Benwick Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 110627 Inspection date 09/03/2011 Inspector Cathy Hill

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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 was registered in 1988. She lives with her husband and adult child in Fleet, Hampshire. Children have access to the ground floor of the home for play activities with an upstairs bedroom used for sleeping only. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The property is within close proximity to schools, shops and parks. The family has a dog and keep fish. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three children in this age range at various times during the week. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 have excellent relationships with the childminder and make good progress with their learning in her care. The childminder dedicates her time to ensuring all children are happy and she sensitively supports them as they play. Overall, the childminder's documentation effectively supports all areas of her practice, although some lacks a little detail. Inclusive practice is positively promoted and the childminder's capacity for continuous improvement is good. She has addressed recommendations made at her last inspection and since then has also accessed further training to develop her own knowledge and skills.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve children's learning records by showing their next steps in learning in all areas  improve documentation by including Ofsted's contact address within the complaints procedure.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her time and resources well to provide children with daily activities, both inside and outside the home, which promote skill development in all areas. Children are actively occupied and enjoy exploring the wide variety of age appropriate toys which are accessible to them at their level. They have ample space to play and move freely between the kitchen, where they help make cakes, to the living room where they play with small world resources, such as the play till. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Their welfare is safeguarded by the childminder, who understands her role and responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has a written child protection policy and also maintains literature on file regarding safeguarding for reference purposes. Children play safely as they are well supervised and the childminder has identified and minimised hazards within the home. Safety gates are used to

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the early years provision

prohibit unaccompanied access to the stairs and the premises are kept secure. Risk assessment records are maintained for both the home and outings children are taken on.

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the early years provision

All children are included in play and the childminder treats all children with equal concern. She works positively in partnership with parents and others involved in children's care and education to ensure children's individual needs are well known. Children benefit from these established communication links as it means consistent practice can be applied to meeting their needs. Parents receive daily feedback about their child and contribute to children's development records. They are very happy with the care their children receive and confirm they are always kept well informed about their children and that, at the childminder's, 'everyday [for their child] is a fun day'. The childminder has a range of policies and procedures to support her practice that she shares with parents. For example, she has policies relating to equal opportunities, behaviour management and complaints, although the complaints procedure does not include Ofsted's contact address. Since her last

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the early years provision

inspection the childminder has updated her first aid qualification and completed part of the diploma in home-based childcare. She has completed a self-evaluation of her practice and has identified priorities for improvement, such as further training, developing her learning records and sorting her toy provision.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave very well and play amicably with each other. They happily share resources, such as modelling tools, and patiently wait for the childminder's help when making cakes. They turn to her readily for support showing that secure trusting relationships have been established. They have excellent manners and the childminder teaches children to respect and consider others. Children listen when the childminder talks to them and older children gently remind younger children not to touch cake making equipment until the childminder has everything ready. They are confident and proud of their achievements, calling the childminder to tell her they have made a 'lady' out of dough using a shape cutter. The childminder praises and encourages children's efforts thereby boosting their self-esteem. Children learn how to keep themselves safe through discussion with the childminder. She teaches them about road safety when out, and indoors children

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and outcomes for children

carefully get down from chairs, for example when they have finished cake making. The childminder's policies and procedures help protect children from illness and infection. The childminder wears gloves when changing nappies and children wash their hands before cooking. Children have their own towel to dry their hands with their photograph/name label by their towel hook. The childminder works in partnership with parents to meet children's individual dietary requirements and to ensure children have healthy diets. They have daily opportunities for fresh air and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 exercise and are able to develop their physical skills using play equipment in the garden and at the parks they are taken to.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is very kind and caring and is committed to providing children with good opportunities to develop their future skills through fun, meaningful play activities. She maintains learning journey records for children in which she tracks their development in all areas. Written observations are maintained and some next steps shown, although these do not link to all of the different learning areas. Regular outings with the childminder help develop children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world. They learn about the natural world through visits to the farm, walks in the woods and along the canal where they feed the ducks and view frogs spawn. They have learnt about plants through activities, such as growing cress. Children thoroughly enjoy craft activities and absorb themselves in modelling with dough, using cutters, rolling pins and plastic knives to shape the dough. They get excited at the prospect of making cakes and help the childminder

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and outcomes for children

mix the cake ingredients together and spoon the mixture into individual cake cases they have set out. They show an understanding of how things work as they press the buttons on the till and as they press the keys on the small world keyboard to make different sounds play. They use their imagination well as they put small plastic toy boxes on their heads and go around roaring like lions on the prowl. They have fun making masks sticking on decorations of their choice. They show a motivation to learn as they ask the childminder how a spring loaded car toy works. She carefully demonstrates and explains how it works and then children eagerly and successfully try it themselves, showing they have listened carefully to, and understood, the instructions. Children laugh and giggle as they play because they are very happy, relaxed and are allowed to follow their own interests, which reduces the incidents when they may feel frustrated.

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and outcomes for children

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 2 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 2

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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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