Crowlands Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 102293 Inspection date 06 February 2006 Inspector Lynne Stephanie Bowden

p.1

Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and one adult son, who is usually away at university, in Falmouth, Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, along with first floor bedrooms for sleep. 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 nine children, two after school and seven children under five, on a part time basis. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group, takes children to the

p.2

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 library and park. The childminder is involved with the local childminding support group. She is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Association (CCMA) and National Childminding Association (NCMA).

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are protected from infection illness, by the childminder following an appropriate exclusion policy, which includes keeping ill children comfortable until their parents arrive to collect them. She teaches children good hygiene routines, reminding them why they need to wash their hands and sets a good example herself, following effective nappy changing procedures and washing her hands appropriately. Children learn suitable independence regarding their personal hygiene. They are able to use the ground floor toilet independent.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Medicines can be stored safely and securely out of children's reach. The childminder has established safe systems to administer medicines with parental permission. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of first aid. She is generally well prepared for accidents, with an appropriate first aid kit available in kitchen and a travel kit in the car for outings. Required accident records are in place and countersigned by parents, they show children receive appropriate care after an accident. Though a system is in place to request parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment and advice, she has not used it for the children she is currently minding, so would be unable to react quickly if such treatment or advice were needed. Snack time is a sociable occasion, where children enjoy eating healthy fruit and vegetables. They learn about different foods and their benefits through discussion

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

with the childminder as they look at books. She seeks information about children's dietary and religious requirements and understands the importance of respecting these. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of basic food hygiene. Parents send in packed, healthy meals and snacks, which the childminder stores appropriately.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is familiar with and follows baby's routines. She responds quickly to signs of tiredness or hunger, so they settle quickly to sleep, comfortable, in a quiet bedroom. They wake refreshed and happy, with energy to play happily after eating their morning snacks. Children are confident and secure in the childminder's care. She has a warm, comfortable relationship with them, responding warmly to them with both conversation and gestures. She reassures them with appropriate cuddles and explanations on my arrival, so that they soon happily resume their play and activities.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

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

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from being cared for in a safe, clean and well maintained environment. They enjoy the freedom to play. All areas accessible to them have been made safe with appropriate equipment such as socket covers and safety gates. The childminder supervises children well and conscientiously, when baby's are sleeping she listens to them on a baby monitor and goes upstairs to physical check on them after 10 minutes, whilst older children are always within her hearing. She has a good range of procedures to keep children safe, such as an emergency plan including emergency contacts. Children are protected from the hazard of fire, through the appropriate siting of smoke detectors and fire blanket and practicing the fire drill, though these drills are not recorded. The gas boiler is serviced regularly, to keep children safe. The childminder has a range of suitable travel seats in her car

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and uses pushchairs and reins to keep children safe on outings. The childminder makes effective use of the local toy library and ensures that all equipment is regularly updated, sorted and checked for safety. Children enjoy safely playing with a good quality range of age appropriate toys and resources available. These are stored tidily in large plastic boxes, which children easily access. They are learning to keep play areas tidy as they help the childminder pack things away after use. Children’s well-being is safeguarded through the childminder's secure knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and issues. She has a clear policy in place, a good awareness of signs and symptoms of child abuse and knows what to do if she has concerns about a child.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder successfully balances the needs of the age range that she minds. All children are content and happy. They enjoy participating in the activities, which she plans on a daily basis, taking account of children's interests and levels of development, she supports a range of language development. Responding warmly to the baby's gurgles, facial and physical signals and encouraging their attempts to vocalise. She encourages toddler's developing speech, listening carefully to them, praising their attempts, so they confidently try new words. All enjoy looking at and discussing books with each other and the childminder, who introduces new words and explains their meaning. Children learn new words and become aware of and discuss foods and their benefits, through the childminder's effective use of books. They enthusiastically, learn to recognise and identify colours and number patterns as

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they learn to play dominoes, with attractive, large dominoes. The childminder instinctively ensures that babies feel involved and can watch older children's play, as they sit on her knee and in the bouncy chair and explore the suitable range of toys, such as stacking rings and rattles. She makes effective use of

p.4

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 local facilities, taking children to the toy library and toddler groups, so they meet and socialise with others.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn about diversity through their daily access to and use of multi cultural resources. They enjoy playing with puzzles, dolls and looking at books, which show different races. The childminder incorporates sign language in with singing songs as matter of course s and provides activities and resources to help children learn about and develop positive attitudes to people with disabilities. She works closely with parents and other agencies to meet children's needs and has attended training in sign language. The childminder establishes effective relationships with parents. Parents are informed about their children's daily routines and progress verbally, when they collect their children and through written diaries for babies. Consequently carers are able to provide consistent care to children. She uses contracts and provides parents with comprehensive information about herself, her routines, policies and procedures.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

These include her system to record any complaints and her complaints policy, but this has not yet updated it to include new legislation. Children behave well. The childminder ensures that they are constructively and happily occupied. She encourages them to share and teaches them simple rules of games as they learn to play dominoes. She has a clear policy and comprehensive discipline procedure regarding behaviour management. She uses positive discipline, reward, example, consistent and praise to encourage good behaviour.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from being cared for by an experienced childminder. Play space is well organised, with sufficient space for children to play. Toys are stored tidily in large plastic boxes, which children easily access. The childminder makes effective use of local facilities. She successfully juggles a number of part time places and meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.5

Organisation

Most documentation necessary for the welfare of children are in place and stored securely but some needs updating. The childminder has not requested parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment and advice, for all children.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At her last inspection the childminder agreed to provide resources which positively promote people with disabilities and to ensure that any visitor to the home is never left unattended with children.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

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 now have opportunities to develop positive attitudes to people with disabilities through the activities and resources, such as displays, which the childminder provides. The childminder keeps children safe by never leaving them unattended with visitors.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints to report made to Ofsted since 1 April 2004. 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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 that systems to seek medical consents are used regarding all children • update complaints procedure to comply with recent legislation

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6