Alban Wood Infant and Nursery School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 117318 Inspection date 16/07/2012 Inspector Lynne Bowden

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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 registered in 1987. She lives with her partner in Plympton, Devon. The whole house is used for childminding, except the loft room. A fully enclosed garden is available for outside play. The family has a tank of fishes and two cats. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for six children under eight, of whom three may be in the early years age range. There are seven children in this age group on roll. The childminder belongs to the local childminding network. She lives within walking distance of local schools, the library, shops, toddler groups and swimming pool.

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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 confident and secure with the childminder who meets their needs well. She provides activities which interest and engage children and, overall, help them to make good progress. Key strengths are the childminder's promotion of children's awareness of difference and diversity, and her partnership working with both parents and other agencies. The childminder effectively monitors her practice and takes positive steps to continuously improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that every child has frequent opportunities that are planned around their interests and stage of development, so they make consistently rapid progress in their learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder's training in child protection issues and her comprehensive safeguarding policy help her to keep children safe from harm. She carries out daily checks on her home to minimise hazards and protect children. Children are protected in the event of having an accident, because the childminder has current first aid training. Records show that effective procedures are followed to treat injuries and administer medicines.

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the early years provision

The childminder's home is well-resourced. Equipment is well-organised to enable children to make independent choices about their play. There is an exceptionally good range of books and toys reflecting different races and cultures. This helps children learn to respect diversity particularly well. The childminder knows This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's backgrounds and individual needs extremely well. This enables her to take excellent steps to narrow any identified gaps in their achievement. For example, she uses her knowledge of baby signing to promote inclusion and support children's communication skills.

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the early years provision

Parents are extremely well-informed about their children's activities and value the very informative daily diaries and learning journals which help to involve them fully in their children's care and learning. They comment on the wide range of activities that their children participate in and the fantastic support that the childminder offers. They particularly appreciate the fact that she uses sign language to support children's individual needs. All necessary consents and agreements are available and completed and parents confirm that they have read and agreed with the childminder's policies and procedures. As a result they understand how her service operates. The childminder seeks information about children's experiences in other early years settings and uses this to provide complementary care and experiences.

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the early years provision

The childminder is keen to improve outcomes for children. She keeps her skills up- to-date through attending training and her involvement in the local childminding network. She reflects effectively on her practice and also seeks feedback from parents and the local support agency to monitor her effectiveness. She is able to recognise her strengths and identify areas for development, such as strengthening further her systems for planning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and secure in the childminder's home. Babies feel secure and safe enough to quickly settle and sleep soundly, while the childminder makes regular checks on them. Children confidently move between the wide range of resources available to them. The childminder knows children well. She makes effective observations of their progress and uses these to identify the next steps in their learning. As a result children make good progress, although activities do not always challenge children to reach their next steps rapidly.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy imaginative role play with the toy kitchen. They happily describe and discuss how they make toast using the toy toaster and develop their coordination as they use their toy knife to spread the imaginary butter. They concentrate intently and proudly announce their achievements as they reinforce their knowledge and understanding of shape and colour, carefully finding and matching coloured magnetic shapes to recreate patterns and pictures on a magnetic board. They develop their awareness of size and proportion as they thoroughly enjoy exploring a range of differently sized boxes. They find the matching lids, create a tower and looking in awe as more objects are added to make the tower taller than them. When it collapses they pack them all away, fitting them back into the largest box. Children enjoy outings to the local library, where they join in story telling sessions and select books to bring home. At the

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and outcomes for children

childminder's they confidently select a story from the range of books and enjoy listening as the childminder reads it to them. Children learn about nature and the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 environment and watch intently as the childminder shows them a squirrel feeding on nuts in the garden. They learn about the growth cycle as they grow their own beans in a jar.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from fresh air and sunlight on their regular outings in the local environment. They develop confidence and physical skills as they enjoy visits to local play areas and enjoy jumping into ball pools and going down large slides. They develop an excellent awareness of difference and diversity through their daily use of the extensive range of toys and books reflecting different races and cultures. Children learn about their own and other people's cultures as they dress up and participate in celebrations for the Queen's Jubilee and recreate Dutch celebrations, enjoying authentic Dutch foods.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of hygiene and follow good routines, independently taking themselves to the toilet and washing and cleaning their hands at appropriate times. The childminder presents children's packed lunches to them in an attractive way and children sit comfortably at their table to eat them. The childminder encourages them to eat their fruit. As a result children do not learn fully about the importance of keeping healthy. Children become familiar with the fire evacuation procedure because they participate in regular drills and the childminder encourages them to call the fire brigade on their defunct mobile phones. Children's ability to make choices and communicate their wishes, their developing knowledge and awareness of number and shape and their ability to listen to others are beginning to equip them with skills for the future. 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 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 1 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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