Langsford, Sarah

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY265994 Inspection date 08 September 2005 Inspector Mary Dingley

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband and their two children, both of whom are school age. They live in a three bed roomed terraced house in Tavistock. The home is within walking distance of a variety of local amenities, including schools, shops and the town centre. With the exception of two bedrooms and the conservatory, the whole of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for four children under eight years. There are

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 currently eight children on roll. Overnight care is not provided. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local carer and toddler groups when required.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy physical play both in the childminder's back garden and local parks. They use bicycles and balls which develops their hand and eye co-ordination. Children learn about good hygiene practises through the childminder's constant reminding of these. For example, they are reminded to wash their hands after visiting the toilet. They are becoming aware of why they need to wash their hands. For example, 'because they are dirty'. Sick children are cared for appropriately. Parents are contacted and the ill child isolated from others where appropriate. Children with infectious illness are excluded from the childminder's care. Changing mats are cleaned after each use. All this reduces the risk of spreading infection and helps protect children from illness. Children provide their own packed meals and drinks, for which cold storage is available. The childminder ensures they have sufficient fluids throughout the day and

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Helping children to be healthy

is aware of when children require extra drinks such as, in hot weather or after exercise. This ensures their fluid levels are maintained. Meal times are sociable occasions with children sitting together and talking at the table. This promotes children's social and language skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's risk of accidental injury is reduced by the childminder's good awareness of safety issues within the home. For example, gates are available to restrict children's access to certain areas, the equipment and resources are of good quality, clean and safe, fire drills are practised and well documented. Children learn about hazards within the home through everyday routines and activities. The childminder asks them to tidy up when she feels there is too much equipment out and explains her reasons for this. Although the childminder does not undertake risk assessments, she feels children are safe through her knowledge of the local environment and use of common sense as a parent. Equipment and resources are frequently checked for safety and cleanliness. Children sleep in suitable equipment for their age. Sleeping babies are checked every 20 minutes and a baby monitor is used. These checks are not frequent enough and records are not kept.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children are protected by the childminder's good knowledge of child protection issues and her responsibilities in this area. Contact telephone numbers are kept and the appropriate authorities informed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children select their own activities from the easy to reach good selection available. This helps to promote their independence. They play well together and share, talking about their activities and including adults in their conversations. Children receive good support from the childminder who knows when to leave them to their own devices and when to become involved in their play. They also ask for help when needed. This helps to promote children's confidence. Children enjoy interesting activities that promote their mathematical thinking. They engage in routines such as laying the table and counting how many items are required, sorting shapes and measuring. Their imagination is developed through role play, dressing up and improvisation. They enjoy using a microphone when singing to music and work the tape player themselves. The childminder takes a flexible approach to organising the children's day and no

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

formal planning is used. This allows them choices, helps promote their independence and takes account of their individual requests and needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel valued in the childminder's care. She is aware of their individual needs and discusses these with them. For example, new children are given extra attention and support and she talks to others about their dietary needs, such as vegetarian requirements. Although children are not involved in making the house rules, they are aware of their boundaries. This gives them a sense of security. Their behaviour is good. This is influenced by the childminder's calm approach to incidents. She uses positive, age appropriate strategies when managing children's behaviour. For example, younger children are distracted and she talks through incidents with older children explaining the consequences of their actions on others. The childminder keeps parents well informed of her responsibilities in different areas. For example, child protection. Good information is gained from and shared with

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents to enable appropriate care to be given. For young babies, the childminder keeps a diary of events detailing routines and activities, sleeping, feeding and nappy changing. She discusses the older children's day with parents when they collect them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel at home in the well-organised environment. They move freely and independently around choosing their activities from the wide range available. Most required documentation is in place. However, there are not contracts for all children. The childminder is proactive in overcoming any difficulties. For example, she has strategies in place if a child arrives early and comprises her ratios. She asks parents to stay until she is in a position to take responsibility for that child. The childminder has undertaken all required training and is prepared to undertake further training to develop and enhance her professional skills and practices. For example, she is currently studying NVQ level3 in child care and hopes to attend child protection and food hygiene courses. She is also planning on undertaking training in Birth to Three Matters, the framework for young children's development.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved children's safety. She has attended a relevant first aid course, replaced the doors containing glass panels and practises emergency evacuation of the property. She also keeps a record of the evacuation to identify and resolve any difficulties.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure sleeping babies are checked frequently and records kept of these checks

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 • complete contracts for all children.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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