The Blue Coat CofE School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 137133 Inspection date 17/03/2011 Inspector Denys Rasmussen

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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 1993. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and 11 with her mother and father in Beckenham within the London borough of Bromley. The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight years at any one time; of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group and is currently minding eight children on part-time basis; three children in the early years age range and four children aged five to eight years. When she is working with her co-childminder they can care for a maximum of 10 children under eight years at any one time at any one time; of these, not more than six may be in the early years age group. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding, there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has two pet cats and two pet gerbils. The childminder is

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Description of the childminding

registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Highly effective organisation between the childminder and her co-childminder ensure children make excellent progress in their learning and development in relation to their starting points. This is as a result of the childminder recognising children's uniqueness and specific needs, enabling her to provide a tailored learning environment. Her effective policies and procedures that reflect her excellent practice ensure children are able to play in a safe, secure and stimulating environment. Her valuable partnership with parents and others has a significant impact on children's progress. The childminder's self-evaluation and capacity to make continuous improvements has ensured she has been able to attain exceptionally high standards.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing children's awareness of communications systems such as pictorial and Braille.

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the early years provision

The childminder's excellent risk assessment process, along with her policies and procedures, reflect her exemplary practice, which enable children to play safely This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 both indoors, outside and on outings. The childminder has a comprehensive awareness of safeguarding issues and is well aware of her responsibility in protecting children. She ensures her knowledge of child protection is up-dated by completing training and knows what action to take if she has concerns about a child's welfare. Children's care is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation and record keeping ensuring the childminder has detailed information to protect the children's health and safety.

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the early years provision

The childminder's home is conducive to learning, organised with good quality age appropriate play resources and learning experiences which promote a positive view of diversity. For example, by celebrating a variety of festivals and traditions and providing play resources that reflect positive images of gender, race, culture and disability. The childminder has a good understanding of how to help children to achieve taking into account barriers to learning. She ensures there is no gender stereotyping of toys and activities and that children with specific needs are well supported to be able to participate in all activities. For example, she uses simple sign language and learns words and phrases in a child's home language to support children with English as an additional language.

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the early years provision

The childminder has high expectations of herself and has a strong commitment to continual improvement and to provide an inclusive service. Children, parents, other providers and her co-childminder are involved and are a big part of her self- evaluation, which she has used effectively to reflect on her service and identify priorities for improvement which has resulted in a high quality service. Children comment that they 'love the food the childminder cooks' and that both childminder's are 'kind, funny, friendly and thoughtful'. One child particularly enjoys the organised outings with them and commented "we went in a real cave it was so cool'.

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the early years provision

Parents are very well informed about all aspects of their child's achievements, well- being and development. This is both verbal and written. Productive partnerships are fostered with other settings the children attend so that the childminder is able to provide complementary care and learning experiences. Parents are extremely happy with the service provided and report that their children have been provided with a 'loving and caring environment where they have always felt safe and happy' and when at home 'rave about the things they have been doing'. They particularly appreciate the 'very professional, organised and caring' childminder's who 'always do their utmost to accommodate the needs of their children'.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has an extremely well organised and very attractively presented development record of each child with observational anecdotes, photographs and children's work. She has a tracking system to plot children's progress and help her to identify any gaps in their learning. This shows that she has an excellent understanding of where the children are in their development and what she is planning for their future learning. Parents appreciate this development record and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ask the childminder for advice for ideas and strategies they can use with their children to help them progress. Children feel safe and secure with the childminder because they have close warm relationships with her, are often cuddled and have realistic boundaries enabling them to play freely and safely. Older children are encouraged to help the younger children by being good role models for them,

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and outcomes for children

instilling a sense of responsibility and nurturing their self-esteem. Children learn how to keep themselves safe when they wear hi visibility jackets on outings and learn about road safety. The childminder works on the child's level and supports them in their play, exploiting opportunities to make them think

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of good hygiene practices through well established every day routines. They know for example, after they have wiped their nose they need to put the tissue in the bin and wash their hands because of 'germs'. Individual towels, and an effective sick child policy reduce the risk of cross-infection. The childminder has completed a food hygiene certificate which means she has excellent hygiene practices when preparing food. Children thrive as they enjoy an extensive range of activities and have regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They enjoy numerous outings to places that follow their interests such as feeding the ducks, the farm, local parks, local caves, museums and further afield to the seaside. Children are encouraged to eat healthily by picking their own fruit from the garden and local fruit picking farms. They are taught to keep themselves safe from

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and outcomes for children

harm by always asking an adult if what they are picking is edible and what berries may be poisonous to eat. The children are offered healthy home cooked food which they enjoy. Children's individual health needs are understood and met extremely well in close liaison with the parents and other professionals.

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and outcomes for children

Children show high levels of independence, for example, when they choose play resources for themselves and confidently ask for what they want. The childminder works on the child's level and supports them in their play, exploiting opportunities to make them think. For example, when a child was given prescribed medication another child said "my turn", as a result the childminder took the opportunity to explain about why we might need medication and why you must never take any unless the doctor prescribes it for you. Children's communication skills are supported through singing, storytelling, constant positive interaction and signing, however they are not as yet introduced to other communication systems such as pictorial and Braille. The children enjoy baking activities and make cakes, pizza and bread. They practise cracking eggs, measure the ingredients and count how many spoonfuls go into a cake case. They experiment with different textures and mark

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and outcomes for children

making when they play with gloop, corn flour and paint with their feet. Their work is displayed to promote a sense of pride and achievement. The childminder works with her co-childminder and both their skills with children complement each other giving the children a high quality service which successfully creates an inclusive and highly stimulating environment where all children's welfare, learning and development is successfully supported. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 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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