Childminder in Doncaster

Inspection report for early years provision

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317987 Unique Reference Number 06 September 2006 Inspection date Angela Howard 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 outstanding. 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 2000. She lives with her husband and three children aged 11, eight and three years. They live in Bessacar, an area close to the centre of Doncaster. The whole of the ground floor, plus toilet facilities and the rear bedroom on the first floor of the premises is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She currently has four children under eight years on roll. The childminder walks to take and collect children from the local school. She regularly attends the local carer groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and Doncaster childminding network.

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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 outstanding. Children are cared for in an extremely clean and well maintained environment. The childminder is very proactive in ensuring children remain healthy. She has robust policies and procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. For example, children learn effectively the importance of good hygiene and personal care. They know they need to wash their hands to remove germs to keep themselves healthy. Children have individual towels which are changed daily and freely access tissues. The childminder uses disposable gloves when changing nappies and sterilises the changing mat after use. Babies toys are regularly sterilised and excellent procedures are in place for the storage and preparation of food. This practice is highly effective at reducing the risk of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children understand the benefits of a healthy diet. They thoroughly enjoy a superb range of nutritious snacks and meals which are made from fresh produce. For example, they are provided with an extensive range of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis to ensure they have the required five portions a day. The menu is displayed daily in picture form, at child height so that they can make informed choices. They are encouraged to eat healthy snacks such as carrot sticks, fruit and cucumber. All snacks and meals comply with dietary requirements to ensure children remain healthy. Meal times are treated as an opportunity to help children to enjoy their food and become independent in feeding themselves. It is a very social time with lots of enthusiastic conversations. They are confident to ask for more and have excellent table manners.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an excellent range of energetic physical activities. They develop self-confidence as they use an extensive range equipment imaginatively. For example, they love creating obstacle courses, balancing on benches, skipping, playing basket ball and football. Music is played in the background and children spontaneously dance and sing. Babies have an extensive range of every day objects to be sucked, squeezed, pulled and held to encourage exploration and development of physical skills. The access to an extensive range of physical activities contributes to children's good health in an extremely positive manner.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a warm, vibrant and welcoming environment. The equipment is set out in a very attractive manner which encourages children to make choices and develop decision making skills. The space available is used extremely well to provide children with an extensive range of play opportunities. The childminder has rigorous procedures in place to reduce the risk of accidental injury. For example, she completes comprehensive risk assessments on a daily basis and ensures any hazards are dealt with immediately. Such as removing a plastic cake because it has become sharp on the top. This ensures that children can move around freely and safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Excellent quality resources are meticulously checked and cleaned, younger children's toys are routinely sterilised, to maintain children's health and safety. Children independently select 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 from the vast amount offered daily. Resources are stored at low level and are labelled in print and pictures to enable children to identify resources they may wish to use. Therefore, children independently and safely select toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are extremely well protected as the childminder has extensive knowledge and understanding of her role and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding children. She ensures that her practice is underpinned by first class up-to-date knowledge of signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow. She has recently attended child protection training with regards to the new Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and amended her practice to ensure she works in line with the new procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The environment is extremely well organised to provide children with an extensive range of varied, stimulating and interesting activities. Children thoroughly enjoy the exceptionally well resourced role play café, making and serving each other tea and sandwiches. A well resourced building activity provides children with opportunities to explore and be creative. For example, they build a tall tower with building bricks and talk about how high the tower is, what colour bricks they have used and count how many men can sit on the top. Therefore, children are enthusiastic about exploring and investigating the wealth of equipment and materials on offer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children love coming to the childminder's. They share very warm and caring relationships with the childminder and their peers. This helps to successfully enhance children's sense of trust and self-confidence. They have an extremely strong sense of belonging and are familiar with daily routines. For example, as the childminder says snack is ready children independently move towards the stairs ready to go and wash their hands. Babies and young children enjoy lots of cuddles and physical closeness, so that they feel secure and content. The childminder has a very high regard for what children say; she is interested in them, she listens, talks and extends their play through effective questioning. Such as, 'how can you', 'what will happen' and 'can you remember'? The excellent communication with each child ensures children enjoy and achieve to their full potential.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's individual development is successfully enhanced with the childminder's highly effective use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage documentation. This far exceeds expectations for a childminder who does not receive nursery education funding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely happy and settled in the childminder's care. She works in complete partnership with parents to ensure each child's individual routine is followed successfully. Very detailed records are kept which aid the childminder to enhance all aspects of children's care. This inclusive approach means children's individuality is strongly valued and nurtured. This results in children feeling good about themselves because the childminder knows them well and is interested in what they say and do.

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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's awareness of the local community is promoted extremely well through regular visits to the shops, local carer groups and parks. Children have equal access to all resources and are beginning to learn about the wider world though the use of an extensive range of equipment and activities that positively address diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn right from wrong in a very caring and sensitive environment. Their behaviour is exemplary. The childminder has clear, high expectations with regards to children's behaviour. They are given clear, effective and consistent guidance and this results in them knowing what is expected of them. The childminder is an excellent role model for children to follow. Her effective use of praise and encouragement ensures children feel self assured and well supported. As a result, children are learning agreed codes of behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is excellent. Parents receive an abundance of information to keep them up-to-date about their child's care and learning. The childminder clearly recognises that sharing information on a daily basis with parents effectively supports links with home and increases children's sense of belonging. This clearly contributes to the children's overall well-being and development.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's welfare and enjoyment is promoted extremely well by the exceptionally well organised and flexible approach of the childminder. This results in children feeling at ease in their surroundings and enables them to be extremely confident in initiating and extending their own play and learning.

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Organisation

The childminder is highly committed to continual improvement and development of the service she provides. She is very enthusiastic about attending training. The childminder has recently attended practical play workshops on the use of puppets, visiting the seaside, communication and going on outings. She is currently looking at completing her quality first kite mark training. Children's experiences are significantly enhanced as the childminder uses training opportunities to provide a very high standard of care for children.

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Organisation

Children's care is supported extremely well through very detailed documentation which is presented in a highly professional manner. The childminder systematically reviews her policies and procedures to address any changes made to the National Standards. For example, she has devised a robust system for recording complaints. 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

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 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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