Southall Gail Lorraine

Inspection report for early years provision

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204915 Unique Reference Number 23 August 2006 Inspection date Christine Lynn Williams 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 1996. She lives with her husband and one child aged 15 in a suburb of Redditch. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five who attend part-time. She walks to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent and toddler group. The family has a pet hamster.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the local Childminding Network although does not currently provide funded early education. She is also a member of the National Childminding Association and of the local Childminders Support Group.

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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's health is fully protected through carefully considered hygiene and cleaning routines. Effective steps are taken to ensure there is a high standard of cleanliness at all times. For example, young children's feeding bibs are cleaned after use, accidental spills are wiped up immediately and toilet and food preparation areas are cleaned daily. Children are protected from the risk of infection because the childminder is an excellent role model to the children. She helps them to understand that washing their hands frequently keeps them healthy and they become increasing independent in their own personal care because of the good facilities and effective support that is provided. The childminder is trained in administering first aid and keeps thorough permissions and records in place regarding the administration of medication to children. Clear records are kept of all accidents and parents are fully informed of these and

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Helping children to be healthy

any other health observation through use of a daily diary system. As a result, parents are kept fully informed about their children's health and know that their children are receiving a high level of individual care and support.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are physically confident and thoroughly enjoy learning to use their bodies creatively as they dance to music, scramble through tents and tunnels or learn to do gambols and handstands. They enjoy an extensive range of fun physical activities and have regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Physical play is an integral part of young children's daily routine, ensuring they keep healthy and learn to associate exercise with having fun. Outside play is offered throughout the year and they learn to control and co-ordinate their bodies as they use such things as see-saw, bikes, hoops, stilts and push along toys. There are also trips to the local soft play centre and regular walks to the park.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's understanding of the importance of healthy eating is effectively supported because the childminder has an excellent knowledge of food nutrition and how to meet children's dietary needs and preferences. Parents provide most food, but the childminder always has fruit, raisins and healthy snacks in place to ensure that children develop a clear understanding of why some foods are more healthier than others. Parents are given information and encouraged to provide their children with healthy lunch boxes and the childminder uses this to stress the importance of reinforcing a child's understanding of healthy eating. Carefully planned activities, such as taking children to the supermarket to choose healthy fillings when making their own sandwiches, are linked to discussions about how certain foods can help them to grow healthy and strong. Food tasting activities are also organised so that young children become confident is

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Helping children to be healthy

experimenting with differing tastes and varying textures. A wide variety of different fruits are constantly available from a fruit bowl and the childminder praises children as they tuck into healthy snacks such as grapes and carrot sticks. Children are able to help themselves to drinks of juice and water throughout the day and the childminder monitors their intake to ensure they are drinking sufficiently. Young children are encouraged to feed themselves independently using appropriate training cutlery and children sit together to eat, share their news and talk about what food they like.

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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

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy a warm and comfortable atmosphere where indoor and outdoor space is organised effectively and they can learn, explore and develop safely and with close adult support. A wealth of stimulating toys and playthings are provided to keep them active and learning and they are given a high level of choice in what they would like to do. Children choose what they want to play with from a photo album of all the toys and playthings available, talk about what they want to do and plan ahead. This is also use effectively by the childminder who can see at a glance what resources she has and how these can be used to support children's varying interests and developmental needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are excellent systems for ensuring the safety of children at all times. A highly effective and very detailed risk assessment has been carried out which covers all aspects of the home, outside play, trips and outings. This is used on a daily basis to ensure children always play safely and that proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents. Children move freely and safely around the childminder's home and garden due to the close attention they receive. Gentle prompting helps them to understand how to keep themselves safe, such as being careful when doing gambols, or making sure they do not bump into each other while they are dancing. As a result, they display an excellent understanding of how to keep themselves safe and develop a strong sense of responsibility from an early age. They are protected when on outings and trips because they know road safety rules such as to stop, look for cars and look again before crossing

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the road and know what to do if they need to evacuate the home in an emergency because they have discussed and practised this with the childminder. Lost and uncollected child policies have been developed to enable the childminder to respond appropriately should either incident occur and these are shared with parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s overall well being is effectively safeguarded because the childminder understands child protection procedures and how to implement these when necessary. She has an excellent understanding of how to protect children, recognises that this is her main priority and has updated her knowledge and skills through regular top-up training. Her willingness to make notes on existing injuries and to discuss these with parents ensures that the safety of children in her care is always a priority. She also knows the indicators of abuse and has a reference guide to help her act professionally when necessary. There is an excellent written statement about child protection and she makes sure that this is read by parents and discussed before their children attend. This makes sure that they know what action she will take if she has any concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy, settled and enjoy a wealth of extremely well planned and spontaneous activities which support their development and makes them feel special. Good, warm and caring relationships are evident. The childminder is affectionate and helps children to learn and try out new skills by joining in with their play and suggesting what they might do next. For example, she danced with the children, showing them how to wiggle their bottoms and to move their arms and legs to the rhythm of the music.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 benefit from the childminder's experience and enthusiasm for constantly improving her practice. Under three's are particularly well cared for because the childminder specialises in caring for this age group, has a good understanding of their developmental needs and has used what she has learnt through training to best effect. Play and learning reflect the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and she observes and assesses what they do so that she can plan ahead to move them forward. She gains information about children's normal daily routines, knows their likes, dislikes and what their favourite toys are and uses ideas and good practice suggestions gained from training to fully develop children's creativity and expand on their learning experiences.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are confident, creative and become absorbed in what they are doing. They enjoy many practical and fun activities such as dancing to steel band music, dressing up, story times and playing with puzzles and games. Many everyday routines are turned into fun ways of learning. For example, children count the number of stairs as they walk up to the toilet and learn to identify colours as the childminder talks to them about what they are wearing. They show they feel happy and secure as she joins in with their games and helps them to be creative and expressive. She talks to them constantly, explains things and extends their knowledge of the world and the things they see around them. Excellent home made resources are used to inspire children's imagination and encourage them to learn through their senses. For example, they stick with glue, play with rice, walk barefooted on textured tiles and enjoy discovering the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

