Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY300354 Unique Reference Number 18 April 2007 Inspection date Lynne Naylor 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 2005. She lives with her husband and three children aged three years, five years and 21 months, in Preston, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the house and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed decked area of the garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children aged under eight years at any one time. She is currently minding two children, of which one is under five years. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home. They routinely wash their hands before eating and learn the importance of good personal hygiene. Children sleep on individual bedding and

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 after each nappy change the mat is disinfected, therefore, children are protected against the risk of cross-contamination.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and acts in the children's best interests if they are ill. Children do not attend if they have a contagious illness, which prevents the spread of infection. Useful systems are in place for the recording of medicine administrations and accidents. However, not all parents have been asked to provide written consent for the seeking of medical advice and treatment in an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished with the childminder having a good appreciation of the children's individual dietary needs and their preferences. The childminder prepares meals using fresh ingredients and avoids foods with artificial additives and colourings. Children enjoy healthy snacks, such as rice cakes and muesli bars and their health benefits from the wide range of fruit provided. Young children easily access drinks when thirsty because their individual cups are kept visibly accessible. Through conversation and activities, children learn about foods and gain an understanding of the value of good nutrition.

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Helping children to be healthy

Everyday, children enjoy the benefits of fresh air as they walk to school, play in the garden and visit local parks. Children develop climbing and balancing skills as they use equipment, such as sit and ride vehicles and the slide. Children's good access to a wide range of small tools and equipment, such as paint brushes, pencils, crayons, balls and skipping ropes helps to develop their coordination and physical skills. Consequently, children develop well physically.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children confidently help themselves to a wide selection of toys and equipment, which are regularly checked for safety. These toys are appropriate for their age and stage of development. Children follow house rules and develop an understanding of safety through play. Evacuation procedures are clear but not yet practised to ensure children know how to leave the house safely in an emergency. A fire extinguisher and a fire blanket are kept in the kitchen; however, the blanket is not easily accessible in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are supervised to keep them safe as they move around the ground floor taking part in a range of activities. Indoors, hazards are identified and effectively minimised, consequently, children play in a safe environment. Outdoors, children play on the decked area of the tiered garden, which is closest to the house. The decked area is enclosed with a fence but the gate, although closed, is not secured. In the event of the childminder being distracted, it is not clear in the risk assessment how children are prevented from entering the lower gardens, where there is a water feature, or the neighbour's garden, over the low-level wall, neither is it clear what precautions are taken to prevent accidents in relation to the small trampoline.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe on outings through the use of prams and walking reins. When children travel in the childminder's car, appropriate car seats are used and parental consent is available in writing, so parents' views on the use of transport are clear.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder displays a satisfactory knowledge of child protection issues. She has useful procedures in place to protect children and the telephone number is readily available if it was required in an emergency. Children's safety, care and welfare are satisfactorily promoted.

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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 relate exceptionally well to the childminder. They benefit from the childminder's enthusiasm and good communication skills as she talks to them, reads stories, sings songs and extends their vocabulary. The childminder has a friendly and approachable manner with the children. She shows a clear interest in what they say and do, asking them questions to make them think and to promote their learning. In response, children are keen to engage in conversation, give opinions and ask questions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses her growing knowledge of the children's abilities, likes and dislikes to plan and provide a range of interesting and stimulating activities, which meet children's needs and provide an appropriate level of challenge. Consequently, children make good progress in all areas of their development. Toys are attractively set out every day to provide a stimulating environment. In addition, children confidently help themselves to a good range of easily accessed equipment from boxes and shelves. They take part in many creative activities, such as painting, cutting and gluing. They enjoy role play activities, such as dressing-up, caring for dolls and cooking in the play kitchen.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children effectively learn about their local community on regular outings to toddler groups, shops, the post office and the local park. Plans show children visit other places of interest, such as a farm. They learn about their own culture as they make cards and baskets at Easter. Records show that activities to promote children's awareness of other cultures are being introduced, for example, tasting noodles at Chinese New Year.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected as individuals. They receive lots of praise and encouragement, which actively promotes their self-esteem and confidence. Through clear explanations, children learn to understand right from wrong. Children have some access to books that reflect other cultures and positive images of disability, which promote their awareness of diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive relationships between the childminder and parents benefit the children by enhancing the consistency of care provided. Parents are warmly welcomed into the home and useful information is exchanged in order to meet the individual needs of the children. Good access to the childminder's policies and procedures keep parents informed about the service. Parents are also informed of their child's progress as the childminder verbally shares her observations of the children and makes some significant comments in children's individual journals. With the exception of some parental consent signatures relating to health, parental views are clear. A system of recording and sharing complaints with parents has not yet been fully implemented, in line with recent amendments to the National Standards.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound knowledge of how children learn. She accesses training to build on the quality of the service in order to benefit the children. Children are happy, relaxed and confident in this 'home from home' environment. They take part in planned activities and initiate their own activities within the routine features of the day. Children make good progress in all areas of their development. They independently choose their own toys from shelves and

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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 boxes and they use the ample space in the playroom and rear room well. The home is very well organised so that children can rest and sleep undisturbed whilst other children play comfortably in the playroom or engage in creative work in the rear room.

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Organisation

Most of the required documentation and record keeping systems are readily available. Parents are verbally well informed about the provision and have access to some useful written statements, which promotes continuity in children's care. Important details about the children's likes, dislikes and medical history are readily available and used well to meet children's individual care and learning needs. 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

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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): • include in the risk assessment how children are prevented from entering the neighbour's garden, over the low-level wall, and the lower levels of garden, through the gate, and what precautions are taken to prevent accidents in relation to use of the small trampoline; and ensure the fire blanket is easily accessible in the kitchen • improve knowledge and develop systems for the recording of complaints, in line with regulations; and obtain appropriate signed parental consent forms for medicine administrations and for the seeking of emergency medical advice and treatment.

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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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