Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY259486 Unique Reference Number 22 August 2006 Inspection date Ann Winifred Harrison 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 10 and 5 years Rugeley. All areas of the property are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed 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 at any one time and is currently minding three children under five years. The childminder walks to local schools to collect children. The childminder attends local toddler groups on a regular basis. The family have two guinea pigs.

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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 learn the importance of personal hygiene through daily routines and well-planned activities. The children know they need to wash their hands before eating and after visiting the toilet because the childminder gives clear explanations that germs can make them poorly. She also explains why they must wash their hands after they have touched the guinea pigs. Procedures, such as cleanliness of toys and equipment, sustain sound levels of hygiene and help reduce cross-infection. There are effective written procedures in place to maintain children's welfare, for example, medication policy. The childminder has some knowledge and understanding of reporting communicable diseases but does not have current documentation. This means children are not fully protected from infectious illnesses.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a healthy diet because the childminder works with the parents, to ensure their food is nutritious. They are offered drinks throughout the day and a good selection of healthy snacks and meals which include various fresh fruits, toast, sandwiches, beans on toast, meat and fresh vegetables. The childminder adheres to parents' wishes and any special dietary needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a good range of energetic physical activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. They use a wide variety of outdoor toys and equipment. For example, they climb on climbing frames and they crawl through tunnels and bounce on a trampoline in the garden. They walk to the local park and shops. The children also enjoy taking part in an indoor physical activities when the weather is poor, such as an indoor sports day. The childminder is beginning to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan for physical play to enhance physical development of babies and young children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in an organised environment, where risks to children are limited through positive safety and security procedures. The childminder monitors access to the premises at all times and precautions are taken to ensure the outdoor play area is safe and secure. Children are able to access a range of stimulating toys and equipment to meet their individual needs. Space and resources are organised to allow children to move around freely, safely and independently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are closely supervised by the childminder at all times. They learn the importance of keeping safe whilst off the premises, for example the childminder discusses road safety and gives the children clear boundaries when they go to the park. They are sometimes transported by car and the childminder uses appropriate car seats to ensure children's safety. Children also know how to react in the event of an emergency as they practise the emergency evacuation procedure on a regular basis. This helps 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 The childminder has effective procedures in place to ensure that children are protected and well-cared for. She has a good understanding of child protection procedures and she is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse and appropriate responses.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children engage happily in meaningful play. They are using resources and equipment that are stimulating and fun, to maintain their interest. They enjoy playing with Lego bricks in the tent in the garden and they build complex models. The childminder constantly talks to the children during activities to promote their development and understanding. For example, she discusses where their bread and butter are made and which shops they would buy them from. Children discover the natural world as they visit the park and go on nature walks to find insects. The childminder plans a range of creative activities for children such as collage and painting and children's work is displayed, which shows children their work is valued. She develops children's mathematical thinking by counting in everyday situations and using puzzle books and dot to dot pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are very settled at the childminder's house because they have very good relationships with the childminder who knows them well and gives them lots of attention. This ensures children have a sense of well-being and trust. Children's independence skills are encouraged as they go to the toilet independently and spread butter on their own toast. Children benefit from the high quality interactions they experience with the childminder and are confident to ask questions and seek support when needed. The children relate well to each other and learn to play co-operatively. The childminder gives clear guidance to encourage children to share and take turns such as a time limit on the trampoline and sharing Lego when building models. They behave well and are encouraged, respond to challenges and are praised appropriately.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are able to develop their imagination and independence by selecting their own activities and initiating their own play. For example, playing with dressing-up clothes in the playroom. The childminder is beginning to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan stimulating activities for babies and young children. For example, she provides sensory and musical toys for babies and large construction toys for young children to develop their manipulative skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are encouraged to play together and behave well. Behaviour management strategies are discussed and agreed with parents and included in the behaviour policy. The childminder has an effective and consistent approach for dealing with a range of children's behaviour. For example, an explanation is always given to ensure children understand why their behaviour is unacceptable. Any disagreements are dealt with calmly and effectively by the childminder. Older children are asked to sit and think about the consequences of their behaviour for a few minutes and then rejoin activities. Children's self-esteem is promoted and good behaviour is encouraged through the use of meaningful praise and rewards of treats.

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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 The childminder understands the importance of promoting equal opportunities and helping children learn about the wider world. She talks to the children about the community and uses everyday activities to talk about other countries and cultures. For example, talking to children about where the fruit comes from that they have for snacks. There is a range of resources which provides children with the opportunity to explore other cultures and social diversity, such as imaginary play equipment and stories. Currently, there are no children with learning difficulties or disabilities but the childminder has a good practical awareness of how to include and appropriately care for children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued and respected as individuals. They benefit from the positive relationship between parents and the childminder. This promotes the children's welfare and ensures their individuality is acknowledged and their needs are met. Parents are aware of how the setting operates through the discussion of policies and procedures at registration and daily verbal and written feedback. Written statements from parents demonstrate they are very confident in leaving the children in the childminders care. They feel she is flexible, and well organised and that the children benefit from the wide range of activities she plans and provides. However, changes in the National Standards relating to investigating complaints are not understood and therefore parents are not fully informed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The environment and space is organised to enable children to move around freely and play safely. The childminder provides a good range and balance of activities for children of all ages, to enhance children's learning and development. A good range of policies and procedures are maintained and are shared with parents. Most documentation contributing to the children's well-being, health, safety and care are in place and are regularly reviewed. For example, accident and medication consent procedures. The childminder obtains relevant information to provide appropriate care for children in partnership with parents. Information is shared regularly with parents to keep them up to date on their child's progress. This contributes to continuity in the children's care.

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Organisation

The childminder is keen to attend any training which contributes to the care of children and updates her knowledge and skills. For example she has updated her first aid qualification and attended training on the 'Birth to three matters' framework and child protection. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection actions were raised to; obtain current advice and information regarding notifiable diseases and implement appropriate procedures; ensure that child protection procedures are understood where an allegation of abuse is made against he childminder. Recommendations were made to; increase the range of resources to reflect positive images of culture race gender and disability; ensure the emergency escape plan is practised with the children.

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Improvements 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 To address these actions the childminder has obtained a list of infectious diseases and their signs, symptoms and incubation periods. She is aware that she has to report some conditions to Ofsted and Health protection Agency. However she is not fully aware of which conditions are notifiable and this means that children are not fully protected. This has been carried forward to this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children are protected because the childminder is now fully aware of the procedure to follow if she is accused of abuse. She is aware of the recent changes to the procedures and knows that she must inform Ofsted and the First Response Team at Social Services.

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Improvements since the last inspection

To address the recommendations the childminder has attended a course on equality of opportunity, she had increased her resources to reflect the wider world. She has bought pushchairs and dolls to reflect both genders and she has books which depict positive images of other cultures, she also uses the library and toy library to supplement her resources. This means that children are made aware of the diversity of others. The childminder now practises the emergency escape plan each month with the children and these are recorded. This helps to keep children safe.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints 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): • ensure there is appropriate information available to be able to notify Ofsted of any communicable diseases as defined by the Health Protection Agency • update and implement the complaints procedure in line with the Addendum to the National Standards (October 2005)

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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 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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