Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY293425 Unique Reference Number 27 January 2006 Inspection date Heather Tanswell Inspector

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Integrated Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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.

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2004 and was previously registered from 1999 until 2003. She lives with her husband and two primary-school aged children, on the Island of St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly. All areas of the property are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time and is currently minding 19 children from birth to 11 years old, all on a part-time or occasional basis on different days throughout the week. The childminder walks or drives to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group, takes children to the local library, and on country and seaside walks.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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. The childminder supports children with special educational needs. She is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Association (CCMA), National Childminding Association (NCMA) and the National Portage Association. She is a member of an approved childminding network and currently provides funded nursery education.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive because the childminder follows highly effective procedure and practices which meet children's physical, nutritional and health needs. The childminder gives high priority to ensuring that individual dietary needs are provided for and that all meals and snacks are healthy and nutritious. Children learn to make healthy well-balanced choices. With the childminder's support, they select from a range of fresh healthy foods to create their own meals. Children play a full part in food preparation, which helps them understand where foods come from, how they are put together and cooked to create tasty meals that appeal to their taste. A high level of parental involvement in the planning of menus contributes significantly to children's understanding of healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children gain an excellent understanding of hygiene and a desire to be independent in their personal care. They know which apron to put on for meals, which one to wear for messy play, and on which towel to dry their hands. They take themselves off to the toilet and wash their hands independently. Children's good health is assured as the childminder researches, in depth, any conditions that may affect them and keeps records of useful advice and guidance leaflets from health professionals for quick and easy reference.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children explore, test and develop physical control through their eager participation in stimulating indoor and outdoor experiences. Children use an extensive range of tools such as pencils, paintbrushes, scissors and knives as part of planned activities and daily routines to develop and refine their skills. For example, 3-year-olds trace over chalk characters using paint brushes to make a Chinese New Year banner, then delight in carefully making another of their own design. Children chop up foods and spread butter using knives with great skill as they help prepare meals. The childminder's excellent use of the outdoor environment means that children learn to test and develop their physical skills and stamina. Children climb about on the home built castle, learn ball control as they score goals and manage obstacles such as styles and boulders when they go out on long country walks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are very well cared for in clean and tidy premises made extremely welcoming to parents and their children. Stimulating, colourful and educational posters decorate the walls alongside displays of children's artwork throughout the home. Children are kept safe from harm on the premises and on outings because the childminder is vigilant and puts comprehensive health and safety procedures and practices in place. Regularly updated and detailed risk assessments

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

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. of the premises take into account special occasions where additional hazards may occur, for example from Christmas decorations and visitors to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected as the childminder has age appropriate safety measures in place. Older children play with construction kits that include small pieces in a gated area away from younger ones to avoid choking hazards. Doors are fitted with devices to stop them from banging shut and trapping fingers. Children explore and take risks while being carefully supervised. For example, they learn to negotiate obstacles such as boulders along the rocky coastline and learn how to keep themselves safe whilst playing on the beach. This allows children to learn some sense of danger and about how to protect themselves from harm. Children use an extensive range of resources that are of high quality and safe. Children access resources independently and equipment is kept clean and in a good state of repair and checked daily. The garden is equipped with a sturdy homemade castle and sand pit as well as a range of play equipment for

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected from harm by a childminder who has a very clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures and gives high priority to confidentiality and children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy their time with the childminder. They are extremely happy and settled in her company. Children show great enthusiasm for the planned activities made ready for their arrival. Children access a very wide range of materials to support their play and develop their own ideas at planned activities. Walks out into the local countryside and beaches significantly enhance and inspire children's learning and development. Children are eager to learn and illustrate maps to plan or record their outings. They stop and explore places and items of interest, for example, having a go on a rope swing suspended on a tree.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's independence and inclusion is promoted effectively through a balance of adult led and child initiated activities. They achieve so well because the childminder is highly skilled and uses her knowledge of how young children learn, and early year’s guidance documents such as Birth to three matters and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage effectively, to provide high quality care and education. Close and caring relationships increase children's sense of self-worth and trust. The childminder takes great care to work closely with parents and others who have an influential role in each child's life. For example, activities are planned in liaison with the local pre-school to ensure they are complimentary, to avoid the repetition of ideas, and to ensure children's interest in topics is maintained throughout the week.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Children make exceptional progress towards the early learning gaols because the childminder plans an exciting and worthwhile range of activities each session to extend children's knowledge, understanding and life skills. Children are confident, self-assured and self-disciplined playing effectively with the childminder or on their own. Children gain a well-developed respect for others and their beliefs, cultures and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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. traditions through activities that inspire their interest to know more about how other people communicate with each other and celebrate important festivals. Children enrich their store of knowledge encouraged by the childminder who makes imaginative use of Information Technology and reference books to gather information for topics. Children show high levels of independence for their age, great curiosity, imagination and concentration, and use all their senses to explore a stimulating range of new experiences. They record sounds that capture their interest out on walks, they sketch what they see and places they visit, and make maps of where they have been. Children correctly use numbers and phonic sounds in their play routinely and make up

