Western Mere School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 128644 Inspection date 23/03/2011 Inspector Rebecca Hurst

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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 1989. She lives with her two adult children. The family live in a three bedroom house in a residential area of Lewisham, close to local shops, schools and parks. The whole of the house is used for childminding purposes, the children have access to a specific play area and there is direct access to a secure garden for outdoor play. The family have one pet dog. The childminder includes trips to local toddler groups and parks within her routine.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder may care for no more than six children under eight years; of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than one may be under one year at any one time. There are currently eight children on roll all of these are in the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy, settled and thriving because the childminder creates an extremely safe and secure environment. Children are valued and supported to make the most of their abilities, making good progress. The childminder is continually evaluating the experiences that are on offer. She always seeks to improve the learning opportunities provided, working towards the best outcomes for children. As a result, the childminder has a high capacity to maintain continuous improvement. Parents views are not used to there full potential when evaluating the provision. There are missed opportunities to fully enhance the children's learning through the information that is recorded on the next steps and the recording of the children's starting points.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to identify the settings strengths and weaknesses by working with the parents to provide positive outcomes for all children  record the children's starting points to bring about positive outcomes for children  enhance the recorded information with regards to the learning intentions for their next steps of learning and development This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of child protection and how to safeguard the children in her care. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place to ensure the children are thoroughly protected from any safety issues. Full and comprehensive fire drills and procedures are in place to ensure the children are fully aware of what they need to do in an emergency and any issues that arise are fully evaluated to being about positive outcomes for the children's safety. Clear, concise and accurate records are kept, including attendance registers, which ensures the safeguarding of children.

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the early years provision

Resources are laid out well to allow the children to have independent access to them. Boxes are labelled so the children are aware of what is in them, enhancing the children's independence skills. Children have great fun playing with the good range of resources that supports their learning and development well. The childminder works closely with the local schools and pre-schools to compliment the activities they are learning with regards to equality and diversity. This ensures there is continuity of care for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder works well with the parents, and ensures she shares all of the children's information with the parents with regards to their care and development. The parents views are not used to there full potential when the childminder self- evaluates her provision. As a result, there are missed opportunities to fully evaluate the provision. The childminder compliments the work the pre-schools and the schools do with the children and she shares all relevant information to ensure there is continuity of care for the children being cared for. The childminder self- evaluation is effective as she is able to clearly highlight her key strengths of her provision and areas she wishes to improve upon.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled whilst they attend the childminders. The children receive lots of support from the childminder and she is at hand to offer guidance and cuddles of reassurance should the children require it. This aids the children's settling in and builds on their confidence levels. Excellent steps taken to safeguard children include effective child protection and fire evacuation procedures, close and supportive supervision, for example, when moving between the downstairs rooms to play.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures that each activity that is on offer meets the children's individual developmental needs. As a result, children are progressing well with the activities that are on offer. There are missed opportunities to fully enhance the children's learning and development as the next steps of learning are not fully evaluated to bring about the best possible outcome for the children. Observations are detailed to show what the children have been learning. Currently the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder does not record the children's starting points, so it is not fully clear the exact progress they have made since they started in her care.

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and outcomes for children

The children play in an extremely hygienically clean home where excellent hygiene procedures are in place to protect the children from cross infection and contamination. The children are taught the importance of hand washing and why they need to do it. All ages of children need little reminding that they need to wash their hands before meals and snacks, and after they have visited the bathroom. Children receive a very healthy and balanced range of food to help them thrive in the care of the childminder. Drinks are at hand throughout their time, which ensures they stay hydrated at all times.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is adept in asking the children open ended questions to make them think about what they are doing. The childminder is consistent in her approach to behaviour management and given the children's ages and stages of development they are well behaved. Children enjoy role playing and they snuggle up with the childminder and their dolls to have stories read to them and the children will then read the stories to the dolls they are caring for. 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 1 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 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 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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