Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY226090 Unique Reference Number 27 July 2006 Inspection date Maria Lumley 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 has been registered to care for children since 2002. She lives with her husband and children aged three months and five years in Parkstone, Poole.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a total of four children at any one time. There are six children currently on roll. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and a bedroom is used for children that need to sleep. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has a pet dog which has contact with minded children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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's health is well promoted through the childminder's good understanding of healthy meals and snacks. Children chose from a variety of fresh fruit to eat at snack time. The childminder is introducing new fruits each week for children who are reluctant to eat fruit and vegetables. For example, a child tentatively tastes a strawberry before deciding that she likes it. Healthy eating is being promoted through well planned activities and discussions. For example, children look at magazines and cut out 'good' and 'bad' foods. They then stick these on separate plates. The activity is well supported by the childminder who asks them questions and discusses their choices. Children recognise what foods are good for their bodies, one child comments "yoghurt's good for you because it has calcium in it". Children have good understanding of, and take responsibility for their own personal hygiene. They automatically wash their hands

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Helping children to be healthy

using anti-bacterial soap and dry them on individual towels. This minimises the risk of cross infection. One child says "we have our own towels because we don't want each others germs". Children recognise when their bodies become hot and help themselves to drinks that are positioned within their reach. Children are well cared for following accidents as the childminder has completed first aid training and has a fully stocked first aid kit. However, accidents are not recorded fully. Children benefit from lots of fresh air and exercise. They play in the garden and visit local parks and paddling pools. Children have developed good small muscle control and use scissors with dexterity.

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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 well organised, child orientated environment. They benefit from a dedicated play room which has children's work and posters displayed on the walls. The resources are very well organised in low level boxes. Photographs of the contents are displayed on the boxes to make it easy for children to identify where resources are. Resources with small parts are stored at higher level to ensure that young children cannot access them. When mixed ages play the childminder uses two rooms to ensure that individual children have access to age appropriate and safe resources. Children are well safe guarded from risk due to the good understanding of safety issues and vigilance of the childminder. Areas are thoroughly risk assessed indoors and outdoors. Safety precautions such as stair gates and socket covers are in place. Children learn about keeping themselves safe with gentle reminders from their carer.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

For example, the childminder reminds a child to sit on the chair to prevent him falling and hurting himself. Good procedures keep children safe on outings. The use of pushchairs and reins supports the childminder in controlling and keeping children safe. Older children have clear understanding of how to behave in public places. One child said "I stay next to the adult and look left and right before crossing the road". Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has an understanding of child protection issues and her responsibility to keep children safe.

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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 very happy and settled in their play. They have a close trusting relationship with the childminder therefore are able to explore activities with confidence. For example, they enjoy drawing round each others bodies on large rolls of paper. They then tell the childminder that they are going to draw birthday presents around the figures and draw surprised faces on the bodies. Children's learning is extended as the childminder asks them to calculate the length of the paper. This prompts the children into talking about more and less, longer and shorter. Their play is well supported by the childminder who offers high levels of praise. Children's overall development is well promoted as the childminder plans a wide range of play opportunities. For example, children participate in baking, planting and growing, puppet making, bird watching, Easter basket making and trips to local places of interest such as the oceanarium and farmer

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's awareness of diversity and the wider world is well promoted through planned and incidental activities. For example, the childminder tells the children that her mother is moving to Cyprus. The children are inquisitive and ask her questions about the country. They then find the atlas and look for where Cyprus is on the map, they then find Great Britain. The children discuss how they could travel to Cyprus. One child says "we could fly", the other child says "we couldn't drive because there's water there" pointing to the ocean. The childminder then uses the atlas to teach children about the Rain Forest and space. Children are taken to local places of interest, including farms and sea life centres. This extends their understanding through experience and promotes their interest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A good partnership with parents is fostered through using daily diaries and verbal communication to exchange information about the children's welfare and progress. New children benefit from the settling in period. This gives them time to establish a bond with their carer and familiarity with the environment over a period of weeks. Consequently, the transition from home to childminding home is well supported. Parents are well informed about the childminder's practice. However, the complaints policy does not have Ofsted's correct address or telephone number.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well mannered and well behaved. One child asks the childminder "please will you open the glue for me" followed by "thank you". They play well together, taking turns and waiting patiently for each other when they play board games. Consequently, children enjoy time in a calm and harmonious environment. The childminder effectively meets the needs of all children. For example, she closely supports and encourages the older children as they play Mousetrap whilst she feeds her baby. Children with specific requirements are well supported by the childminder. She attends additional training and sources appropriate resources to ensure that all children's needs are met.

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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. The children are settled and confident to explore within a well organised environment. Children benefit from the dedicated play room and there is plenty of clear floor space for them to play freely. Children access the well organised resources by themselves or with minimal support. Positive outcomes for children are supported through the policies and procedures that detail and reflects the childminder's good working practice. These are shared with parents to ensure they are kept informed about the provision. However, the complaints policy and an accident record are not fully detailed. Children's progress is recorded daily and exchanged with parents in a written diary. This ensures that they are well informed about their child's welfare and activities. The childminder is pro-active in developing the provision and her understanding of child care issues by attending regular training events. The childminder meets the needs of the

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Organisation

range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous care inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that children's individual needs were taken into account and that they were treated with equal concern. She also agreed to keep detailed written records of medicines given to children, including times, dates and parents signatures.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has developed good skills in meeting the needs of all children. She timetables and plans activities to ensure they are all children are well supported and their individual needs met. The childminder has improved her medication records which now include all the required information. Consequently, children's health is well promoted.

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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 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):

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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 that accident records detail children's full names and dates of birth • update the complaints policy to include Ofsted's address and phone number

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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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