Laud Beverley

Inspection report for early years provision

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207720 Unique Reference Number 24 October 2006 Inspection date Janet Ashcroft 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 1990. She lives with her husband and adult son and daughter, in Linton, Swadlincote. The whole of the ground floor and the master bedroom upstairs is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. Minded children have supervised access to the family's pets, these are: three cats, a dog, a rabbit and a guinea pig.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time; she presently has ten children on roll who attend for a variety of sessions.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a level 3 early years qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association and the Derbyshire Childminding Network. She operates a collection and delivery service to local schools and nurseries and regularly visits local toddler and pre-school groups.

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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 strenuously safeguarded through the childminder’s policies, procedures and records; these are commendably organised to enable the required information to be located immediately and are exemplary in their level of detail, maintenance and review. The children are actively and consistently learning about good hygiene routines through the childminder's first-rate practice, she is exemplary in her own personal hygiene routines and is an excellent role model for the children. She inspires the children's interest in personal hygiene, for example, by singing songs with them as they wash and by providing an excellent range of equipment to encourage their independence skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with an exceptional range of exciting and stimulating activities and opportunities to develop physical skills outdoors; a daily outdoor activity is a feature of the setting and opportunities are regularly taken in the school holidays for exciting full day trips.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s nutritional needs are accommodated exceptionally well and the childminder provides a wonderful range of freshly prepared and exciting meals, planned to broaden the children's palates and to stimulate their interest in healthy eating. The children are actively learning about healthy foods through a range of exciting activities, for example, growing vegetable tops and cookery activities. Older children have recently helped the childminder to revise the teatime menu, which now includes a self-service salad bar.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The setting is exciting and stimulating; photographs and examples of the children's creative work are attractively and extensively displayed, making an exceptionally warm and welcoming environment for all children. The children enjoy independent access to an extensive range of stimulating toys, equipment and furniture, which is kept in excellent condition and which effectively fosters all areas of their development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is meticulously safeguarded through the childminder’s excellent practice. She encourages the children to regularly participate in safety routines, such as fire evacuations and as a result, they are actively learning to keep themselves safe. The childminder is creative in her approach to teaching the children about other aspects of safety, such as road crossing drills, and provides excellent resources to help them learn through role play and stories. Children’s protection from abuse and neglect is promoted through the childminder's comprehensive knowledge of signs and symptoms and of reporting procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are able to engage in a splendid range of activities; these are linked to relevant early years curricula and are planned in advance to help the children to make progress in all areas of

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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 development. For example, the children are actively learning about their environment and about the natural world as they help to care for the family pets. Early mathematical skills are spontaneously promoted as the children measure ingredients to make and ice cakes. Exciting sensory play with sand and water, and also with more unusual materials such as dry macaroni, actively fosters younger children's sense of curiosity and encourages them to learn through exploration and investigation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are given frequent stimulating opportunities to explore and investigate and to relate to others during daily learning and play opportunities outside the home, for example, toddler groups and the local library. Longer day trips include such exciting venues as Twycross Zoo and the fire station.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder enthusiastically encourages the children's communication skills by frequently asking their opinions and by encouraging them to participate in general conversation and discussion. She invariably values their contributions, effectively enhancing their self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has undertaken 'Birth to three matters' training. She tells the children often that they are loved and is always ready with cuddles and kisses, acknowledging and affirming their need to be valued. She has developed a close relationship with all the children, fostering their emotional well-being as she encourages them to feel special and important to her.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The setting is exceptionally welcoming for all children, the childminder recognises each child as a unique individual and has a proactive approach to caring for children with learning difficulties; as a result, the individual needs of all children are very effectively met. The children are able to freely access a large and meaningful range of activities and resources to raise their awareness and understanding of diversity, for example, enticing role-play costumes and festival cookery activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children behave well and show care and concern for one another; they are actively learning about socially acceptable behaviour through the childminder's gentle and positive reminders. The children's self-esteem is very effectively promoted by the childminder and their pride in their achievements is enhanced as they are praised frequently for effort and success.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children benefit tremendously from the childminder's first-class relationship with parents, which ensures strong continuity of care and which greatly fosters the children's sense of security. The childminder exchanges information with parents about their children's progress on a daily basis and in a variety of ways; she also seeks out and provides parents with additional information on more general aspects of childcare and education.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The children are able to actively explore and investigate as a result of the exceptionally well-organised use of space, which has been very effectively planned to enable them to participate in a variety of stimulating activities. Their sense of security and belonging is fostered through the well-organised daily routine, which has been thoughtfully planned to anticipate and meet their needs.

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Organisation

The children benefit from the childminder’s exemplary documentation, which evidences her commitment to providing them with first class care. Record keeping is outstanding and policies and procedures are detailed and comprehensive and are an accurate representation of her excellent practice. Children further benefit from the extensive and continuing professional training undertaken by the childminder; she has a thirst to develop and improve her practice and to build upon and share her strengths.

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Organisation

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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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. 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

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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