Heath Julie Ann

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

252835 Unique Reference Number 01 September 2006 Inspection date Melanie Arnold Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1988. She lives with her husband and adult son in Edwinstowe, Mansfield. The whole ground floor is used for childminding, with toilet facilities located on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and she currently has eight children on roll who attend for various sessions each week. The childminder walks to local schools and nursery to take and collect children, she also takes children on outings to the park and library. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy going to the park and playing in the childminder's garden where they access a good range of resources to promote their physical skills. For example, children have fun riding bikes, playing on the slide, playing with balls and crawling through tunnels. They also get plenty of exercise and fresh air as they walk to and from school, which effectively helps to promote their well-being. Children are cared for in a clean home where they are beginning to learn about the importance of good hygiene through the daily routine, with effective procedures in place to help prevent cross infection. For example, the childminder encourages good hand washing routines, individual flannels are used to clean children's faces after meals and the childminder wears disposable gloves when changing children's nappies. Children's health and safety is protected because the childminder holds a current first aid certificate, however, medication

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

records are not fully completed to ensure children's well-being is effectively maintained. Children's understanding of health issues is well promoted because the childminder discuses the benefits of exercise and eating a healthy diet with them and because posters displaying healthy messages are displayed around the playroom for them to see.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished because the childminder promotes healthy eating. They benefit from healthy options, like fruit at snack times, which ensures their well-being is maintained. Children's interest is promoted in food as they help to prepare their own snacks, which also encourages them to try different fruits. Their dietary requirements, likes and dislikes are fully met as parents provide their children's own lunch time meals. Drinks are freely accessible to children at all times, effectively meeting their needs.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a secure setting where space is used effectively to meet their needs. A warm and welcoming environment is created for children because they enjoy playing in a designated play room where they access a wide range of toys and resources to keep them well stimulated and occupied. Posters and children's pictures displayed within the playroom create a child friendly environment where children feel settled and relaxed. A good range of equipment is used by the children, ensuring their needs are fully met.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children remain safe on outings and within the childminder's home because of the effective procedures the childminder implements. For example, children are fully supervised at all times, the back door is alarmed to alert the childminder to people entering or leaving the premises and children's emergency contact details are taken on all outings to ensure appropriate people can be contacted without delay in the event of an accident. Children's knowledge on how to keep themselves safe is developing well as the childminder completes regular fire evacuation practices with them and because she discusses road safety issues with the children when they are walking to and from school. Children are protected and their welfare safeguarded, because of the childminder’s good understanding of possible indicators of abuse and her secure

p.3

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 knowledge of child protection procedures. Parents are made aware of the childminder's responsibility to protect children in her care through the informative child protection policy.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time with the childminder where they access a wide range of resources to meet their individual needs and are provided with good opportunities to learn through play. They are fully stimulated and occupied because the childminder ensures children are engaged in purposeful play. Children enthusiastically join in and enjoy activities such as baking, playing outside, going on outings, painting, cutting with scissors and playing with the toys. This results in their physical, imaginative, social and creative development being effectively promoted.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have fun and they benefit from taking part in various play activities, which the childminder adapts to meet their individual needs. They are well supported and challenged because the childminder provides children with individual care and attention to help them make progress. For example, if individual children are struggling to understand number or letter sounds, the childminder incorporates activities concerning these aspects of learning in to children's daily activities to help them make progress. The childminder effectively promotes children’s thinking skills by asking them good opened ended questions. Younger children's early language skills are promoted because the childminder continually chats to them during play. All children are settled and relate well to the childminder because she listens and values what they are saying.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel a sense of belonging as the childminder understands their differing needs and respects them as individuals. She gathers good information from parents and gets to know each child well to ensure their individual needs are well catered for. Children are also encouraged to complete a gradual induction when they start, which helps them to settle in. All children are valued and the childminder has a clear understanding of the information to gather and the procedures to follow should a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities be identified to ensure their needs are met.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is mainly good because they respond well to the effective use of praise and encouragement, which encourages their good behaviour and develops their confidence and self-esteem. They are beginning to learn right from wrong because the childminder encourages sharing, she uses a consistent approach and she discusses their behaviour with them. The childminder has developed an effective partnership with parents, which contributes to children’s well-being. She provides parents with good information on her policies and procedures through an informative portfolio, as well as providing them with a copy of her main policies in the form an information sheet. Parents learn about what their children do each day through daily exchanges of information, which includes the use of a weekly diary for all children under school age. Photographic evidence is included in the diaries, which clearly shows parents

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

what their children have been doing while in the childminder's care.

p.4

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

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care is enhanced by the childminder's ability to organise herself and her home effectively. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment, where space and resources are organised well to create an accessible, stimulating environment. The childminder remains in sole charge of the children at all times and she has completed all of the required training courses to fully ensure children's welfare is maintained. Children benefit greatly as the childminder has formed an effective partnership with parents, which ensures she can meet their needs.

p.5

Organisation

All necessary records are in place, stored confidentially and mainly completed accurately, which helps to maintain children's welfare. Children are protected and their care, development and learning are effectively promoted because informative policies and procedures are in place. The childminder's organisation of herself, her premises and her paperwork provide a strong framework for the care of children. Overall, children's needs are met.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that a system for recording children's attendance included times of arrival and departure. Although the childminder does record children's contracted hours of attendance, she is not recording their actual arrival and departure times to fully ensure children's welfare is not compromised.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

Since the 1 April 2004 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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.

p.5

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 prior written permission is obtained each time medication is administered

p.5

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 • ensure accurate information regarding children's times of arrival and departure is recorded in the register.

p.5

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

p.6

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

p.6