Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY232952 Unique Reference Number 09 August 2006 Inspection date Rachael Williams 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 lives with her son in a three bed roomed semi-detached house situated in a quiet cul-de- sac on the outskirts of Worle in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. It is within walking distance of the local primary school and parks.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2002. She is registered to care for six children under eight years old and also cares for older children. At present, she has three children on roll. She uses the whole of the ground floor, except the kitchen, and the bathroom on the first floor for childminding. The house has a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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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 benefit from a clean and well-maintained homely environment. Mostly, effective procedures are in place to ensure children's health and well-being are promoted. For example, parents are well informed of the childminder's sick childrens policy which ensures that children are protected from illness and infection. However, hygienic hand washing procedures have not been fully implemented as the children are not consistently encouraged to wash their hands before eating which poses a risk of cross contamination. The children remain healthy as the childminder has attended an appropriate first aid course and maintains an appropriately stocked first aid box to ensure they remain protected.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from regular, active play and fresh air experiences. For example, there are regular excursions to the local park, to develop large muscle skills on the play equipment. Whilst on outings the childminder ensures children's well-being in the hot weather through applying sun cream, specific to that child, and ensures they remain hydrated by taking regular drinks. Drinks are readily available during the day for children to access independently. Children benefit from healthy and nutritious snacks for instance, a child requests an apple for her mid-morning snack. Special dietary needs are catered for effectively and there is good liaison with parents to ensure these needs are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are closely supervised, both in the childminder's home and when on outings, to ensure their safety. The premises are organised appropriately to enable children to move freely, safely and independently. For example, children confidently access a range of easily accessible toys, which are safe and clean, and meet their developing needs. Children's well-being is safeguarded as the childminder is vigilant about security ensuring that the front door remains locked during childminding times and developing effective collection arrangements to ensure children are collected by appropriate adults.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Potential risks and hazards have been identified which ensures children's well-being. For example, the kitchen has been cordoned off to ensure children cannot enter unsupervised. Some effective procedures are in place to ensure children remain safe in an emergency as smoke detectors are tested regularly and an informative fire evacuation plan has been devised. However, the emergency evacuation plan has not been fully practised with the children which compromises their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded through the childminder's appropriate knowledge of child protection issues. The childminder is aware of the possible signs of child abuse and the procedures to follow. Through effective organisation of documentation the childminder is able to access relevant contact numbers and appropriate child protection literature.

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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 satisfactory. Children are confident and settled in the homely environment. They are involved in an appropriate range of interesting activities which support their development. For example, children are involved in creating memory maps of the dangers on their journey to the childminder's house. An appropriate range of resources are easily accessible to further challenge the children. Resources are rotated and children are welcome to bring their own from home. For example, minded children extend the childminder's provision by bringing their own 'Hama' beads from home. The childminder interacts well with the children as they create their bead pictures; engaging them in meaningful conversations, such as discussing a pending birthday party for a four-year-old child.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder provides a homely environment for older children to relax out of school. She encourages children to make decisions about their play and is flexible to their need for planned or independent activities. For example, children use their imagination to create a school room where each child has a specific role. The childminder ensures appropriate resources are available to fully support their role play in order to meet their developing needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are settled, confident and happy in the well-organised setting. The childminder has established close relationships with the children which encourages good self esteem. Children's work is praised, such as the creation of bead patterns, and pictures are displayed in the kitchen, which the children keenly share. Children are respected as individuals and activities are adapted to include all, through appropriate resources and support. Children are becoming aware of the diversity in our society through the range of activities they are involved in for instance, colouring sheets, which reflect differences in clothing, are discussed and differences are compared. However, there are few resources to positively reflect disability. The local environment is used well to promote understanding of the wider world such as, through regular visits to the park and local shops. Children behave well as respectful relationships have been established. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder uses consistent behaviour management strategies, such as time-out or removal from the situation, which are understood by the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good relationships have been established with the parents where there is a regular exchange of information. However, contracts have not been consistently updated. The childminder has created an informative folder to ensure parents are clear on her childminding practices which ensures continuity in care for the children. Questionnaires are used well to provide positive reflection on childminding services. Parents are informed of the complaints procedure however, documentation for the complaints log has not been fully implemented.

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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. Overall, the organisation of the homely environment and the use of the local environment encourages children to be independent, safe and healthy learners. The spacious premises enables children to move freely and confidently. On the whole, the daily attendance record is accurately completed to ensure children are closely supervised and high ratios are maintained.

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Organisation

Children's care, welfare and learning is well promoted through relevant procedures and policies and good relationships with parents. However, parental contracts have not been regularly updated and a complaints log has not been fully implemented to ensure children's welfare is sufficiently safeguarded.

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Organisation

Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder had recommendations relating to child protection, organisation, partnership with parents and safety. These recommendations have been satisfactorily addressed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has appropriate documentation and literature to ensure children are protected if child abuse or neglect are suspected. Children's welfare is safeguarded through the childminder's good knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and she is clear on her responsibilities for informing the necessary authorities.

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Improvements since the last inspection

On the whole, a daily attendance record is maintained appropriately and signed by parents to ensure children are closely supervised.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Documentation, such as accident, incident and medication records, are shared with parents. They are signed and dated by the parents. The childminder has established an informative file relating to her childminding practices to share with parents.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children remain safe as effective collection arrangements have been established, which includes the recording of the full names of appropriate adults.

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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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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

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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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): • further develop hygienic hand washing arrangements • fully implement a complaints record to share with parents on request • ensure contracts are reviewed and updated regularly

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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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