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

their own rules for games such as dominoes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a keen knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage and how young children learn through play. She uses the guidance documents extremely well to plan to meet the needs of each child. Every session includes activities that support learning in all areas of the curriculum. She sets realistic targets that help children achieve as much as they can. A flexible approach to planning, the often one-to-one attention and an excellent balance between adult and child-led activities allows children to develop at their own pace. The childminder is perceptive to children's responses and uses questions very successfully to challenge children's thinking. As a result, children are able to answer correctly difficult mathematical questions. The childminder uses highly effective systems to observe, monitor, and record children's achievement and to plan experiences that help children take their next

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

steps in learning in full co-operation with parents and other professionals involved in the child's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children have extensive opportunities to learn about important aspects of their own and the culture of others through well-planned activities. Children learn with enthusiasm about their environment and history through visits and outings to local places of interest. Children quickly begin to recognise the differences in spoken and written languages and begin to connect some phrases with ones they already recognise and understand. For example, children hear and see 'Happy New Year' in Chinese and English then compare the two. Children with special needs and their families receive all the help and support they need from a well-qualified practitioner who has taken the time to attend specialist training. Additional resources suitable for particular needs are resourced and used effectively to promote children's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are respected and valued as individuals. Great care is taken to find out more about their family context, personal routines and stages of development to help them settle in well. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Children help without needing to be asked, are well-mannered, friendly and share jokes with the childminder and her family. Children's very good behaviour is largely due to the high expectations and clear boundaries set by the childminder, and also that children remain well occupied and entertained by the stimulating and unusual range of activities on offer. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is outstanding. The childminder actively seeks parent’s views about their child's need and stages of development on entry to the setting and beyond. Parents are kept fully involved with their child's learning. The childminder ensures parents know how their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

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. child is progressing and developing. Parents receive a copy of the next weeks planned activities and targets for learning with ideas for what they might do at home. Children benefit greatly from the involvement of their parents and other family members in projects, which contribute to their good health and development. A colourful photographic record of how much each child has enjoyed the planned activities is forwarded to parents on a regular basis, which helps them feel fully involved in their child's day and underpins their confidence that their child is happy and settled in the childminder's care.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit greatly from the care of a highly qualified and dedicated childcare worker who keeps fully up-to-date through training and membership of professional organisations. The childminder reflects on her practise and shows a clear sense of commitment to continual improvement. Children feel secure in the well-organised environment and on outings where group numbers are kept low to ensure their safety and enjoyment. Indoor and outdoor space is fully utilised to maximise play opportunities and learning. The childminder's use of the local environment to stimulate children's imagination and creativity is exceptional. All the legally required documentation, which contributes to the children’s health, safety and wellbeing, is in place, regularly reviewed and made ready for inspection in carefully presented files and folders.

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Organisation

Leadership and management are outstanding. The childminder has a clear vision for the development of nursery education and the achievement of all the children she cares for. She carefully manages the numbers of children she cares for at any one time to ensure they receive all the help and support required to help them take their next steps in learning. She works effectively with parents, the Network Co-ordinator and the Island's Early Years Office to enhance the quality of care and resources available for children. She takes advice from other professionals, implements any required changes promptly, and is proactive in seeking out additional help and ideas for improvement of planned activities to develop further the quality of care and nursery education. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Complaints 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. There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

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.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the care

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of nursery education are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the 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.

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