Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY333015 Unique Reference Number 07 August 2006 Inspection date Janet Maria Moutter 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 registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and their five children aged three to 11 years, in Childrey, Oxfordshire. They live in a house within walking distance of amenities such as a post office, recreation ground, school and pre-school. The family keeps two dogs and a hamster as pets. 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 three children at any one time and is currently minding three children on a part-time basis which includes one child over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler 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 good. Promotion of good health for children is important to the childminder, as they are well cared for in a warm, clean home. The children are encouraged to learn about personal hygiene and personal care, for example, through regular and routine hand washing procedures before meals and after messy activities. The childminder protects the children from the spread of infection as much as possible by her clear sickness policy that she shares with parents at contract time.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are developing an understanding of healthy eating through supplemented meals where the children are encouraged to try new and different foods. Children have an age appropriate awareness of healthy foods enjoyed by the children. For example the older children were able to say and give reasons why some snacks are good and bad. The children were presented with a healthy selection of finger foods for lunch and snacks and regular drinks are available. The childminder works with parents to support healthy eating, and to meet any special dietary requirements.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a wide range of activities to encourage their physical development. The childminder plans and includes regular visits to the park and playgrounds to develop their physical skills and extend existing skills. The childminder has a good awareness of the children's different ages and capabilities and is able to provide appropriate play opportunities each day, to encourage them to stretch for example as they walk to and from school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe in this environment as they move around freely in a busy home where risks have been identified and minimised. The entire house is registered, however, the children mostly play downstairs. There is an enclosed garden with a grassed area for play at the rear and side of the house. The shared access at the front of the house is not used for play. When walking or playing outside children learn to protect themselves, for example through learning about road safety and not talking to strangers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children can independently access activities from a good range of safe and interesting toys and equipment. For example large garden toys are stored in the garage with access easily available. The house toys are checked and stored in stackable boxes on easily accessible shelves. A wide range of suitable toys are available for the age and stage of the children using them. For example, craft materials, dressing up, dolls and drawing paper and pencils.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Older children use the kitchen under supervision where dangerous items such as knives are out of reach. The kitchen is the heart of the house with safety catches to doors to restrict unwanted access into cupboards. Access to the bathroom and garden are through the kitchen. There is good provision of smoke detectors on both levels of the house. Outside the house for example in the garden, the children are protected by the childminder's close supervision at all times.

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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 The children have access to the family pets two dogs and a hamster. However, the dogs have their own caged safe area when the childminder is out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has all the required documents in place to ensure that the children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted, for example she has a very secure knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures in line with local area child protection committee guidelines and procedures are shared with the parents. The childminder would always act in the child's best interests to maximise the children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s welfare is safeguarded further by the childminder undertaking relevant training herself. She keeps her first aid skills up to date however; she is aware that she has only recently become a registered childminder and does benefit from the support given by her childminding friends.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well, have fun and enjoy being at the childminder’s house. They relate extremely well to each other and socialise with the childminder's own children. They have a structure to their day that includes regular opportunities for walks, outings to local resources and social contacts at toddler groups. The children remain interested with activities as the childminder actively participates in games, resulting in children wanting to learn and to try new things. The children enjoy exploring a good range of activities which contributes to their creativity such as dressing up and role-play, drawing, and craft activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder promotes language development well through her constant interaction and conversation with the children. The children confidently use their language skills to communicate thoughts, feelings and needs to each other and the childminder. She listens and responds to their diverse range and emerging vocal communication skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children develop independently as they choose their own activities from a good range of resources. The childminder does not use the Birth to three matters framework as a guide to adapt activities such as singing, story telling and mark making to promote younger children's learning. However, all children spend their time purposefully such as learning from each other such as how dress and undress dolls, be a nurse or hairdresser or make glitter crowns. Children’s progress is noted in a daily diary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Overall, children make good progress in all areas of learning. This is recorded in photographs and records of activities which are attractively presented.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn to behave well through the positive behaviour management of the childminder as they begin to understand the need to share toys appropriately. Children are valued and respected as individuals which builds on their self esteem and enables them to learn right from wrong in a comfortable environment.

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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 All children receive equal care and individual attention. Children are aware of basic house rules and they are made aware that good behaviour receives praise. The childminder values the children as individuals they may use all resources provided suited to their stage or development including those, such as dolls and dressing-up clothes that reflect the diversity of modern life.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

At present there are no children with special needs at this provision. However, the childminder is making a committed effort to educate herself about particular conditions, from various sources such as the Neighbourhood Centre at Didcot.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents have clear information about the setting and how their child progresses through, for example the well put together welcome pack. All children thrive in the care of this childminder and have their needs attended to. The childminder works closely with parents to find out about their children’s specific requirements before they start with her, so that, for example routine for babies and younger children are followed. However, some parents receive regular information of what their children do and achieve during their time with the childminder and other parents have only limited details due to the time constraints at handover time.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children cared for by this childminder benefit from her knowledge and skills, which she uses very well. She does her utmost to find out about the needs of children in her care so that she looks after them appropriately. Children enjoy playing in a child-centred environment in which toys and materials are readily to hand. They receive much individual attention because the childminder is well organised and balances the various demands a large family makes on her and her time effectively.

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Organisation

All required documentation are in place and kept securely, confidentially and readily available for inspection. These contribute to the safe care of the children, as does the close relationship with parents.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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.

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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 many 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): • develop further and extend knowledge of childcare in line with Birth to three matters framework • devise and maintain a system of two way communication with parents such as when sharing their child's achievements

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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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