Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY221627 Unique Reference Number 06 March 2007 Inspection date Jenny Howell 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 has been a registered since 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged ten and seven years. They live in a house in a residential area of Chelmsford. Schools, pre- schools and parks are in easy walking distance. The whole of the premises are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding 12 children, including those over the age of eight, for various times throughout the week. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. The childminder visits a local carer and toddler group 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 outstanding. Children exercise and learn about fitness through the wide range of excellent opportunities provided by the childminder. Children exercise through regular walks around the local area, visiting parks and soft play centres as well as garden and indoor play. This includes swings, slides, skipping ropes, balancing games, push along cars and tricycles. They exercise inside, crawling though tents and tunnels and wobbling about on balancing toys.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy eating through the wide variety of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder. Meals are balanced and varied, providing children with the opportunity to try new things and widen their experiences. Children are involved in the selection of foods and fruits for snack time, which helps them to develop an understanding of the importance of making healthy choices. Children's individual dietary and cultural needs are understood and met by the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from illness and infection by the childminder who maintains an excellent level of hygiene within her home. Toys and equipment are frequently checked for safety and are regularly cleaned. All areas of the home used by children are cleaned daily, with particular attention given to the areas and furniture used for eating. Children learn about simple hygiene routines and confidently explain when and why they need to wash their hands, '…when we have lunch we have to wash our hands'. Children's welfare is given a high priority by the childminder who has made arrangements for a nearby registered childminder, who is well known to the children, to provide emergency care should she become ill.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to rest and sleep according to their individual needs. The childminder provides a cot, with fresh bedding, upstairs for children to sleep undisturbed by play and uses a monitor to ensure that children are safe, as well as making regular checks. Children who need to rest or wind down are able to make use of quiet, comfy areas when they can read, watch television or cuddle a toy.

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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 safe and secure environment. The childminder gives safety a high priority and regularly carries out a comprehensive risk assessment of all areas used by children. Children learn and understand simple house rules and talk about the reasons for these. For example, to play with toys nicely as throwing them may hurt others and not climbing on furniture as this may result in a fall. Children learn about fire safety by practising escape routes and by talking with the childminder about what to do in an emergency. Children are kept safe on trips around the local area by the childminder who helps them to learn about road safety and ensures that they stay nearby at all times. Effective contingency plans and procedures such as always carrying a list of emergency contacts helps the childminder to ensure that she can make contact with parents quickly at any time. Children's welfare is safeguarded by the childminder who has

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

an excellent understanding of child protection policies and procedures.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children participate in an extensive range of stimulating and engaging activities, which are closely tailored to their individual ages and stages of development. Children take the lead as they enthusiastically select games and toys which are regularly rotated to provide variety and maintain interest. They develop confidence and self-esteem as they are able to select and suggest games and resources and are encouraged and supported by the childminder in all that they do. Everyday activities are turned into small adventures, for example by turning lunch into an indoor picnic when the weather is bad. The needs of babies and toddlers are well met by the childminder who skilfully adapts games and activities to include children of all ages. She has a good understanding of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and provides activities which cover all elements of this.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn about the world around them as they visit local shops, museums, parks and libraries. They have opportunities to mix with others, regularly attending a local toddler group as well as meeting up with other childminders and children. This helps them to develop social skills as well as enhancing the variety of activities on offer. Children enjoy dancing and making music as they experiment with instruments and learn to keep a simple beat. They learn about nature and the environment as they talk about the noise of the wind and rain and help out with sorting packaging for household recycling with the childminder, who skilfully asks and answers questions to enhance learning. Children are encouraged to develop independence as they grow older, visiting the toilet alone as they become able to manage their own personal hygiene, learning to tidy away toys as they finish playing with them and choosing their own

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are highly valued within the childminder's home. They have their own hook for their coats and bags, helping to make them welcomed and included. Toys and resources which are appropriate to all the ages and interests of children cared for are made easily accessible, helping children to settle quickly and become absorbed in play and daily routines. Children learn to celebrate difference and diversity as they learn about the festivals of different religions and talk about important events in their own family life. Children also enjoy celebrating events such as Mother's day and Valentine's day by making cards and gifts to take home for their family.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive excellent information about the setting from the childminder who takes time to answer any questions before caring for children and finds out as much as possible about individual children so that she can meet their needs effectively. Parents are welcomed into the childminder's home and are free to phone at any time of day to see how children are or to discuss concerns they may have such as children's coughs and colds. The childminder has established a superb relationship with parents who are delighted with the care offered, making comments such as "She is 100% trustworthy and I would recommend her to any other parent" and "(the childminder) always has something different for the children to do. It is amazing how she keeps all the children of different ages occupied". Parents are kept up to date with what

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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 their children have done and the progress they are making and a written diary is completed and sent home with younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Excellent use is made of praise and encouragement to help children to feel valued and special. Children behave exceedingly well and develop a close and caring relationship with each other and the childminder. The childminder has a firm yet fair approach to behaviour management, listening to what children have to say about a situation whilst ensuring that they are clear about the house rules and the difference between right and wrong.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for in a child centred environment, with toys and activities ready as they arrive. Space and resources are well organised to provide children with a choice of areas in which to play, including large areas of floor space for small world play, comfy chairs for relaxing and tables and chairs for craft and games. Excellent use is made of the garden and local resources to provide children with opportunities to exercise and play in the fresh air. Children's care is enhanced by the range of thorough and well organised documentation. This includes a wide range of written policies and procedures which are unique to the setting. All required records are kept including accident and medication logs in which confidentiality is maintained. The childminder has attended relevant training which allows her to offer children appropriate care, including holding an up to date first aid certificate. She is also dedicated to improving the care

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Organisation

she offers children by attending further training, including food hygiene, behaviour management and 'Birth to three matters'.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection safety and documentation have improved. The childminder has obtained written parental permission to transport children in a vehicle and to administer medication where necessary. This helps to ensure that children are cared for according to their parents' wishes. The stairs have been made safe by changing the banisters from a horizontal 'ranch' style to vertical spindles. The front door is now kept locked when children are present, with the key easily accessible in case of emergency. These improvements help to ensure that children are safe and secure at all times and that risks to them are minimised.

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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 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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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 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

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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