Molloy Lynda Kathleen

Inspection report for early years provision

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222015 Unique Reference Number 17 October 2006 Inspection date Caroline Wright 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 1984. She lives with her husband and adult children in Milton, Cambridgeshire. The whole of the childminder’s house is used for childminding, with upstairs for sleeping, and there is 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 six children at any one time. She is currently minding six children under five on part time basis. She regularly works with another childminder. When they work together, the two childminders may care for eight children between them. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and she attends the local toy library and mobile library with minded children. The family has a rabbit as a pet.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) & attends the local childminding 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 outstanding. Children actively learn the importance of good personal hygiene through highly effective daily routines. They always wash their hands after using the toilet and use wipes before and after eating to prevent them getting infections. The childminder acts as a superb role model, washing her own hands, cleaning tables and work-surfaces before preparing food. Children’s ongoing good health is given utmost priority. Baby toys are cleaned after each use with anti-bacterial cleanser and all other toys are cleaned routinely at least every four weeks. If the children need to take any medicines or become unwell whilst they are in the care of the childminder, excellent records are in place to make sure that they are extremely well cared for. In particular, the childminder records when children received their last dose of a medicine at home and parents sign to acknowledge every dose the childminder gives to children. This expert practice

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Helping children to be healthy

significantly reduces the risk of children being given too much medicine by accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from the childminder's excellent knowledge and understanding of childhood nutrition. She provides healthy snacks of fresh fruit and vegetables every day and their dietary needs are superbly well met. Children have regular drinks of water or milk, so that they remain well hydrated and can think effectively. Children learn about healthy eating through highly effective, practical experiences that promote discussion about food. For example, the childminder enables children to prepare their own sandwiches for tea or make ‘pizza faces’; children eagerly eat their fruit at snack time so that they can plant the pips and seeds and watch them grow.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding of the needs of babies and children under three-years-old. She uses the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework very effectively to help children to make excellent progress and to enhance their learning. Children develop new physical skills according to their stage of development using the splendid range of toys and resources that she provides. Babies crawl around safely and pull themselves to standing using the sturdy sitting room furniture and learn to walk by holding the childminders hands for support. Toys are placed on the babies’ play mat, within their reach and others just a short distance away to encourage them to move forward and explore further. In addition, children feed and sleep according to their own individual routines and take part in daily exercise, such as running around and climbing in the park, dancing and stretching to music or playing with

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a very safe environment where all risks are minimised and their safety is of the utmost priority. For example, smoke alarms are checked regularly and emergency evacuation practices are carried out each month to ensure that the childminder has identified any factors that would hinder evacuation in the event of a fire. Children move around safely and independently under the childminder's expert supervision. The childminder effectively helps children to learn to keep themselves safe by gently reminding them to pick up toys, so that they do not fall over them. Children learn about staying safe outside the home through

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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 very effective first hand experiences: for example, holding hands when they go out for walks with the childminder, they are consistently encouraged to ‘look and listen for cars’ when they cross the road. In addition, purposeful activities such as small world play with cars or role-play police and ambulance, are highly successful in helping children to learn about keeping safe and seeking emergency help in the future. Children learn to use knives and scissors safely, with the childminders support and vigilant supervision so that they can develop essential skills whilst keeping themselves and each other safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use resources, which are rigorously checked by the childminder daily to ensure they are in exemplary condition and absolutely safe for them to use. Children's overall welfare is efficiently maintained by rigorous procedures and clear documents that consistently promote their safety. For example, the childminder always carries out a thorough risk assessment before children arrive each day to ensure that all areas used by children are safe. The childminder has an excellent understanding of child protection procedures, which are in line with those set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children access a very wide range of extremely interesting and worthwhile activities planned in advance by the childminder. The childminder selects a good range of different attractive resources each day and puts them out for children to help themselves to during the session. They play with electronic ‘cause and effect’ toys, eagerly pressing buttons and watching lights flash and listening to the music play. Young children accesses mark making equipment and paper, developing early writing skills and learning that marks carry meaning. Young children enjoy dancing together to music, stretching and actively learning about the way their bodies work as they move to the rhythm. Children of all ages learn about nature and the changing of seasons when they collect leaves and conkers for their artwork or walk to the country park with the childminder. Children enjoy splashing in the puddles on wet days, which helps them to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