different properties of jelly, wet spaghetti and foam. They explore and experiment with interesting natural objects pulled from a sensory sack, such as African bamboo mats, sacking, cork, coral and conifer cones. They use their imaginations widely as they experience with what it might be like to be someone else through dressing up and role play and act out different situations through small world play. Their knowledge of their local environment and living things is enhanced as they watch squirrels in the garden and feed the birds and they extend their experiences of their local community with visits to toddler groups, shops, parks and soft play centre.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely confident and self-assured. There are obvious close bonds and this is reflected in the children's high self-esteem. There is a wealth of opportunities for children to be highly valued, cuddled and comforted and their individual needs and personalities are constantly recognised and affirmed. Children play cooperatively, share, support each other and are kind, polite and helpful. They respond enthusiastically to requests for help to tidy away their toys and show great pleasure in the constant praise and encouragement they receive. They follow the childminder's example and know she is sensitive to their feelings. Negative situations are turned into positive experiences with kindness and laughter and the children gain immense benefit from this. The childminder uses many of the behaviour management techniques she has learnt through training to get the best from children. As a result they act

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Helping children make a positive contribution

positively and learn to cope with their varying emotions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are treated as one of the family and so feel they belong. Their understanding of differing family backgrounds and a diverse society is effectively promoted as they play with

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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 dressing up clothes, look at books and enjoy activities and topics linked to different festival celebrations. For example, children tasted noodles and looked at different artefacts during Chinese New Year and dressed up in national costume during an Egyptian themed day. There is a strong commitment to inclusion and the childminder has carried out a wide range of training and has significantly increased her knowledge so that she can plan ahead to care for children with specific learning difficulties or disabilities. This allows a wider range of children to experience high quality care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a strong relationship with parents and this contributes significantly to children's overall well-being. Close collaboration ensures there is constant two-way flow of information between the childminder and home and parents are encouraged to give their views regularly and these are acted upon. For example, questionnaires are used by the childminder to gain the information she needs to improve her practice and meet the needs of both children and parents. Regular appointments ensure parents can discuss any care issues and talk about what they want for their children, while newsletters keep them up-do-date. Parents share in what their children have been doing through seeing photographs and taking home craft work. They receive a wealth of information about the childminder's practice and how their children are developing through clear documentation and open relationships. Parents' views are respected and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

acknowledged and prompt action is taken on any concerns raised.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's care is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation. An excellent standard of records, documentation and policies are maintained and these fully support the very high quality of care offered. She is an experienced minder who constantly seeks ways to improve her knowledge and service and who has accessed an impressive range of training in order to improve her knowledge and keep up-to-date with current early years thinking. She regularly seeks parents' views and comments and acts upon these as part of her dedication to self evaluation and reflective practice. Children's individual needs, preferences and personalities are carefully considered at all times and she works over and beyond her normal childminding hours to plan and devise new ways to enhance children's care, well being and development. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to improve the range of toys and playthings that reflect social diversity and encourage imaginary play. She also agreed to access information and to support children with specific needs.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Exceptional progress has been made since the last inspection due to the childminder's dedication and commitment to improving her knowledge and practice through training. Children's creativity has been further developed by increasing the amount of small world, role play and dressing up resources that are available to encourage children to use their imaginations widely. Ideas and good practice suggestions gained through training have been put into practice and this ensures the childminder is able to fully support children in developing and learning through creative play.

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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 The childminder has also accessed a wide variety of training to improve her own knowledge and understanding of diversity in order to more effectively promote this with the children in her care. Topic work and themes are now planned to promote cultural diversity and there is an extensive range of good quality story and reference books that help children consider and compare the similarities and differences of their own backgrounds with those of others. Children now have access to a broad range of resources, play opportunities and activities which help them to understand differing family backgrounds and acknowledge cultural differences and the childminder is able to confidently talk to children about social diversity because she has improved her own knowledge.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has also attended several training courses relating to the care of children with learning difficulties. This has increased her knowledge and allows her to plan ahead to care for children with specific needs.

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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

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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