Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY263778 Unique Reference Number 16 August 2006 Inspection date Christine Pettitt 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 has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband and her son aged over eight years in a village near to Leighton Buzzard. They live in a four bedroom house. The childminding takes place on the ground floor of the premises mainly using the lounge and dining room area. There is a ground floor cloakroom. There is a garden for outdoor play containing grassed and paved areas.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are six children attending currently. Four are under five years and two are over five years. They all attend on various days on a part-time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She attends local toddler groups with the children.

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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 satisfactory. Children play in a welcoming, well maintained and hygienic environment. They are learning effective hygiene practice through observations of the home and the childminder's hygiene practice. Children know they should wash their hands after using the toilet, after garden play and before meals. Children share a towel which is washed daily. Hygiene procedures are followed when changing nappies. Children are praised and positively encouraged in toilet training when appropriate. There is currently no sickness policy. This means parents may not know when to keep their child at home if they are unwell. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and the appropriate resources. This means any accidents would be managed competently.

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Helping children to be healthy

Most children bring packed lunches to eat at the childminders. Healthy options are on offer for those who prefer the childminder to provide meals. Children have healthy snacks such as apples, bananas or raisins. They generally eat these in the lounge area. Children happily chat as they eat their packed lunch at the dining room table. Drinks are available in the play area for children to help themselves and are provided at meal times. Dietary requirements are known to the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily exercise as they walk to school. They walk to local parks, the library, or go for walks in the countryside. They use the play equipment at toddler groups. Children greatly enjoy running round the garden and chasing each other. They rush around following each other round the garden and down the slide. They play with garden play equipment such as sit and ride toys, the tractor or dig in the sandpit. Older children use the goal post to play football, the netball post to try and shoot goals. They take some equipment to the park to play cricket, baseball and tennis. Children have opportunity to rest as they look at books with the childminder after their energetic garden play. They hold their comfort blankets and sit close to the childminder as she reads them a story.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is promoted through the childminder's conscientious supervision of the children. There are safety precautions in place such as, locks on cupboards containing hazardous materials, safety covers on sockets, smoke alarms in place and the premises are secure. Garden safety is maintained by constant supervision of the children. There is a written fire evacuation plan. Children are learning about safety through reminders as they play. They tidy the toys away so people cannot trip over them. They are reminded to play safely on the slide. When on outings children use routine road safety procedures to ensure they are aware of these. They sometimes read a story which teaches them about road safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected through the childminder's understanding of child protection. She is aware of possible signs of abuse and that she would need to complete incident records and report concerns. However, she does not have the government booklet or the local Area

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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 Child Protection Committee procedures. This means she may not follow procedures correctly to ensure the child's well-being is safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are confident, relaxed and happy in the childminder's home. They enjoy a routine which includes free play, snacks and meals, a rest or quiet time, outdoor play or walks, messy play, music, singing and stories. A variety of play resources are displayed in the lounge for children to enjoy. These include a selection of dressing-up clothes, jigsaws, books, musical instruments, dolls and Barbies. They are appropriate for the ages and preferred play of the children attending. Children are encouraged in language and number skills through everyday events, outings and the childminder's interaction during activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During free play children show sustained interest in books. They look at a book called 'All kinds of people'. Children are shown people with different skin tones, tall and short people, people engaged in different occupations. They are asked questions about the pictures to gauge their understanding and are praised for their answers. They look in a mirror and are asked the colour of their hair and eyes, they look at each other to observe each others hair and eye colour. They listen to a story about a Granny with prolonged interest. Children delve into a bag of dressing up clothes, they look at each dress and decide which dress they want to wear. They choose a crown from a selection on offer and walk round proudly when the childminder tells them they look beautiful. Children engage in completing puzzles together. They are helped to look carefully for the pieces by the childminder. A child helps herself to a puzzle and comments that it is a

