Whitmore High School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 102239 Inspection date 20 February 2006 Inspector Linda Janet Chauveau

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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 satisfactory. 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 2 primary-school-aged children, in Truro, Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor, plus first floor bathroom is used for childminding. There is an enclosed patio area for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time and is currently minding 9 children, before and after school, on a part-time basis, and on different days throughout the week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She takes children to the local park.

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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 supports children with special educational needs. She is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Association (CCMA). She is a member of the Truro childminding network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for in a clean and comfortable home. They are beginning to learn the importance of keeping healthy through hygiene routines such as covering their mouths when coughing and hand washing after visiting the toilet. The lack of individual hand drying facilities in the bathroom means that children are at risk from cross infection by using a shared hand towel. Suitable documentation and procedures such as basic accident and medication record keeping systems ensure that children stay healthy. The childminder has received first aid training; however, her certificate has expired and must be renewed. The childminder has access to a first aid kit in order to support children if they have an accident, however its contents require checking and updating. The childminder respects parents' wishes regarding children's diet. All children bring their own meals and are encouraged to make healthy choices from the food provided

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Helping children to be healthy

by their parents. They are able to access drinks regularly in order to quench their thirst. The childminder makes sure that she is aware of children's individual dietary needs through the information that she gets from parents at the time of registration. Children learn about keeping healthy through regular exercise. They enjoy lots of fresh air as they walk to local schools and nurseries. They regularly visit local parks to develop physical strength by playing football and using large, challenging equipment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are looked after in a secure environment, which is organised to enable them to move around safely and freely on the ground floor. They choose from a variety of age-appropriate resources stored in toy boxes at child height. All toys and equipment are kept in a safe and suitable condition. Children benefit from a sensible range of safety measures, for example by the use of safety gates and fireguards in the home. There is sufficient fire safety equipment in place and the childminder has thought about how she would evacuate her home in an emergency in order to protect children. When walking outdoors children are kept safe by the use of wrist straps, and learn about personal safety by being taught how to cross the road in safety. Children are protected from possible abuse or neglect. The childminder has a sound basic awareness of types of abuse and the signs to look for. She has the relevant

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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 publications, and is aware of action to take and agencies to contact if necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are relaxed and confident in the childminder's care. They settle quickly and enthusiastically take part in a planned craft activity to make papier-mâché pigs. They enjoy using glue spreaders to stick newspaper onto balloons as the first part of their project. Younger children are encouraged to work together to build roadways from large construction sets and to sing songs from memory whilst watching educational videos. The childminder reads familiar stories to children who enjoy joining in with repeated phrases such as "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man". Children become independent as they choose between a variety of toys, books and activities, which appeal to all. The childminder does not usually plan a set routine for children; she has a flexible attitude to each day. During school holidays some structured activities are offered to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

make sure that all ages are catered for and that children will be able to feel that they have achieved a result by the end of the week. For example, children will be making and decorating kites to fly in the park. She is aware of the early years guidance for younger children, the Birth to three matters framework. However, she does not use this to plan developmental activities for younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have close and friendly relationships with the childminder, who knows them well. They respond well to her firm and consistent attitude. As a result, children are relaxed and confident, and they know what is expected of them. Children learn self-discipline, they co-operate and support each other; younger children learn to share toys. Children learn about their local community as they visit nearby parks and walk to the local church to explore the grounds. They have access to limited resources, mainly books and dolls, to learn about the wider world, other cultures and lifestyles. The childminder has a sound awareness of procedures to follow to support children with additional needs. She is confident in her ability to seek specialist information and liaise with outside agencies should this be required in order to provide appropriate care. The childminder has relaxed relationships with parents. She ensures that regular

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Helping children make a positive contribution

verbal exchanges of information keep parents informed about their child. Children benefit from the satisfactory understanding the childminder has of their individual needs gained from information provided in registration forms and by on-going discussions with parents.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a home that is organised to enable them to play with confidence and independence. The childminder uses sensible levels of supervision to ensure that children are monitored appropriately at all times. Children make good use of the indoor areas and benefit from regular outings. Suitable, but basic, paperwork is used to promote the care and welfare of children. Required records are shared appropriately with parents. Children's attendance on a daily basis is recorded to show arrival and departure times. The childminder occasionally attends her childminding support network group to update her knowledge. She has not yet made use of documentation provided by local childcare services support staff to assess and evaluate her standards of practice. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has improved children's safety when playing outside by securing the patio area from the rest of her garden, and by making sheds and outside taps safe and secure. In order to improve children's health and safety indoors, she has devised an emergency evacuation procedure to follow in the event of a fire and now informs parents about her exclusion policy for children that are sick or infectious. Parents now know how to make a complaint and following recent changes to regulations, the childminder now has a complaints log in place.

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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

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 satisfactory. 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

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that first aid training is current and that contents of first aid kit are checked and replaced as necessary • provide individual means of hand drying to reduce the risk of cross infection • plan activities to help children's development in line with the aspects and approach described in the DfES publication "Birth to three matters".

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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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