognised and children are give positive affirmation including smiles and hugs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works very closely with parents and shares information with parents to provide children with continuity of care. As well as daily feed back, the childminder provides basic written information of how babies and younger children spend their day. Parents have a clear understanding of the procedures carried out by the childminder as they are given a typed copy of the childminder's care statements and policies.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has the relevant training and experience to care for children. She has completed the required childminder training and has a current first aid certificate. The childminder is committed to improving her child care practices. She seeks out and attends supplementary training courses on subjects such as equal opportunities and food hygiene. She is also working towards becoming a "link childminder" offering advice and support to others. The childminder has suitable procedures to protect children from people who are not

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 vetted. Children are closely supervised at all times and they are never left in the care of other adults. The childminder has contingency plans in place in case of an emergency. Careful planning of drop off and collection times ensures that adult to child ratios are maintained as required and children have sufficient support and individual attention during play. Space and resources are organised well to meet children's needs for space and provide different areas for play and rest. The sizable lounge is thoughtfully organised for play before children arrive. Additional toys are accessible in the adjoining toy room and under supervision, children can go to the room and choose what they want to play with. Children enjoy outside play in the garden. Two safe and comfortable upstairs rooms are used for sleeping.

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Organisation

Childminding policies and information are clearly typed and well set out in an accessible working folder which is available to parents. Personal information is stored securely and parents only have access to information on their own children ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has completed a suitable first aid course. Children are now protected as she is able to competently deal with any minor injuries they may sustain during play. The childminder has further developed her knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities. She enables children to learn about difference through a suitable range of play resources. Children's safety have been improved as the childminder has increases her knowledge of child protection. However, this is not comprehensive as the child protection procedure is not fully complied with in practice.

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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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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 To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • further extend compliance with the child protection procedure by making sure that all existing injuries are recorded and discussed with parents.

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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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