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

hard one. The childminder helps by encouraging her to find the appropriate letters on the puzzle pieces by pronouncing them phonetically.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have opportunities to progress in skills towards independence. They are encouraged to put on their own shoes and socks when going outside. They have opportunity to explore the environment when at the park. They collect various plants and items to make a collage when they return to the childminders. They explore the countryside, picking blackberries, they look and listen for grasshoppers in the grass. Sometimes in the garden sandpit items are hidden and children have to dig for buried treasure. Children enjoy craft activities and make a necklace out of silver and natural colour dried pasta. Children are settled in well after only four previous visits, they are very relaxed. They approach the childminder willingly with questions, requests and for support when they are tired. They respond to her requests happily.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are behaving well. They are polite and are encouraged to say please and thank you for their drinks and snack. They willingly help to tidy away toys when requested, this is encouraged by the childminder asking them to put specific toys away. Children are sharing and learning to take turns. An older child encourages children in doing a jigsaw puzzle by asking them to look for specific pieces. Older children know what are the expectations of behaviour, they tell a younger child not to put an object in her mouth and then praise her when she is

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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 obedient. Children are given explanations as to why their behaviour is unacceptable. Occasionally behaviour is managed through the child having time-out for a few moments. Children are encouraged to be well occupied. This minimises the opportunity for them to behave unacceptably.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is encouraged through mainly verbal communication. New parents view a portfolio which contains registration, insurance and training certificates, and a fire evacuation procedure. There are no other policies. In-depth discussion with parents takes place before the child minding arrangement begins regarding the individual needs of the child. Children attend for a trial settling in period and appear to quickly settle successfully. Verbal information is given to parents when they collect their children. Children take home their art or craft work and photographs are taken to show parents their children engaged in the activities. Regular discussions with parents ensures the childminder knows any relevant events or family developments regarding the child. This promotes consistency of care for the child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individual characters, stage of development and preferred play are known to the childminder. She seeks to encourage the progress of individual children through concentrating on specific aspects of learning for example, colours. Activities are adapted to each child's skills and ability. Play resources are provided to suit the needs of the children. Children with special needs are welcomed. They are cared for on a one to one basis to ensure the child receives the childminders full attention. A comprehensive understanding of the child's needs and their preferred activities means they are cared for sensitively and competently. Visual aids to encourage communication are used. The childminder knows children like to go for a walk exploring the environment and finds places which are suitable for wheelchair access. Children are learning about other cultures through play resources such as books, dolls, play food and a

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Helping children make a positive contribution

'children and animals of the world', domino set. The library is used to obtain further books which reflect other cultures. Festivals are discussed with older children as they engage in these themes at school.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home is organised to provide a spacious area for floor play in the lounge. There are play resources in the lounge in storage boxes and in the dining area for children to independently access themselves. These are suitable for the children attending. Safety precautions and conscientious supervision promotes a safe environment.

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Organisation

The required documentation such as attendance records, accident, incident and medication records and information regarding the children are in place. They are completed regularly and accurately. The child information records and contracts are not currently well organised this makes prompt access to the current relevant information difficult. The childminder has a portfolio for parents but this does not contain many policies to give parents a comprehensive view of the child-care practice. There are no written consents obtained from parents for emergency treatment, outings or to use public transport or the car. The childminder does not have the 'Birth to three matters' framework. The childminder has attended the 'Introduction to Childminding Practice' course and has a current first aid certificate. Overall the children's needs are met.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the previous inspection there were two recommendations: to complete an appropriate first aid course; to ensure that there is an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has a current first aid certificate which includes emergency aid for children. She is aware this expires in November 2006. There are resources available which reflect other cultures such as books, dolls, dominoes set with children and animals of the world and play food. The childminder used a book during the inspection to make children aware that there are all kinds of people. This is appropriate for the level of understanding of the children attending. Festivals are discussed with older children when they engage in projects at school.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1st April 2004.

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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): • obtain the government booklet, 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child is Being Abused', and the local Area Child Protection Committee guidelines • obtain the 'Birth to three matters', framework information • enhance written information for parents including complaints and sickness procedures and obtain parental consent including transporting children in a vehicle or on public transport, seeking emergency medical advice or 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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