Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY229655 Unique Reference Number 14 December 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 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and five years in a village in South Cambridgeshire. The whole of the 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 four children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five and two children over five on a part-time basis. She also cares for one child over eight years of age. She walks to local schools to take and collect children and she attends the local toddler groups. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with disabilities or learning difficulties as well as those with English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and 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 good. Children learn to lead a healthy lifestyle through practical experiences and everyday routines. They go for walks to the park or run around outside in the garden each day to benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. They use a wide range of equipment indoors and out to help them to develop new physical skills: they ride bicycles and scooters, push buggies and jump on the trampoline; they use scissors and beads to develop hand and eye coordination.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy eating when they discuss the kind of food they want to eat and plan the rota for after school meals and snacks. In addition they enjoy nutritious packed lunches provided by their parents and the childminder gives them snacks of fresh fruit each day. Children have free access to drinks so that they remain well hydrated and can think effectively.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through regular daily routines to promote their ongoing good health. They wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating; individual hand towels are clearly labelled and changed each day to prevent cross-infection. If the children become unwell whilst they are in the care of the childminder, up to date records are in place to make sure that they are adequately cared for. However, the childminder does not obtain parents’ written permission to seek medical treatment or advice; this compromises children’s well-being in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of the needs of babies and children under three-years-old. Babies develop new physical skills according to their stage of development using the wide range of interesting cause and effect toys and versatile resources, such as the car shaped blow up ball pool that the childminder provides. Babies are able to crawl around safely and pull themselves to standing using the sturdy sitting room furniture.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in an extremely safe environment where all risks are minimised and they move around safely and independently under the childminder's constant supervision. The childminder is highly pro-active in seeking guidance on promoting children's safety. As a result, she has developed a very effective risk assessment document to support the daily procedure for checking that the home and garden are safe. In addition, the childminder expertly helps children to learn to keep themselves safe by discussing relevant safety issues with them. Following the discussion, the children agreed a policy to ensure their own safety when they are all together walking back from school with the childminder. They decided that they will ’hold hands, stay together and wait for an adult before crossing over driveways or roads’.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children select their own activities and resources from clearly labelled storage boxes. Toys with small parts or those which can be dangerous, such as scissors, are stored out of reach of younger children. All of the toys and equipment that children use are rigorously checked by the childminder to ensure they are all in perfect condition and safe. Children's overall welfare is

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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 extremely well maintained by effective procedures and thorough documentation that actively promotes their safety. For example, the childminder has an excellent understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures for dealing with any concerns for children’s well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s safety on outings is exceptionally well promoted. The childminder takes essential information with her when she is on outings or walks with children, to alert the emergency services in the event of an accident. This includes details of children with allergies or existing illnesses, contact telephone numbers of minded children’s parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the childminder’s house and form very strong relationships with each other and the childminder. Their learning and development is encouraged in an excellent range of interesting and meaningful ways. For example, children plan theme days, such as ‘space’ for the summer holidays, making space-rockets and robot masks with recycled packaging; they make their own puppets and use them to present puppet shows to each other. This helps them to develop their creativity and communication skills as they play. Children regularly paint pictures and freely access drawing and colouring materials so that they can make meaningful marks and learn to communicate their ideas through pictures and early writing. They develop their imagination through role play and telling their own stories as they play at café’s or with the duplo house. Young children use the language of mathematics and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

number names with understanding as they play; talking about ‘more’ milk or ‘two cars’. The childminder skilfully extends their knowledge when she expertly engages them in discussions with the children as they play. Children’s own efforts in artwork are highly valued and displayed attractively on the walls in the play room for others to see and enjoy, promoting children's confidence and developing extremely high levels of self-esteem.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children eagerly pursue their own interests and their independence is actively promoted. The childminder uses her excellent understanding of how young children learn to plan a wide range of interesting, practical activities that enable children to explore so that they make very good progress in their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies form excellent relationships with other children as they play alongside them and learn to share resources. Toys are carefully placed within babies’ reach to stimulate their interest and actively encourage them to investigate further. The childminder enthusiastically responds to babies’ ‘babbling’ with encouraging smiles and comments, to help them to become confident communicators. Children of all ages enjoy sharing stories and looking at books with the childminder, who uses her excellent knowledge and understanding of how children and babies learn to encourage them to make comments and develop their language skills. The childminder's enthusiastic response to children’s questions encourages them to become confident communicators and fuels their natural curiosity as learners.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children settle very well and are very confident and independent; they are interested in the resources available and are eager to take part in activities. Children share resources and play together well. Children are very well behaved and learn what is expected of them through clear and careful explanations from the childminder in a way that they can understand. Children learn about the world they live in by playing with toys and looking at books that provide positive images of all members of society. They learn about a number of religions and cultural beliefs through interesting activities, such as making Christmas cards or Chinese lanterns.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individual needs are well promoted by very good relationships between the childminder and parents. The childminder and parents discuss children at hand over times each day so that they are well informed of their children's progress. In addition, the childminder maintains a daily diary of children’s achievements to share with parents so that they can support their children’s learning at home. Older children contribute to their own diaries: taking photographs; writing reviews; and drawing pictures to share their experiences with their parents at home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation of the childminding promotes positive outcomes for children. Children are welcomed into a relaxed and comfortable environment and leave their parents with confidence. The organisation of the play space and resources contributes to children’s independence and enables them to pursue their own interests. They choose for themselves from the varied resources that are provided by the childminder. There is plenty of space for them to play and toys and equipment are well organised so that they can learn to make decisions.

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Organisation

Most of the essential documents are in place and very well organised. Regular training courses, such as first aid and ‘introduction to childminding’ help the childminder to develop the way she cares for children and continue to improve her practice. However, the childminder's certificate of registration is not available for inspection; the childminder does not always keep Ofsted informed of significant changes to the family that affect childminding.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that relevant contact information is taken on outings. She has set up a record, which includes details of children's allergies or existing illnesses, disabilities or learning difficulties and parents emergency contact numbers, to alert the emergency services in the event of an accident. This has improved children's safety when they are on outings.

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Improvements 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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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): • request parents' written permission to seek medical treatment or advice in an emergency • make sure that the certificate of registration is available for parents and childcare inspectors to view at any time • make sure that Ofsted are notified of significant changes that affect childminding.

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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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