Devonshire Junior Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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141292 Unique Reference Number 16 May 2006 Inspection date Sarah Fletcher Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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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

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 registered in 2001. She lives with her husband, who is also a registered childminder, an adult child, her mother and two children aged 13 and 14 years in Bletchley, close to Milton Keynes. Childminding takes place on the ground floor, with the use of an upstairs bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder may care for a maximum of six children at any one time and she is currently minding four children under five years all day and two children over five years after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines. They follow and understand simple good health and hygiene practices, washing their hands before eating, after using the toilet and after playing outside. The childminder helps younger children use wet wipes to clean their hands before eating. She protects children from the spread of infection by following an effective sickness policy and using anti-bacterial sprays or wipes to clean surfaces and changing mats. Nappy changing takes place in accordance with each individual child’s needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. She ensures she meets parents' wishes and children’s preferences, together with any religious or dietary requirements to nourish children in her care. Parents provide their own children's meals and agree to the provision of snacks and occasional sandwiches as back up to any unwanted meals. Children learn about healthy living, through regular physical play and activity. They go to the park, play in the garden with a wide range of equipment or enjoy ball games outside in the cul-de-sac area with the childminder's registered husband. Children rest and sleep according to their needs and parents' wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming child friendly home. The childminder provides a secure indoor and outside environment, which is clean and well maintained. Children receive close supervision by being within sight or hearing of the childminder at all times. Children use a good range of suitable and safe equipment, toys and resources, which are easily accessible and carefully checked for wear and tear by the childminder. Toys and equipment are appropriate for children’s age and stage; babies and toddlers do not have access to toys or other articles that may cause them harm. Children are safe and secure in the childminder’s care, as she reduces most risks and hazards and minimises dangers within the home and outdoors. Children can safely access a fully enclosed rear garden, however, garden tools are accessible to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Older children learn about fire safety and evacuating in case of a fire, because the childminder has a plan in place, which she shares with them and helps them to understand. Children learn to keep themselves safe and avoid accidental injury by following the childminders guidance on road safety when outdoors and by not running around inside the home in case they slip, trip or fall. Children are protected because the childminder is developing her understanding of child protection. She has some awareness of her responsibilities and knows about recording information confidentiality. However, the childminder has a limited knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and concerns and the procedures to follow if an allegation is made against the childminder or her family, and she does not record children's pre-existing injuries.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children develop confidence, independence and self-esteem, responding to the challenges the childminder provides. They show interest in what they do and ask questions, such as asking why the inspector is using her computer. Children use initiative and acquire new knowledge and skills, making a variety of art and craft ideas together. They make positive relationships with adults and each other and begin to distinguish between right and wrong, understanding acceptable behaviour from an early age.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder finds out what children know and can do when they first attend by talking to parents and observing children when they are playing. Children settle into the childminders care gradually, over a period of several days or weeks, ensuring they are confident in her care and parents start to build trusting relationships. Both young and new children settle well, as the childminder and other children make them feel welcome from their first visit.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from continued support from the childminder and her husband, enjoying shared art and craft activities, such as making pom-pom animals or paper plate masks, painting, colouring and cooking. Children access and use a wide range of toys, resources and equipment, both inside and outdoors, which increases their feelings of confidence and helps to initiate their own play. The childminder enjoys interacting with the younger children and spends lots of time with them to help the children learn through their play. For example, she helps children to learn to count, name colours or begin to dress themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children move about the home confidently, behave well and know their boundaries and ground rules. The childminder uses positive strategies for managing behaviour, which encourages children to learn to understand self-control and encourages them to feel valued and respected as individuals. The childminder meets each child's individual needs and follows their own routine after careful discussion with the child's parents. Children receive appropriate support and all children are valued as individuals. They are aware of their own needs and the needs of others, as the childminder encourages children to respect each other. The childminder increases her levels of care to cater for children's specific needs, maintaining good relationships with parents to provide continuity of care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about the local community as they walk around the neighbourhood. The childminder ensures children have some experiences to enhance their understanding of others through activities; however, she has a limited range of resources to increase children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world. Children benefit from the two-way communication system developing between parents and the childminder, which enhances children’s care, learning and play. Information exchanges take place through individual daily discussions.

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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 feel at home and at ease within the family environment and play happily in the childminder's care. They know routines well and are settled in the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The childminder's understanding of children's developmental needs benefits children's individual care. She organises time well and provides a good balance of indoor and outdoor play, which extends children's learning and development.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures are shared with parents at induction and the childminder has obtained some consents towards maintaining children's care. Children's documentation is mostly in place, however, the childminder has not recorded children’s attendance accurately on a daily basis and she has not obtained all required written permissions from parents.

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Organisation

Overall, 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 previous inspection the childminder was asked to request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment; to record any significant injuries that children have on arrival and ask parents to sign the record and to provide parents with written information about the childminder's service.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has started to improve her documentation by including written information about the childminder's service in her induction pack for parents, but she has not yet obtained all required written permissions from parents or begun to record children's pre-existing injuries. Both these areas remain recommendations at this inspection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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.

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s):

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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 • ensure an accurate record of children’s daily attendance is maintained and all required written permissions are obtained from parents • ensure garden tools are made inaccessible to children and pre-existing injuries are recorded and signed by parents • improve knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and concerns and the procedures to follow if allegation is made against the childminder or her family • improve resources that promote positive images of other cultures, gender and disabilities

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The quality and standards of the care

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 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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