Harris, Catherine Susan

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY297412 Inspection date 19 July 2005 Inspector Susan Marriott

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 2004 and is a qualified and experienced nursery nurse. She lives with her 3 children aged 11, 8 and 2 years in their house in Marston Moretaine. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding activities and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. She is registered to provide care for four children under eight years. She is currently minding a two-year-old during the day and her three older siblings for before and after school care on three days per week. The childminder also cares for four more children on a part time, flexible basis which includes before and after school care and

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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 holiday times. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a wide range of activities that contribute to their good health. Each day there are outdoor activities such as garden games and walking to the local forest park and woods. Children enjoy regular visits to local parks and playgrounds. This supports the development and improvement of children’s physical skills. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home where they learn the importance of good hygiene and personal care. Their clear understanding of why they must wash their hands after using the toilet reduces the risk of cross contamination. Young children are able to sleep according to their needs in a suitable quiet area of the house. Sound written procedures are in place for children who are unwell and the childminder maintains an accident book in accordance with requirements. The childminder holds a suitable first aid qualification which enables her to protect

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Helping children to be healthy

children appropriately. The childminder sets a positive role model to the children in order to promote a healthy lifestyle. She always ensures that plenty of fresh fruit, salad and vegetables are available for children and has devised a rotating snack menu with the children. They begin to understand the benefits of a healthy diet as they enjoy home cooked food prepared from fresh ingredients. The children sit at the table to eat and learn good manners and social rules. The childminder meets the children's specific dietary needs within the varied menu available to the children. Children have access to regular drinks throughout the day. Water, milk or juice is available in a suitable cup according to the age of child.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for within a very spacious, safe and secure home environment. The childminder makes excellent use of space in her home to provide many purposeful activities and opportunities for children. Children independently select activities from a broad range of resources, which are in a good state of repair and are age appropriate. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises children's choice of toys, to ensure they are suitably challenging for their age and stage of development. Children are able to move around and play safely, freely and independently, because the childminder has identified and minimised all risks. The childminder gives high priority to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe, and has clear rules and routines in order to maintain their safety inside and outside the home. Children's welfare is carefully safeguarded by the childminder who is currently

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

devising written policies and documents. For example, she has written procedures for

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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 emergency evacuation and fire safety. Children are safe with the childminder, who has a secure understanding of child protection in line with the local Area Child Protection Committee procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle quickly in the child-friendly atmosphere and develop a sense of belonging, requesting that their name card is stuck to the window with those of all the minded children. They arrive confidently and quickly make themselves at home. Children make independent choices in their play and are able to choose from a wide variety of toys and equipment, which are all stored within easy reach. Children relate well to each other and learn to show patience and tolerance towards others. For example, children learn to share the play dough tools and share experiences through messy play with rice and flour. The childminder skilfully progresses children's learning and development as she responds to their interests through skilful interaction. She explains new words to extend children's vocabulary as she reads a book on 'Ballerina' at the request of the children. She discusses 'naughty toes and good toes' relating the contents of the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

book to the children's experience of attending dance lessons. The children show interest in the pictures and the childminder challenges them to balance on one leg like the ballerina. The children question her about the contents of a song and rhyme book and the childminder explains that the page shows Incy Wincy Spider. She asks the children to count the spider's legs and goes on to introduce sensorial language. For example, furry legs which are long and thin. Children acquire new skills and knowledge as the childminder gently encourages them to focus on the characteristics of a play dough snake. The childminder is very attentive to the needs of the children and ensures they have a balanced programme of activities throughout the day. The children are able to have free choice, guided by the childminder who makes additional suggestions. Each child is able to have individual attention owing to the part time nature of the attendance

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

pattern. Children spend some time outside each day in all weathers, either in the garden, or whilst walking in the local park. The children have free choice of activities and the childminder supplements these with a daily programme of flexible organised activities including visits, for example, to the garden centre or the swimming pool. The garden centre visit stimulated a theme of gardening, with activities such as buying seeds for sorting and comparing and filling the sand pit with compost, trowels and pots with plastic flowers. The children learnt about planting seeds; talking about how seeds grow; looking at fruit and the seeds inside; measuring plants using hands; watering and potting on.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides an effective range of resources and activities to promote a

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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 positive view of the wider world and increase children’s awareness of diversity and their understanding of others. For example, dolls which represent different cultures and books about other countries. Children learn about their local community as they walk in the local forest park and swim weekly. Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder gives lots of praise for their achievements and meets their needs through the daily routine as discussed with their parents. The childminder ensures that daily discussion about the service provided keeps parents informed about their child's activities. Parents give feedback on the service provided as they complete a questionnaire seeking their views. A daily diary system provides detailed information about the younger child's day. Children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

show care and concern for each other and they behave very well in response to the childminder's consistent boundaries and high expectations. Children play together cooperatively sharing and taking turns; they use social graces without prompt.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder adopts a very professional approach to her childminding and is confident in her childcare practice. She uses her professional knowledge and experience in combination with her effective organisation to promote positive outcomes for children. Children feel very much at home and are comfortable in the well-organised, suitably prepared and inviting environment where the childminder is able to enrich their care, learning and play through her constant interaction and enthusiasm. Children confidently choose activities and the childminder encourages them to extend their own play and learning in an imaginative way. The childminder effectively uses her unwritten procedures and routines to effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of all the children. She is now beginning to develop written policies to enhance her practice. All written parental permissions are in place and the

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Organisation

provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the first inspection since registration

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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

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • continue to develop your policies and procedures to inform parents about the care provided for children

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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