Veitch Alison Gail

Inspection report for early years provision

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161732 Unique Reference Number 26 September 2006 Inspection date Charlotte Jenkin 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 has been registered for nine years. She lives with her four children, in a detached house in Chippenham. There are local shops, a school and a park within walking distance. All areas of the property are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for four children under the age of eight years and currently cares for three children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is part of the committee of the local childminding group, attending the local toddler groups and childminder network meetings on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 satisfactory. Children play and rest in clean, warm and well-maintained premises. The sickness policy is formally shared with parents and ill children are not cared for. This means children are not exposed to unnecessary illness. Children are encouraged to practise good hand washing routines, they have their own hand towels for hand drying and the childminder practises good hygiene routines herself. This protects the children's health and does not put them at risk from cross infection. Children benefit from the childminder's up to date knowledge of first aid and her accurate recording of accidents. Long term medication is kept on the premises and although this has not had to be administered, there are no written instructions or permission for this in the event of children requiring it. This has the potential to compromise the children's health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop their awareness of healthy eating through the varied snacks and meals they enjoy whilst in the setting. The childminder discusses children's dietary needs and preferences prior to a child commencing in the setting. These discussions are recorded and any needs are catered for. Children have access to regular drinks throughout the day and this means they have enough fluids throughout the day. Children's dietary needs are well met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular chances for fresh air and exercise as they often walk to school. In the garden they play with a wide range of toys and equipment, including, ride on toys, ball pits, a sit on train ride, and scooters. They regularly visit the park where they have access to large apparatus and frequently visit the arboretum for long nature walks. Children are also taken to soft play centres on a weekly basis. Their physical skills are successfully promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play and rest in welcoming and child friendly premises. Space is well utilised to ensure the children have areas for resting, eating, messy play as well as plenty of floor space for play. Children have access to a wide range of stimulating toys and equipment that promote their skills in all areas. They are able to freely select the toys they wish to play with, and these free choice opportunities encourage the children to develop confidence and independence. The children benefit from the childminder's secure understanding of the safety issues regarding the storage and maintenance of resources. This enables the children to play with toys that are safe and suitable for their stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from the good range of safety measures the childminder implements to promote safety and prevent accidents both in the home and when taking the children on outings. For example, sockets are covered, the premises are secure and hazardous materials are out of the children's reach. Children, therefore move around the premises with confidence and play in safety. On outings, the childminder uses appropriate restraints and safety equipment, and re-enforces road safety with the children. All fire precautions are in place and the evacuation plan is practised with the children and its effectiveness monitored.

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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 welfare is supported by a childminder who has a thorough knowledge of child protection issues and the procedures to follow in the event of concerns. She has an effective system for sharing her child protection duties with parents, prior to a child commencing in the setting and this actively promotes the children's well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are extremely happy and settled in the childminder's care. They readily approach the childminder for comfort, for example, a cuddle, which she quickly responds to. This enables the children to feel secure and develop positive self-esteem. The children eagerly explore the toys and make choices in their play, for example, choosing various toys with buttons that light up and make noises. The childminder gets down to the children's level and supports them well in their play, role modelling to them on how to use the toys. She interacts well with them about what they are doing, and this encourages both their language development and their concentration skills. It also helps the children develop confidence in their attempts to communicate using facial expressions and gestures, for example, pointing to a toy when requesting to play or raising their arms up for a cuddle.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder organises a varied and interesting range of structured and free choice activities that help the children make progress in all areas of development. She links the activities closely to the Birth to three matters framework and monitors the children's progress in relation to this. Children, therefore, have regular opportunities to be creative, engaging in art activities, textured play and pretend play. They become confident in making decisions for themselves regarding the toys they wish to play with and are involved in age appropriate activities, including physical play, music and singing and exploration.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from a childminder who knows the children in her care well, and values and respects their individuality. They have access to a variety of resources that promote positive images of diversity in their play, and this helps them gain an insight into the wider world around them. Children have regular opportunities to socialise with other children, through visits to the local soft play centres and trips out with other childminders. They develop their awareness of the local environment as they visit parks, visit the arboretum and the zoo.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a childminder who has a thorough understanding of the positive methods to use for managing children's behaviour, including the use of praise and encouragement. She is a good role model for the children and is respectful to them. The childminder has clear boundaries for the children, and this helps them to learn right from wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the positive partnership with parents as their care needs and routines are respected and catered for in line with parents' wishes. She exchanges information with parents daily, both verbally and formally regarding the children's routines and activities. This means any childcare issues are easily discussed and this enables the childminder to offer the

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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 continuity of care. She also gives parents regular feedback on their child's developmental progress, in line with the Birth to three matters framework. Parents receive detailed information regarding the childminder's policies, procedures and the service she offers to the children and families in her care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a suitably qualified and experienced childminder. She has attended and continues to attend training to support her professional development. This enables her to implement new ideas into her practice and in turn, enhance the children's care and learning opportunities. The childminder maintains the required adult to child ratios at all times and this means the children receive good adult support from a childminder who spends quality time playing and interacting with the children, supporting their development through play. She organises her day well to meet the needs of the children.

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Organisation

Most required documentation is kept, stored securely and available for inspection. The childminder implements her policies and procedures effectively and consistently in a way that promotes the children's welfare, care and learning. She gains all necessary consents from parents regarding routines and activities and this protects the children's welfare and ensures they are cared for in line with parents' wishes.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to gain knowledge of the procedure to follow if an allegation of child abuse is made, whilst a child is in the childminders care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has a clear complaints procedure in place and this includes information for parents if they have a concern about the care she offers. She aware of the procedures to follow and ensures parent are aware of her duties too.

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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. Since 1 April 2004 Ofsted has not received any complaints that has 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

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 written permission is gained from parents for administering long term medication in case children require it

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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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