Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY246181 Unique Reference Number 02 August 2006 Inspection date June Fielden 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 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 was registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and eight-year-old twins in Oxted, Surrey. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding one child under five part-time and one child over five before and after school. She walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder regularly attends toddler groups and visits local shops and parks.

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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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean, welcoming environment. The childminder's accident and medication records are well completed, to maintain children's health. She has some suitable hygiene routines in place, children wash their hands before eating meals and after using the toilet. However, their welfare is not completely safeguarded, as the childminder does not hold a current first aid certificate, and has not obtained written permission for the emergency medical treatment of children. They are not fully protected from the risk of infection when they have been playing in the garden, as the childminder does not always remind them to wash their hands before eating a snack.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a suitable understanding of healthy eating and provides a nutritious diet for children. She prepares them a hot home made meal at tea time. The food offered to children includes a mixture of well balanced meals and their favourite dishes. Children share a large bowl of sliced fruit at snack time and are regularly offered drinks. Older children can help themselves to water at any time to ensure they are not thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children exercise appropriately, using the childminder's garden to run around in, playing with bats and balls. The childminder takes children on visits to places of interest and they can strengthen their muscles on the equipment provided at the various toddler groups they attend. She lets children sleep whenever they need to, in order to ensure they have adequate rest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children move around freely between the living room and dining area in the childminder's home. The toys are stored in a manner that enables older children to select what they wish to play with. The childminder has sufficient resources to meet the needs of all minded children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate measures are in place to ensure children's safety. The childminder checks that equipment conforms to safety standards and broken toys are discarded. She carries out regular risk assessments, and gates are fitted at the bottom of the stairs and across the entrance to the kitchen and dining area. The gates prevent children having unsupervised access to these parts of the home. However, not all socket covers are in place, and a safety catch has not been fitted to the knife drawer in the kitchen. As a result, these hazards are accessible to children, so their wellbeing is not fully assured.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm, as the childminder has recently attended a course in child protection, to update her knowledge in this area. If she has any concerns about a child in her care these will be recorded, and reported to the appropriate authority when necessary.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are spoken to in a warm and friendly manner by the childminder. She accepts them as part of her family, enabling them to relax and feel at home. They play happily together and generally share well, as the childminder is always close by to offer support and involvement when necessary. She spends time with young children, developing their creative abilities. The childminder assists them with painting and hand printing, making suggestions about what they can do, and praising their efforts. Children are assisted in completing jig-saw puzzles, so that they will understand how to put them together for themselves. The childminder shares books with children, developing their knowledge of how they should be used and encouraging them to identify the different colours in the pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows children well, and talks to them about things that happen at home, raising their self-esteem and enabling them to feel valued. Children are encouraged to take turns with the more popular equipment, such as the computer, enabling them to see that they are all being treated fairly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are treated with equal concern by the childminder. She ensures that they are all given the same amount of attention and can play with the full range of toys. The childminder listens to children and liaises with parents to meet their individual needs. Children's awareness of diversity is raised through posters, books and television programmes. They attend various groups where they can socialise with children of a similar age from other cultures. The childminder will integrate children with learning difficulties and disabilities into her practice by making other children aware that they may need extra attention. She will assess their individual needs during the settling in period, to enable her to meet their requirements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are pleased with the care the childminder provides for their children, and how she assists them through the different stages of their development, such as toilet training. The childminder keeps daily diaries for parents of babies and toddlers. She is available to speak to the parents of older children at the beginning and end of the day, to inform them of their child's progress. There is a written complaints procedure, and parents know how to contact Ofsted. However, they are unaware of the full details of the childminder's complaints procedure. As a result, they are unsure of how any concerns they report to her will be handled.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are aware of the childminder's house rules, such as not climbing on the furniture, which she applies consistently. She discusses behaviour management strategies with parents, to ensure continuity of care, and arguments between children are dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Positive behaviour is promoted by the use of star charts, claps or praise.

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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 satisfactory. Children's safety is assured when visitors are present, as the childminder remains with them at all times. She arranges the furniture to allow maximum space for children to play in her living room. The childminder regularly updates her records, to ensure she holds current information on children.

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Organisation

The childminder has produced a folder of information to show new parents, to make them aware of how she organises her practice. This includes her qualifications, insurance details and letters of recommendation from parents. She stores her records securely to maintain confidentiality, and shares children's details with their parents on request. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last care inspection recommended that the childminder provide a suitable range of toys and activities, in order to meet the developmental needs of babies and younger children. The childminder has now extended the range of resources she offers, and has obtained more soft toys, puzzles, musical instruments and books for young children. These enable them to develop their imagination and creative abilities through their play.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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Complaints 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 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): • obtain a current first aid certificate • ensure appropriate hygiene routines are in place • obtain written permission for the emergency medical treatment of children

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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 • ensure the house is free from hazards • ensure parents are aware of the full complaints procedure.

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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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