Jones, Catherine Ann

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY318545 Inspection date 03 July 2006 Inspector Gillian Sutherland

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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 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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged six and one-year-old. The family live in Eastham, an area on the Wirral. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden and paved area for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently caring for two children. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder takes the children on outings to places of interest. 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 enjoy a wide and varied range of activities and experiences which promote being healthy. Children access physical play activities in the childminder's outdoor play areas or as they are taken on outings to local places of interest. In the childminder's garden and paved area, they play with a range of toys, including bikes, cars, football nets and balls. Other purposeful and appropriate activities which children participate in and also promote being healthy, include the growing of different vegetables and fruits. Children talk about the different plants they are growing and water them every day, using a small jug or watering can. Children are cared for in a home that is warm and welcoming to them and one where they learn about the importance of good health and personal care as part of their daily routine. For example, they wash their hands before and after snack and mealtimes, after playing outside or participating in a creative or messy play activity.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual dietary needs are fully discussed with parents prior to care commencing and specific needs are recorded on their enrolment form. This ensures that children are looked after in accordance with their parent's wishes and their individual dietary needs met. Children learn about the importance of healthy eating as the childminder provides them with a varied range of nutritious meals and snacks. A choice of fresh fruit is always included in the snacks and meals offered to children. At snack time, children are offered a range of different fruits which the childminder ensures are cut into small bite size portions and attractively served. Children can freely access drinks, including water at any time during the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are allowed to move around freely and play safely. To ensure children are safe, the childminder has taken all reasonable steps to minimise any potential risks or hazards, all areas within the home used by children are fitted with effective safety equipment. Examples of such equipment includes locks on all low level cupboards, unused electric sockets protected and smoke alarms are in place. Children have actively participated in fire drill practises, thus ensuring they are aware of the evacuation procedures that would be implemented in the event of a fire. A record of when these fire drills have taken place is maintained by the childminder. Children learn about road safety issues as they walk to and from school on a daily basis and are made aware of such issues through discussion with the childminder. Children can freely self-select toys of their choice, from a very broad range of good

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

quality toys and resources, all of which are clean and well maintained. The wide range of toys and resources is appropriate for children in the different age groups which the childminder currently cares for. Children can very easily access which toys

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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 they want to play with as they are stored in such a way that promotes freedom of choice. The childminder has a very sound knowledge of child protection issues. She has a copy of the local child protection procedures, which she has familiarised herself with and would refer to for contact details as and when required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are content, happy and thoroughly enjoy their time at the childminder’s home, where they relax and settle quickly into an environment which is extremely warm and welcoming to them. Children's individual needs are responded to as the childminder recognises the individuality of each child. Children become increasingly independent as they confidently choose what to play with from the extensive range of high quality resources. Children can easily select a book of their choice from a wide and varied range which are stored in such a way that the younger children can freely access them. Children make excellent progress in all areas of their development as the highly skilled childminder uses her excellent understanding of early years guidance to provide good quality care. All children spend their time purposefully and activities are planned in advance. An activity programme is prepared and available for parents to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

look at. Their time is extremely well organised as the childminder provides them with an extensive range of activities to gain their interest. Children eagerly participate in a varied range of creative and sensory activities and delight in participating in such activities. Examples of those activities, include one where children searched through a dish of ready made jelly or cold cooked pasta to find some small different coloured animals, which then prompted further discussion about colour and the sounds different animals make. High quality adult-child interactions are extremely supportive of early communication skills. Young children are making good progress in communicating and developing language skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are relaxed, settled and comfortable in the childminder's care, because she develops positive relationships with the children and their parents as she welcomes them into her home. The childminder is well informed of children's individual needs, as these are identified during a pre-admission discussion with their parents; an agreement is then reached as to how those needs will be met. Children's progress and development is shared effectively with parents and currently this is done in writing by the childminder. Raising children's self-esteem is well promoted as they take home with them art and craft work completed during the day.

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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 Children learn about the world around them and develop an understanding of how and why people differ from one another. This is achieved by children accessing a very varied range of toys, resources and activities which increase their awareness of diversity. Children have the opportunity to self-select which activities they want to participate in and which toys they want to play with, there is no gender bias. Good behaviour is positively promoted in the childminder's home and children behave very well and have good manners. Appropriate strategies are in place to manage children's unwanted behaviour and achieve consistency. The strategies used by the childminder to manage such behaviour are included in the pre-admission discussion held with parents. Parents are able to see the childminder's comprehensive policies as these are all

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Helping children make a positive contribution

maintained in a file which parents look through at the pre-admission meeting. They then have the opportunity to discuss those policies and procedures with the childminder. With regards to the complaints procedure, the childminder is aware of the need to maintain a written record of any complaints received and any actions taken to resolve those complaints.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in an environment where they are made to feel at home and have access to bright and very welcoming play areas. They also have access to a range of comfortable, adult and appropriate child sized furniture. The childminder fully discusses her policies and procedures with parents as part of the pre-admission discussion, thus promoting good partnership with parents. The childminder keeps abreast of current childcare practices through attending appropriate child care training courses and workshops. She maintains a current first aid certificate, which along with most of the required documentation is made available to parents. There is no system currently in place to record any complaints made to the childminder. The childminder ensures that all documentation relating to childminding is stored appropriately and is made available for inspection. The documentation is stored in such a way that ensures confidentiality for the children

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Organisation

and their parents. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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 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): • devise a system for recording any complaints made, and the actions taken to resolve those complaints.

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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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