Childcare on Domestic Premises, Sessional day care in Bath and North East Somerset

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY441693 Inspection date 02/07/2012 Inspector Michelle Tuck

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Type of setting Childcare - Domestic 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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 setting

Swainswick Explorers registered to provide childcare on domestic premises in 2012. The provider is also a registered childminder.

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Description of the setting

The premises are located in the village of Swainswick, Bath and North East Somerset, close to the A46. The provision provides specialist outdoor play activities for children age four years and older. It operates from three large rooms and art studios on ground floor level. In addition a studio is available on an upper floor to provide a space for planned activities. Extensive enclosed outdoor areas are available for play and exploration.

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Description of the setting

The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of 24 children from four to under eight years may attend at any one time, older children may also attend. There is currently one child in the early years age range on roll.

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Description of the setting

The manager has a Level 3 qualification in playwork. Two other staff also hold playwork qualifications and a fourth member of staff is a qualified teacher.

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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 thoroughly enjoy their time at Swainswick Explorers, where they are involved in an extensive range of stimulating activities, both inside and out, which encourage their learning through play and exploration. Staff provide excellent support to meet each child's individual needs, which means all children make exceptional progress in their learning and development. Staff effectively promote most aspects of children's health and safety and most documentation is in place to support this. A proactive approach to forming strong relationships with parents and other carers means that staff have a thorough understanding of how to meet children's needs. Successful systems for self-evaluation ensure that areas for improvement are quickly identified and addressed, meaning that continuous improvements are made in the outcomes for children.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure at least one person has a current paediatric first aid certificate on outings, including school collections (Safeguarding and welfare) 03/07/2012 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 monitor the effectiveness of evacuation drills by, for example, recording details of any problems encountered and how they were resolved in a fire log book.

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the early years provision

Staff demonstrate a very good awareness of safeguarding issues. They conduct regular risk assessments on the premises and for outings, which help to minimize accidents and promote children's safety. There are clear recruitment and induction systems in place which help to check staff suitability to work with children and help ensure they are clear about their responsibilities. However not all members of staff hold a current first aid certificate, which is a requirement for those left in sole charge of children. Once the provider was made aware of this, she put systems in place to rectify this immediately which means there is no impact on the children's safety. The provider carries out regular evacuation drills, however they do not record details of any problems encountered or how these were addressed.

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the early years provision

Staff promote excellent partnerships with parents, carers and the schools that children attend. Parents are provided with a wealth of information about the provision by way of leaflets, notice boards, displays and a website. There are daily opportunities for sharing information to meet individual needs and staff actively seek parents' views about their child's care and development. Staff, parents and children are fully involved in evaluating the success of the provision through meetings, feedback forms and discussions. All aspects are constantly reviewed and monitored helping to quickly identify areas for future improvement. Children are encouraged to share what they enjoyed, or did not enjoy, about specific activities and what they would like to do at Swainswick Explorers. Parents state that they feel very lucky to have access to this wonderful setting and how the children talk about the setting far more than they do about school. Staff are committed to

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the early years provision

continuous improvement by attending various courses and workshops to update their knowledge, and by acting upon any suggestions of improvement promptly. Children access an extensive range of resources, and enjoy making choices from these and decisions about what to do. Being part of the community and developing a positive attitude towards people's differences is given high priority. Children learn about different cultures from first hand experience of talking to people from different places such as Africa, and they help with projects such as building an 'African house' from materials such as mud.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and secure and enjoy the time they spend in the company of other children at Swainswick Explorers. They are cared for by friendly and caring adults who know them extremely well as individuals and develop This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 excellent relationships with staff and each other. Children's behaviour is exemplary, they are seen helping one another and they know the rules which contribute towards their safety and working in harmony. They receive ongoing praise and encouragement for effort and achievement, which helps boost their self-esteem and confidence. Children have a strong sense of belonging. There are many photos of the children taken each session which are displayed on the lap top and the website, which encourages a feeling of self-worth. They seek each other out to join in self-initiated games such as giving one another rides in the wheel barrow

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and outcomes for children

and learn to respect each other's feelings and views through discussion and the excellent example set by staff. Children take part in an extensive range of exciting activities. They help to pick the array of strawberries, raspberries and white berries, discussing why there is netting surrounding these to protect the berries from the birds. They regularly gather together as a group to share thoughts, recall previous activities and talk about their families. Staff interact at an incredibly high level with the children, extending their vocabulary and understanding effectively, therefore children are well equipped with the skills they need in order to secure future learning.

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and outcomes for children

Staff have a secure working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how children learn through purposeful play and real life experiences. During term times they offer after school activities which compliment the school day very well. During school holidays children's days include exciting outings where they meet other people, use their imagination and creativity and explore their local area. For example, a recent adventure included finding a discarded pheasant during their walk, which led to a discussion about the natural world, life and death. Children's curiosity, imagination and problem solving skills are fully encouraged. For example, children discuss how they can use the wood they have turned on the lathe to make the legs for a stool. They have opportunities to use the art studio to draw and paint or make pots from clay using the potter's wheel.

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and outcomes for children

Children's healthy lifestyle is very well promoted. Children carry out strict procedures for their own personal hygiene and have extensive opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They competently climb, swing and slide as they use equipment in the garden which promotes large muscle skills. They learn to make healthy choices in what they eat through discussion, and by being involved in projects such as growing vegetables. Children learn about aspects of their own safety as they learn to use real tools and equipment such as saws, shavers and a lathe. 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 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 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 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Welfare of the children being cared for) 03/07/2012

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Welfare of the children being cared for) 03/07/2012

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