develop their understanding of the world they live in. They learn about numbers and use the language of mathematics in meaningful contexts: they decide which size conker is best to use and then count ‘how many’ they have won when they play ‘conker bowling’ with the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder enthusiastically responds to children's questions and treats their conversations very seriously. She actively engages in their play and very effectively extends their thinking. She expertly uses children's play to build on what they already know. For example, she encourages toddlers to become confident communicators when she sensitively questions them about what they see in the picture books that she shares with them. She encourages children to choose a book from the shelf in the entrance area to take home to share with their parents or carers, which is highly effective in promoting children’s enjoyment of stories and reading. The childminder encourages under three-year-olds to develop new physical skills and explore their creativity through practical experiences that they enjoy. For example, children enthusiastically thread pasta onto string to make a necklace, whilst actively developing their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

hand and eye co-ordination. They develop essential manipulative skills when they use tools such as knives and forks or scissors under the childminder’s expert supervision and guidance. They regularly play with dough and excitedly explore the texture of paint or mix colours using

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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 their hands and fingers. The childminder uses her excellent knowledge and understanding of how children and babies learn to encourage them to make excellent progress in all areas.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children have equal opportunities to play with the interesting resources that the childminder prepares for them each day. They are very confident and show a strong sense of belonging. The childminder follows babies’ individual routines and talks to their carers about their likes and dislikes; as a result babies leave their mother’s happily and feel secure. Children engage in activities that help them to learn about all members of society and the world they live in. They display high levels of self-esteem, and they form very good relationships with the childminder and each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well and understand what is expected of them. They learn about the needs of others when they help to feed and care for ‘shadow’ the rabbit. They learn to share resources and co-operate with each other under the childminder’s expert guidance. The childminder listens enthusiastically to their ideas and responds with encouraging comments so that children feel valued and respected.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from good relationships between the childminder and their parents or carers. Children’s individual progress is discussed daily with their parents and a ‘scrap book’, with examples of children’s work and photographs of children’s achievements, enables parents and carers to be well informed and involved in their children’s learning. In addition, the childminder provides parents with a regular newsletter containing information about future topics she has planned for children, so that they can support their children at home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The good organisation of the childminding promotes positive outcomes for children. Children are received into a relaxed and comfortable environment and leave their parents with confidence. The spacious entrance area, with individual drawers for children to put their personal ‘treasures’ and a wealth of information for parents, provides a warm welcome for children and their families. The organisation of the play space allows children plenty of space to move safely and move imaginatively. Toys and equipment are ready for when the children arrive each morning to encourage them to leave their parents easily and settle into their play.

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Organisation

The childminder is very experienced and has an excellent knowledge and understanding of child development. The childminder is committed to her own professional development. She attends a wide range of relevant training courses, such as Child Protection and Behaviour Management to enable her to reflect upon her practice and provide quality care to children. In addition, she uses the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework very effectively to plan worthwhile activities for children under three-years-old. However, the organisation of additional toys and resources does not fully support children's independence or decision making.

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Organisation

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 of the essential documents are in place and properly organised. Up to date records about individual children’s needs, contribute to the health and safety of all of the children that the childminder looks after.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to keep Ofsted informed about any significant changes that affect her registration. Since the last inspection she has notified Ofsted that she works with another childminder and her certificate of registration was amended to reflect the change. There have been no other changes that the childminder would need to report to Ofsted. However, she is aware that she must keep Ofsted informed in the future if any other changes should occur.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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 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): • organise toys and equipment to improve children's ability to freely choose additional resources and initiate new activities independently when they want to, so that they can easily pursue their own interests and learn to make decisions through first-hand experiences.

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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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