Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY232267 Unique Reference Number 26 October 2006 Inspection date Rebecca Hadley 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 five years. She lives with her husband and twelve year-old daughter in a house in Old Hill within walking distance of the town centre and on main bus routes to Cradley Heath, Dudley and Blackheath. The whole of the ground floor and the upstairs bathroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for 6 children under 8 years. There are currently 6 children on roll who attend on a full and part time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family have one dog that the children have regular contact with. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and attends local playgroups.

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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 enjoy a range of outdoor activities including visits to the park and soft play barn, bikes, swings, roller skates and balls which contributes to their health and helps them to develop control of their bodies. One child present said “I go to the park on the swing”. The needs of the younger children are well met because of the childminder's knowledge and understanding. She provides a range of activities and resources such as rolling balls and stacking bricks to support the younger children’s physical and emotional development.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children’s individual care needs are well met. They are well cared for if they have an accident or become ill and there are effective procedures in place to protect them from illness and infection. For example, the childminder does not take children when they have contagious diseases and informs parents if their child has had an accident while at school. However, their well being is potentially compromised as consent to administer or seek emergency medical treatment or advice has not been obtained. The children are learning about their personal hygiene and how to keep healthy through regular hand washing routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from regular drinks and nutritious meals and snacks. These include a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, pasta and jacket potatoes and they are encouraged to try healthy options. Children are learning what foods are good for them through a poster which shows them what foods are healthy, and how much sugar and salt the foods they like contain. They have access to fresh drinking water and other drinks throughout the day and their cups are easily accessible to them at all times. This ensures that they do not become dehydrated. Information is regularly shared and discussed with parents to ensure that each child's individual dietary needs and personal preferences are respected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There is a wide range of equipment in place which children are able to use safely due to the childminder's vigilance and the procedures she has implemented to regularly check toys and equipment. For example, all toys are checked every time they are used and are cleaned weekly. All fire equipment such as smoke alarms are in place and checked regularly. Evacuation procedures are in place and children regularly practise them to ensure that they are able to safely leave the premises from both of the emergency exits. When asked by the childminder how they practise evacuation procedures one child present said “We march”. The premises are secure and there are effective procedures in place for the safe arrival and collection of children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted and safeguarded due to the childminder's sound knowledge and understanding of signs and symptoms of abuse and her awareness of Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. The childminder is aware that signs of abuse may not always be visible, and of her role in protecting the children in her care.

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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 good. Children are happy, confident and interact positively both with the childminder and their peers. They are encouraged to learn through daily experiences such as trips to the park and the sea life centre, and to try new activities such as making spiders with paper plates and pipe cleaners. The childminder stimulates their interest and learning by asking simple questions to help them think and by offering constant praise and encouragement. For example, when talking about a butterfly the childminder asked “What’s this?”. The child replied “It’s a butterfly with wings, here it goes look” and made it fly into the air. Children have lots of fun and enjoy their time with the childminder. For example, laughing when the eye shot off the spider into the air, and chasing the childminder with a spider saying “It’s coming to get you, BOO”.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing independence by choosing activities they wish to participate in and the childminder takes time to find out each child's interests by talking to parents and through discussion with the children. Children are proud of their achievements and happily talk about what they have made. For example, pumpkin pictures and cakes. Children are becoming confident in what they are doing as the childminder gives them time to explore and chose the way they do things. For example, when making a spider one child kept taking off and putting on the spiders eyes and at times had six eyes on the spider. When another child said “that spider's got too many eyes” the childminder replied that that was what the child wanted. Children have a good balance of activities and the childminder plans all activities to meet the developmental needs of the children attending on that day. For example, craft activities are adapted for older

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from a wide range of age appropriate, interesting and stimulating activities to help them learn which includes crafts, table top games, construction, jigsaws, cars, a farm yard, music and musical instruments, role play, and cooking activities. The childminder's sound knowledge of children's development ensures that children's individual needs and routines are well met and their enjoyment and learning is fostered and encouraged.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Regular discussions with parents ensure that their individual needs are recognised and met appropriately. Children understand the need to share toys, enjoy playing together and offer each other help and support. They are developing an awareness of other countries and cultures through regular discussions with the childminder and can access resources which promote diversity. These include Russian dolls with dolls depicting people from other countries such as Jamaica, India and Canada inside them, finding and matching pictures that show people from a around the world such as an Austrian man and an Icelandic woman and books such as ‘I’m special, I’m me’, and ‘Your world my world’. The childminder’s knowledge and understanding of disabilities ensures that all children’s needs are met and that children are fully integrated into the setting. Children are learning simple manners

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and how to be polite. For example, children present said please and thank you at all times. They are beginning to understand the need for simple rules such as sharing toys, and they respond

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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 positively to the childminder's realistic and age-appropriate methods of behaviour management. This includes reinforcing positive behaviour and using praise rather than criticism.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s individual needs are well met. Good partnerships with parents mean that children are well settled with a familiar and trusted adult and are gaining self assurance and confidence with others. Children are cared for in accordance with their parents wishes and information is shared with parents on a regular basis both verbally and through daily feedback sheets. All relevant information is available for parents to see. This includes details about the childminder and her family, activities that children are able to participate in and policies relating to the childminding practice. However, children’s welfare is potentially compromised as the Ofsted complaints procedure has not been implemented.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the need to inform Ofsted of any significant changes. She is suitably qualified and has attended all basic childminding courses.

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Organisation

All documentation which contributes to the children's health, safety and welfare is in place and regularly reviewed. The register clearly states the actual times of arrival and departure of the children. However, children's safety is potentially compromised as their full names are not recorded. Additional information relating to the setting is available. Documentation is safely stored to maintain confidentiality whilst still being easily accessible in an emergency. Overall, children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to increase the resources which show positive images of people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, varying needs and gender. Children now have access to a range of resources such as dolls from other countries, books, and games which promote positive images to ensure that they are increasing their knowledge of the wider world.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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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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 that permission to obtain emergency medical treatment or advice is obtained for all children • implement the Ofsted complaints procedure, and ensure that parent's are made aware of it • ensure that children's full names are recorded in the attendance register.

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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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