Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY235020 Unique Reference Number 08 June 2006 Inspection date Rosemary Beyer 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 March 2003, to care for five children in total. She is currently caring for seven children, most of them before and after school. She lives with her family in a three bedroomed detached house in the town of Pocklington. The house is built on different levels and is situated in a quiet road on the outskirts of the town near the local secondary school. Children have the use of the sitting room, dining room, conservatory and kitchen, on the ground and first floors. The outside area is secure, but also on various levels. There are two areas of decking which are flat, and a lawn and rockery which are on a slope. There is one cat and some goldfish in the household.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The home is within walking distance of all the local schools, the shops and the local play area. The children also go for walks in the locality and attend tennis lessons in the summer. Younger children are able to attend local playgroups and the music group. The childminder is a member of the local childminders' group and the Toy Library.

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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. The children are cared for on premises which are clean and well maintained. The childminder ensures she uses antibacterial cleaner as part of her well established and effective hygiene practice. Children employ good practice themselves, the older ones implementing hand washing without reminding and the younger ones still learning.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has recently attended a training session concerned with good dental hygiene and encourages children to eat healthily to protect their teeth. She has also learned about quickly prepared healthy meals specially for children. She provides breakfast, a snack lunch and then a meal in the evening, depending on the parents' needs and wishes. The emphasis is on healthy foods, with fruit and vegetables given high priority. Children are able to help themselves to drinks at all times, with the younger ones encouraged to drink to prevent dehydration.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children do not attend when they are ill, and the parents respect the sick child policy which is in place. The childminder has the necessary permissions for emergency help and medication in place. She also has an accident book which is completed appropriately. The first aid box is well stocked and she is currently renewing her first aid certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have fresh air every day, weather permitting, either when walking to and from school, playing in the garden or on walks in the locality. They use a good range of outdoor toys, suitable for all ages, including a small trampoline and basket ball net for older children. Some of the older children go to tennis or swimming lessons or for walks into the country. If children need to rest they are able to do so and the younger ones sleep either on the settee or in their pushchairs, depending on parents' wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Good safety procedures are in place to minimise hazards within the home. Safety gates are used to good effect as the home is built on several levels, with younger children using the first floor and the older ones, if they wish to be quiet, using the ground floor. The garden is also on a slope and has been made safer by the installation of areas of decking. Fire equipment is in place and fire drills practised with the children using different areas of the home as seats of fire. The outside doors and gates are secure to prevent access by unauthorised persons, but exit from the house is easy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder checks the premises and resources each day before minding starts to ensure the toys are safe and any damaged resources are removed. Older children are able to use toys with small pieces downstairs in the sitting room away from younger ones. They all use toys safely and carefully, ensuring they clear up when they have finished with activities.

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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 Children's awareness of their safety when out of the home has been raised as a result of the childminder attending road safety training and giving them advice. The children know they must walk sensibly when on the pavement and cross the road carefully. Suitable car seats and harnesses are available for when out in the car.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good knowledge of child protection and the procedure to follow if she has concerns about the children. She has attended training to ensure her knowledge is up to date and contact details are readily available.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has started to use Birth to three matters to guide her practice with younger children. They can choose from a wide range of toys and resources suitable for their development needs, including paint, water and sand. All the children have a library ticket which they use to select books for themselves and all the children know how to use books properly; the little ones love stories and looking at pictures. The younger children attend music group, toddler group and the local childminders' group meetings in the town.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Activities are planned for children before and after school, although they can choose other things to do. They have a wide range of work sheets which they use to develop their use of language and mathematics. They choose to do them and enjoy the achievement. Work can be taken home each day, although a file is maintained for each child with photographs and samples of work. The children enjoy sewing, baking and craft activities, including using a wide range of materials to make masks, book marks, cards and models. They also have Music Week when they sing and use musical instruments, some brought from home, and Show Week when they produce a show with singing and dancing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During school holidays, visits to the swimming pool, seaside, Flamingoland, Wacky Warehouse and Creepy Crawlies are very popular. Photographs show the children enjoying the outings with the childminder and her family.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has good relationships with parents. They keep each other informed about the children with a daily written report provided for each of the younger children, including information about activities, food, nappies and sleep. Verbal feedback is given for older children. When children start to attend, the parents complete a form with domestic information about their child to ensure the needs of the child can be met while in the childminder's care, in addition to the required detail. Written permissions are in place for medication, emergency help and outings, as well as sun cream and photographs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children behave very well. The childminder has attended training on managing positive behaviour and conflict in the past and finds the children behave well in the encouraging environment she provides. They know they are valued as individuals and their needs catered for. Parents are involved if the children's behaviour is a problem.

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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 Some resources, including books and dolls, are available to raise children's awareness of diversity; however, these need to be developed to widen children's knowledge and understanding. No children with learning difficulties or disabilities are cared for at present, although the childminder has undertaken training to raise her awareness of the issues she may face if caring for a child with different needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has her certificate on display and keeps to the conditions of registration to ensure children are well supervised. She understands the importance of keeping Ofsted informed of any changes or significant events.

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Organisation

Appropriate paperwork is in place to maintain the safe and efficient management of the setting. Confidentiality is respected and records stored securely, although available for parents. They also have access to a written complaints procedure. Personal records are kept separately from the general file available to new parents. Overall the setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has undertaken training to improve her understanding and confidence in caring for a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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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): • continue to develop resources to widen children's knowledge of diversity

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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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