Jenna Ley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY309607 Inspection date 01 March 2006 Inspector Valerie Button

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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 satisfactory. 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 2005. She lives with her parents and adult sister in a detached house in a residential area of Bideford. She acts as a co-childminder with her mother, who is also a registered childminder. She is registered to care for six children under 8 years old. Currently there are a total of 16 children, aged from 0 to 10 years old, being cared for in the home. The first floor, except for one small bedroom, used for children to sleep, is not used

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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 for childminding. Children have access to all of the ground floor of the premises, except the lounge. There is a conservatory used as a designated play area for the children. The kitchen is used for 'messy' activities and there are toilet facilities downstairs. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder has the use of a car to transport children if necessary. There are no family pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm, clean, well organised environment. They benefit from regular excursions outside the home and enjoy exercises, including yoga, in the home. Children are satisfactorily protected from infection as they manage their own hand washing routines, for example, before eating. Appropriate means of recording accidents or medication given to children are in place. No entries have been made to these records since registration. One child attending lacks parental permission to seek emergency medical advice and treatment. This compromises his safety in an emergency situation. Children benefit from flexible arrangements made to ensure that they are adequately nourished; for example, some parents prefer to pack food for their children to eat, whilst others are catered for by the childminder. Satisfactory attention is given to ensuring that special dietary needs are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, welcoming home environment. They are able to select their own toys and these are clean, well maintained and appropriate to their ages and stages of development. Children's safety is supported by diligent supervision of them at all times. The premises are secure, both indoors and out. The childminder has produced risk assessment forms to follow. Written parental permission to transport children by car is in place for all but one of the children attending. Children's safety is further supported by good maintenance of equipment, such as car seats, and fire safety equipment, such as smoke alarms. The childminder has produced a comprehensive emergency evacuation procedure and this is regularly practised. Children are satisfactorily protected. The childminder knows the children and their families well and works in partnership with her mother to ensure their welfare. The

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

relevant child protection guidance is on file and the childminder is aware of her responsibilities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The provision is good. Children are happy and cheerful. Their play is well supported by the two childminders working together and offering different experiences to the children. Thus, for example, they enjoy quiet times, looking at books and conversing with one childminder to extend their learning; lively, pretend play and large physical exercise with the other. Collections of photographs show children enjoying a variety of activities, both indoors and out. Children benefit from a variety of daily activities and a varied week, which may include time spent at pre-school groups or visits to other childminders. Children relate well to each other and enjoy socialising. Younger children's sleep routines are carefully woven into the daily routine, so that children's individual needs are respected. Children spend their time at the setting in purposeful

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the childminder's training and her experience of caring for children in a variety of settings, including a special school. She has clear ideas about adapting activities so that all children are able to enjoy taking part. She is keen to encourage children to follow non-stereotypical roles. Children are encouraged to assist in caring for their toys and environment; for example, sweeping leaves in the garden or helping to wash their toys. The childminder has produce a detailed behaviour management statement to support her and her mother in their work with children. This refers to positive behaviour management; for example, through praise and encouragement and using distraction to avoid confrontational situations. Observed management of children's behaviour during the inspection is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to consider other children's needs and to share and take turns. The two childminders, working

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Helping children make a positive contribution

together, offer positive role models for the children to follow. Throughout, the childminder aims to work in close partnership with parents to ensure that a consistent approach is followed and that children's care and welfare is supported. There are informal, oral exchanges of information between childminder and parents on a daily basis to enable this to be done.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children clearly feel at home and enjoy their play. They benefit from being cared for in a soundly organised environment. They are cared for in a home where all adults have been suitably vetted. They benefit from the youthful exuberance and the training of the childminder. The childminder and her mother work well in partnership together and it is clear which of them has overall responsibility for individual children. Overall, satisfactory attention is given to the maintenance of regulatory documents needed to underpin children's care and welfare. However, one child attending has no

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 written agreement in place to form a contract between his parents and the childminder with regard to his care. In addition, siblings attending share the same contracts and this adversely affects the effectiveness of their documents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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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 satisfactory. 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 that contracts are set up for all children attending and establish separate contracts for siblings attending the setting • ensure that necessary written permissions from parents, including those to transport children by car and to seek emergency medical advice and treatment, are in place for all children attending.

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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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