Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY101595 Unique Reference Number 08 August 2006 Inspection date Patricia King Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 was registered in 2002. She lives with her husband who is also a registered childminder, a child aged six years and two adult children in the Clifton district of Nottingham. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and small bedroom on the first floor of the childminder's house are used. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play and a self-contained playroom is sited within this area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and currently has five children under eight on roll. She takes children to the local school, pre-school and childminders' support group. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The family have a dog.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy good health and a healthy lifestyle because they are learning about personal hygiene and self-care. For example, they wash their hands before eating and explain how putting their hands in front of their mouths when coughing or sneezing prevents the spread of germs. They are well protected from health risks because the childminder has effective systems in place to promote good hygiene and safeguard children from the dangers of exposure to the sun. For example, children have their own washing and sun screen equipment. The childminder is vigilant to ensure children keep their hats on when outdoors on sunny days and has arranged the outdoor equipment and activities with plenty of cover for shade.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from cross infection and illness by the childminder's good information and policies to inform parents that children will not be minded when infectious. Their health and welfare are promoted by the clear systems and records kept to take appropriate action in the event of an accident and to administer any necessary medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy the variety of nourishing meals offered by the childminder to meet the nutritional and dietary needs, personal choice and preferences agreed with their parents. They understand the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables daily and describe how this will help them to be healthy and grow strong. They enjoy a variety of healthy snacks between meals and are encouraged to help themselves from a well stocked fruit bowl. Drinks are readily accessible for children to have when they require and they are reminded to drink plenty of fluids in the hot weather.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily outside play in the garden, weather permitting. They use outdoor equipment to balance and climb, ride on bikes and cars, and play with balls. A wealth of outdoor resources are accessible and made available according to the age and ability children attending on the day. They are taken to the local parks and pre-school groups to play on other large physical equipment. Children relax and sleep according to their needs because the childminder plans her home and routines to offer opportunities for rest and quieter times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children under three benefit from the childminder's practice in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework to offer positive opportunities for children to learn how to become healthy individuals, for example by talking about healthy eating and personal hygiene.

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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 secure, stimulating, comfortable home where risks are recognised and made safe. This means that children move around safely, freely and confidently making good use of the areas used for childminding. Appropriate safety equipment minimises potential hazards and effective organisation of equipment and resources allows children to access these freely and safely to promote independence and choice. For example, the wealth of toys, activities and resources in the playroom are kept within easy reach of children and there are opportunities

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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 for quiet and social times such as reading a story together. Fire safety has been firmly established by a visit and guidance from the Fire Safety Officer. Appropriate fire safety equipment is available and arrangements for emergency evacuation are eagerly explained by the children who have completed a quiz devised by the childminder to secure their understanding of fire safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are learning how to keep themselves safe. For example, they follow the rules established for the safety such as when using the trampoline and taking care when playing in proximity to young children. Children eagerly talk about how they keep safe on outings and when out walking with childminder. For example, they describe holding hands, keeping close to the childminder, keeping to the side of the pavement away from the traffic and using "stop, look and listen" to cross the road with safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded by the childminder's clear understanding of child protection issues in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and how to take any action required to protect children. She has established a clear written policy to ensure parents are fully informed of her responsibility to protect children from harm. The childminder ensures that children are only collected by their parents or named adults by prior written arrangements and children are never left alone with other adults.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children under three benefit from the childminder's practice in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework to offer positive opportunities for children to learn how to keep safe in daily activities and routines, such as when out walking.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. A substantial range of toys and play resources is readily accessible to children. Careful planning provides them with interesting opportunities to make active choices about their play and promote their learning. Children use their imagination well, for example, they enthusiastically show the pictures and collages they have made to illustrate what they have learned about the stars, planets and the solar system and younger ones proudly show the colourful collages they have made. Children respond eagerly to effective questions from the childminder to promote their learning. For example, she uses daily routines, such as mealtimes, to count, recognise colours and talk about shapes and textures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show pride in their work which is displayed in the childminder's home and put into scrap books to be shared with their parents. The childminder and the children have made paper displays of mouths, feet, and hands, to establish and illustrate acceptable behaviour rules. Children are very settled and comfortable in the childminder's care. She takes care to find out what they can do, their likes and dislikes, and plans effectively to ensure that they learn and develop well in her care. Children develop good social interaction, have warm relationships with each other and possess confident communication skills. Children's overall development is considerably enhanced because of the childminders committed approach. This means that children feel valued and have positive self-esteem.

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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 Children under three benefit significantly from the childminder's creative use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to offer interesting and stimulating learning opportunities appropriate for their care and development. Children flourish in the caring, stimulating environment where they are highly valued as individuals and they respond positively to the childminder's consistent use of praise and encouragement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are warmly welcomed into the home and are encouraged to learn about their own and other cultures because the childminder works well to promote their understanding. Resources have been carefully chosen to increase the children's awareness of diversity, cooking utensils, books, creative and cooking activities, mobility and living aids for dolls and small world toys. Children are learning about the community in which they live, for example, they regularly visit the local shops and places of interest where they engage in activities and experiments to discover how things work.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's care and welfare is carefully discussed and agreed with the parents, establishing a close working partnership to keep them fully informed and included in the care of their children. For example, she has daily discussions with parents about the care of their children and has established good communications with them. However, the childminder has not established systems to take contact details on outings. This means that parents could not be immediately contacted in the event of an emergency occurring away from the childminder's home. The childminder shows good understanding of how to manage the situation positively when recognising health or special needs of minded children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning to behave well. The childminder and the children have established sensible house rules, such as no climbing or jumping on the furniture which means they learn to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Children express care and concern for each other, for example, older children help at meal times and encourage others to join activities and games at their individual level of ability. They listen intently to the childminder and respond positively to her consistent use of praise and encouragement which promotes a sharing and caring environment.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel secure and settled in the childminder's home. This means they have confidence to make choices, express their needs and make good progress in their overall development. Arrangements successfully promote children's, health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. Space and resources are organised imaginatively and stimulating activities provide children with interesting and exciting opportunities to broaden their overall development. Children's welfare and safety is positively promoted by the comprehensive set of polices, guidelines and information accessible to parents. The childminder ensures that documents and records necessary for the efficient and safe management of the provision are maintained and easily accessible.

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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 All adults in the household have been cleared and the children are well protected from visitors by the childminder's secure systems and procedures. The childminder works jointly with her husband. They share all responsibilities and work together effectively as a team to meet the children's individual needs. Parents are kept informed and included in the care of their children by daily discussion which means they can contribute to their child's continued development. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make sure children have access to a range of toys and equipment which reflect positive images of diverse lifestyles and abilities. She agreed to improve her documentation by having a sick children's policy, a complaints procedure and parents written permission to take children on outings.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children now have access to a wide range of quality toys and resources to inform and support their learning about the wider world. Children's safety and welfare promoted by a comprehensive sick children's policy and written permission to take children on outings. The childminder has clear understanding of the required complaints procedures and has systems in place to make appropriate information from her records available to parents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. 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 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 that records of contact details are kept; this refers to emergency details when on outings.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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