The Magna Carta School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 125258 Inspection date 12 January 2006 Inspector Melissa Tickner

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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 2000. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 12 and 6, in Tunbridge wells, Kent. The whole 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 five children at any one time and currently has eight children on roll. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has two cats.

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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 childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young children are beginning to develop a satisfactory awareness of being healthy through wiping hands with wet wipes before and after meals. The childminder uses appropriate practices to promote good hygiene, such as use of individual bed linen and use of gloves for nappy changing. This helps contribute to keeping children healthy. However, systems to ensure nappy changing follows best procedures, dummies are removed when dropped on the floor and food is tested for temperature do not follow best practice. These aspects do not help minimise the spread of infection. Children are developing healthy eating habits. They are offered daily healthy cooked meals by the childminder, such as shepherds pie, along with healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit and raisins. Children eat their meals seated at the table with the childminder supporting them. This ensures children are well nourished and

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Helping children to be healthy

developing an understanding of healthy eating. There are no children on roll with dietary requirements. However, the childminder demonstrates a clear awareness of the importance of respecting and catering to these, as appropriate. Children drink water to stay hydrated. Children enjoy a good range of physical play opportunities. They walk to school most days and enjoy outdoor play, such as playing in the garden in the summer months and local outings. They also enjoy indoor physical play activities, such as dancing to music and use of equipment at toddler groups. As a result, they are developing a sense of enjoyment of physical play and are beginning to develop an understanding that physical exercise contributes to a healthy lifestyle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children have access to a good range of toys and resources, many of which are organised around the room to encourage children to choose for themselves. There is a greater range available but is not stored so it is accessible to children. They are rotated regularly to ensure variety. The childminder is considering reviewing this to develop ways to allow children to self select from a greater range. Children are cared for in a welcoming home environment which is safe and appropriately organised to meet their needs. The childminder completes a health and safety checklist regularly to ensure the home is fully safe. Children are supervised well and their safety is promoted in practice. For example, the childminder encourages children not to jump on the settee or throw their toys. As a result, children are developing an awareness of keeping themselves safe and they are well safeguarded in the childminder's care.

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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 Children are safeguarded effectively through the childminder's clear systems for keeping them safe on outings and when playing in the garden. The childminder has a very clear knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow should she develop concerns. As a result, children's welfare and well-being is considered a high priority and is promoted by the childminder at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled, happy and involved. Their needs are met well by the childminder as she supports them in their play. They are enthusiastic and absorbed in their activities. For example, they enjoy being read a story by the childminder, dressing up and building with the duplo. Children are supported as they chat about what they are doing. This helps ensure children feel valued and secure. The childminder actively plans and prepares for the day. Activity sheets identify planned activities and aspects to consider, such as key vocabulary, resources needed, learning outcomes and the opportunity to evaluate. She has also completed a daily plan which helps ensure resources are fully rotated and activities and toys are varied on a daily basis. These aspects help contribute to ensuring children are able to enjoy and achieve whilst at the childminder's. Children enjoy some learning opportunities, such as looking at colours and counting

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

whilst playing with the trains. Children are offered plenty of encouragement during their play and they are supported at their level by the childminder. There is a good range of activities made available to children. They take the lead in making choices with their activities and the childminder encourages this. For example, they choose the trains and duplo, help themselves to books and make choices from the dressing up box. They decide when they wish to start the creative activity which is set out for them, ready to use. All of these aspects help contribute to children enjoying, achieving and making progress whilst in the childminder's care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well cared for as individuals. The childminder encourages and includes children in all activities and helps them to feel valued and important. The childminder recognises and values the children's home lives and talks with them about their families. Consequently, children feel settled and secure in the childminder's care. There are a range of resources promoting diversity and many more are regularly borrowed from the toy library to offer a good variety. This helps to promote and teach children about the diversity of our society. Children are encouraged to behave well through good use of praise, encouragement of good manners, sharing and use of clear explanations. The childminder manages behaviour issues through a firm but fair approach and with reasonable and age appropriate expectations. Children are beginning to learn about good behaviour and this helps contribute to building their self-esteem and confidence.

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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 There are effective systems to work with parents. They are worked with closely and are extremely happy with the care offered. A number of positive references from parents support this. Parents are offered a contact book when their children first start and are provided with a good range of information, such as the service statement and policies. The childminder is also looking at other aspects to continue building on a positive partnership with parents, such as developing journals, complete with photographs, to portray the children's time with her. These aspects help ensure children's needs can be met and parents are able to receive a full range of information about their children's care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder works from a welcoming and well organised home environment which meets the needs of the children well. She has an extremely well organised set of documentation in place. It is well stored and organised and includes information for parents, such as a detailed service statement, policies and procedures and qualification certificates. The childminder has completed an NVQ level 3 qualification and part of the Cache level 3 childminding qualification. A number of short training courses have also been completed. She is a member of a local network and the local childminding group. She is committed to attending training and has systems in place to review her own strengths and weaknesses as a childminder. For example, completing and regularly updating action plans with identified areas to develop and improve. As a result, of these aspects the childminder is able to demonstrate how

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Organisation

she has made progress and intends to move forward to improve and build on the care she offers to all children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to record times of attendance in the register and obtain written permission from parents regarding medication before administration. The register is now completed appropriately, with children's times of arrival and departure and written permission is in place for children for medication such as Calpol. For other medications a written sheet is completed on the day of the administration with all relevant details. This ensures that children's health and safety is given appropriate priority and all required documentation is in place.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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): • ensure hygienic practices are in place with regards to dummies, nappy changing and testing the temperature of food • continue to develop and build on children's ability to self select their own toys

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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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