St Mary's Community Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 110955 Inspection date 23/09/2010 Inspector Lynne Lewington

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since 2004. She lives with her two children in Sherbourne St John, Basingstoke. The children have access to the ground floor of the property for their play and the bedrooms for rest. A secure garden is available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years; no more than three may be in the early years age range. Currently, there are three children on roll. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder attends local children's activities and can take and collect children from the local school and pre-school. The family has two pet cats and two rabbits.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children benefit from the childminder's enthusiasm and knowledgeable approach to her work enabling them to make good progress. They enjoy a broad range of activities both in the home and the local community. The childminder's commitment to her role is evident through her interaction with the children, her record keeping and her enthusiasm to develop her knowledge and skills. She uses a system of self-evaluation to reflect upon her practice, it is accurately overall, and is well placed to maintain continuous improvement. Children's welfare is safeguarded well, overall.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 extend the record of risk assessment to cover anything with which a child may come into contact.

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the early years provision

The childminder's good awareness of child protection helps to ensure children are safeguarded in her care. She demonstrates a clear knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the action she would take if she was concerned about a child in her care. A clear child protection policy informs parents of her role in reporting concerns to the appropriate services. The childminder understands her role in risk assessment and has identified risks within the setting and on outings; This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 for example, children are always closely supervised when passing through the small glassed conservatory area, although this is not included on the risk assessment record. Nevertheless, her record of risk assessment meets requirements. A fire drill is undertaken regularly, enabling the childminder and children to learn to evacuate the premises swiftly in an emergency.

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the early years provision

Good use is made of all the available space providing children with a safe and secure play environment. A broad range of good quality toys and equipment are available to the children enabling them to make choices in their play and which promote their learning and development well.

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the early years provision

Equality and diversity is promoted well. Information is gathered from parents enabling the childminder to fully understand individual children's needs. If children learn English as an additional language, the childminder ensures she gathers appropriate words from parents in the child's language.

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the early years provision

The childminder seeks parents' views of her service and reflects carefully on her work. She plans the development of her practice well. She has completed a home- based childcare course and is considering further learning opportunities. She evaluates her practice accurately overall, to pick up most areas for development. The childminder has an awareness of the importance of developing positive partnerships with others involved with the children she cares for. She recognises the importance of sharing information about the children's progress and interests and is developing this aspect of her service.

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the early years provision

The childminder has excellent relationships with parents. Children's learning journals are attractive, informative, interesting documents which reflect children?s progress clearly for parents to see. This excellent two-way communication helps the childminder understand children's home interests, which she then builds on during the day. Parents are positive about the service offered, they comment on the excellent relationships she builds and the fun activities she provides.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare is of paramount importance to the childminder. She encourages them to learn safe behaviours through role modelling and gentle reminders. Her close supervision enables them to explore and develop their skills safely. Children benefit from many activities in the garden. They frequently visit parks and undertake nature trails where they collect items which they later find out about. Children learn the importance of good hygiene routines to prevent the spread of germs. They enjoy food provided by their parents, providing continuity in their diets. The routine to the day provides the children with stimulation, activity, regular nourishment and rest. This simple routine helps them to feel happy, secure and comfortable in the childminder's care.

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and outcomes for children

Children experience excellent opportunities to enjoy and achieve and develop extremely good skills for the future. The childminder is guided by the children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 interests. Challenging learning opportunities relevant to the children's abilities enable them to continuously learn and develop. On a nature walk they are asked to look for specific items, and talk and share their finds on their return. Young children explore the play environment independently. For example, a young child enjoys pushing a shopping trolley around the house and collecting items in the trolley. The childminder comments on the activity in simple language encouraging the child to copy her words, increasing understanding and language development. Awareness of quantity, size, position and shape increases as the child collects items. Good quality books reflecting fact and fiction topics are easily available to

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and outcomes for children

even the youngest children. Children take part in craft activities, cook, sing, dance and make music, developing their creative skills. Knowledge and understanding of the world develops as the children are actively encouraged to treat the family cats and rabbits respectfully as they stroke them and talk about the animal's food. Nature walks, growing tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and sunflowers in the garden and picking pears from the pear tree all provide young children with a wealth of experiences which encourage development.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn to use good manners, to share, take turns and be kind to each other through the childminder's good example, gentle reminders and opportunities to play games with other young children. Physical development develops well as the children move confidently around the home, use resources available to them and also visit children's soft play areas, use parks and play in the garden. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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