Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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250947 Unique Reference Number 02 August 2006 Inspection date Lynn Denise Smith 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 1995. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Lakenheath. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. She attends a local toddler tumblers group, takes children to the library and the park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding eleven children one of whom attends on a full time basis, the others attend on a part time basis.

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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's medical and toileting needs are very well met as the childminder follows clear procedures with regard to changing children's nappies, wearing rubber gloves and cleaning all equipment after use. Children are encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet, before they eat meals and when they have been playing outdoors. Well presented written policies on health and safety and sickness ensure that the childminder is working consistently and keeping parents fully informed of her working practices.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have very good opportunities to experience fresh air on a daily basis. They play in the garden as often as possible and go for walks in the local area. They enjoy playing in the park and going to feed the ducks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's nutritional needs are very well met as the childminder and parents work well together to effectively meet their needs, likes and dislikes. Children usually bring their own meals to the childminder's house and she presents them at appropriate times to meet the individual children's daily routines. For example, one child who wakes and has breakfast very early in the morning, has her lunch at about eleven o clock, whereas those who have breakfast later, will have their meal towards midday. Children sit at the table and share this important time with the childminder and her family; they have regular drinks throughout the day in their own special cups or drinking bottles.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming house which is made child friendly as the childminder presents toys and equipment at the children's height and in a fun attractive way. Children freely wander between the lounge, dining area and conservatory and access the garden with the childminder's supervision. Furniture and household equipment is positioned to provide children with a good amount of clear floor space to play in.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have excellent opportunities to self select toys and play materials from the extensive range presented in storage boxes around the lounge floor and on well presented low shelving in the conservatory. They play with clean and safe equipment as the childminder ensures her resources are washed regularly and any equipment which is unsafe is discarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is paramount within this childminder's home. She ensures that all safety issues are identified and addressed immediately and makes any areas which are unsafe inaccessible to minded children, for example, a small section of the garden has been fenced off as it contains some potentially hazardous items of building materials. Children learn about keeping safe as they talk with the childminder about walking carefully around the house and finding a safe place to cross the road.

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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 are very well protected from potential harm as the childminder has a sound knowledge of child protection issues. She is aware of the changes to the child protection procedures and has recently attended a training course to update her knowledge.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have fun freely accessing a wide and exciting range of toys and play equipment. They help themselves to cars, construction toys, puzzles, dolls and role play equipment. They have some opportunities during the day to experience free play and other times when the childminder organises slightly more structured activities at the dining room table. They enjoy colouring in some worksheets using different coloured crayons and pencils, their learning is developed and encouraged by the childminder talking to them about what colours they are using and what pictures are on the sheet.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to learn from everyday activities which are going on around them. For example, tree surgeons arrive to cut the branches off of a neighbours tree. The children excitedly watch what happens from the childminder's living room window; the childminder makes sure that they are safe as they stand on a low table to get a better view and then extends their learning by talking to them about what is happening.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children talk about the weather with the childminder. She encourages them to look outside and tell her whether it is sunny or cloudy, whether the trees are moving and whether they feel hot or cold. They enjoy this activity and participate well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children help the childminder to make their own play dough. They decorate biscuits and participate in some seasonal cooking activities such as making chocolate birds nests at Easter. Children enjoy looking at books and having stories; they sit with the childminder's daughter and listen intently to the story, repeating it when the story has ended.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's language is superbly enriched as the childminder talks to the children throughout the day. Extending their vocabulary and encouraging them to name objects and comment on what is happening. They communicate very well and enjoy the fun, sociable interaction they have with the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's needs are very well met as the childminder and parents spend valuable time discussing their individual requirements, needs, and home backgrounds. They meet prior to the childminding arrangement commencing and share information about how the parents wish their children to be cared for and how the childminder wishes to conduct her service; this enables the childminder to build a good sound knowledge of the children and what they like and dislike. Children who require additional help are supported by the childminder using her previous knowledge and working with the parents to find out as much about the children's conditions as possible.

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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 Children are very well behaved, they share joyful laughter together and have fun playing with and alongside each other. They are beginning to understand the childminder's clear boundaries as she consistently applies her ground rules and re-enforces what is acceptable in her home in a positive and friendly manner. Children receive lots of praise and encouragement and enjoy receiving a sticker for really good behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's wellbeing is excellently promoted as the parents and childminder work very effectively together. They share information daily on a verbal basis and also in a daily diary. Their parents are kept fully informed of what they have been doing each day as the childminder writes about what they have been doing and draws pictures to illustrate the weather and whether they have earned a smiley face for being good.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a childminder who has many years of experience. She uses her experience to provide the families in her care with a safe, stable and professional childminding service. Children benefit from her calm and relaxed personality and enjoy the company of her family. Children are cared for by adults who have been vetted and cleared, however some of the childminder's children have now reached the age of sixteen years and need to complete relevant checks.

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Organisation

Children are cared for in both small and larger groups enabling them to experience some individual attention from the childminder whilst also enabling them to participate in group activities and learn how to negotiate play with other children. Their attendance is clearly recorded and the childminder is mindful never to exceed her registered numbers or required ratios.

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Organisation

Well organised and up to date documentation supports the childminder's practice and enables her to provide parents and children with a professional and well informed service. Records are regularly reviewed to ensure the childminder is kept fully aware of any changes to the family situation.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 April 2004. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by the parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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Complaints 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

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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 that all adults living on the premises are vetted and cleared to be in the proximity of young children • further develop the childminder's practice with regard to children aged under three years, for example, by accessing and implementing the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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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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