Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY330292 Unique Reference Number 15 November 2006 Inspection date Janice Broddle 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 2006. She lives with her husband and two daughters aged nine and five years, in the village of Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir, within walking distance of local amenities. All areas of the property are used for childminding, although this mainly takes place on the ground floor with sleeping facilities within this area. Toilet facilities are on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family keep guinea pigs in the garden.

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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 two children aged under five on a part time basis. She is also minding three children aged over five, one of whom is aged over eight years these children attend for a variety of days before and after school and during school holidays. She has a vehicle available for her use and transports children to and from local schools and on outings. 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 good. Children are looked after in a warm and very clean environment. They are protected from the risk of spreading infection through the childminder’s high standards of hygiene and good practices, such as, her routines when changing nappies and arrangements for sleeping children to have their personal linen. Children are learning about basic personal hygiene through discussion and daily routines. For example, they wash their hands prior to meals, after using the toilet and after playing outdoors, and remove outdoor shoes so as not to make the house dirty. There are good systems in place to deal with accidents and emergencies and the childminder is fully aware of children’s health needs due to her comprehensive record keeping systems.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular drinks and meals. The have their dietary needs met as the childminder provides meals in line with parental wishes, ensuring that she adheres to their individual dietary requirements. She works closely with parents to promote healthy eating and to ensure that babies feeding routines remain consistent.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy daily times outdoors, accessing regular fresh air and exercise. They access the garden most days, putting on coats and other appropriate clothing to keep them warm in cooler weather. Here they explore the natural environment and practise their developing physical skills using a wide range of equipment. Children continue to develop these skills indoors where they move to music and action rhymes, practising their bodily control and co-ordination.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very well maintained environment, the organisation of toys and resources helps to create a child-friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The childminder has a good awareness of safety issues and is vigilant in her supervision of the children. She has identified most potential hazards and minimises these by use of appropriate safety equipment, although the lack of a security system on the front gate exposes children to possible danger whilst playing in the garden. The childminder has very good systems in place to ensure that she promotes children’s welfare; she has appropriate insurances in place and has devised carefully considered procedures, which she has shared with parents, regarding lost or uncollected children and emergency care arrangements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use good quality toys and equipment that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder has very good routines for ensuring that they are well maintained, cleaning and checking them on a monthly basis and again before use in order to ensure that they do not pose a risk to children. Children are beginning to learn how to keep themselves safe through well-organised daily routines and discussions, for example, they regularly practice the emergency escape plan. They remain safe outside of the home due to the childminder’s safe practices, such as routines for crossing the road and clear rules about children staying close together and within her sight.

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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 Children are well protected as the childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection. She has a written explanation of her responsibilities, which she shares with parents, so that they are aware of her responsibilities, and has relevant contact numbers readily available.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled and very happy in the childminder's home. They have good relationships with her, openly demonstrating their affection as they cuddle her closely and offer spontaneous kisses. They happily engage with her during play and confidently express their needs and wishes. Children are developing their independence as they freely select their play materials. The childminder supports this further through daily routines, such as coming in from outdoors, when she encourages them to take off their own coats and boots. Children flourish in the relaxed, calm and stimulating environment. They confidently move around and explore, and are developing their self-esteem due to the childminder’s positive interaction and her praise and encouragement for their co-operation and achievements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. She has some basic planning in place which ensures that they access a broad and varied range of experiences. She has a sound understanding of how children learn through play and through real experiences and plans interesting and varied activities. Children are motivated and interested, they enjoy activities such as planting crocuses in the garden and cress seeds indoors. The childminder offers very good levels of support, interacting with the children at all times, and extending their language and learning. Children experience a good mix of indoor and outdoor play, active and quiet times, free play and supervised activities. Children particularly enjoy art and craft activities and the childminder provides a wide selection of equipment to encourage children’s creativity such as paints, glue, scissors and a wide selection of papers and collage materials. Regular visits to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

places of interest such as a local farmers market and stately home, introduce children to new experiences and support their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows the children well and establishes daily routines around the needs of individuals so that they eat and rest in line with routines at home. She is beginning to use the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to plan activities and record children’s achievements, although systems are not yet fully effective to enable her to evaluate young children's progress in order to identify the next steps in their development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel valued and respected as individuals as the childminder has a comprehensive knowledge of their individual needs due to her close liaison with parents and her detailed records relating to individual children. She has appropriate systems in place to ensure children with learning difficulties or disabilities can be fully included in her provision. Children learn about the local community through regular walks around the local environment, to shops and

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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 to feed the horses. They begin to learn about the wider world as the childminder provides a range of books and toys which help to promote their awareness of differences in society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s behaviour is very good. The childminder has established clear boundaries within the home and gently reminds children of these when necessary. She is calm and patient, and the respect she shows the children, along with her frequent use of praise, actively encourages their good behaviour and contributes to building their self-esteem. Children learn to respect their environment through daily routines such as tidying away when toys are finished with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has very good relationships with parents who enthuse about her caring nature and the range of activities she provides for their children. She shares a very good range of written information with parents which keeps them well informed about her practices. Ongoing, detailed information is exchanged to ensure all children are cared for within their usual routines. She provides written information for parents of younger children to keep them well informed about children’s daily care and activities. Children benefit from this positive working relationship, which promotes consistency and continuity of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the childminders commitment to her professional development. Along with required training, she has attended numerous courses to develop her skills and awareness of childcare issues and therefore improve the quality of care she provides. She organises space within the home well, children have use of two main rooms, which enables them to comfortably eat, rest and play. Children are relaxed and happy in their environment, they confidently move around and develop their independence as they freely select their play materials due to the childminder’s effective organisation of her resources. She organises daily routines to ensure that children have opportunities to engage in a wide variety of stimulating experiences both inside and outside of the home.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good range of written policies and procedures, which she shares with all parents, promoting consistency and continuity of care. All legally required documentation, which contributes to children’s health, safety and well-being, is in place, contains a good level of detail and is regularly reviewed and updated. Overall children’s needs are met.

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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.

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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 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): • improve the security of the outdoor play area • continue to develop activities for younger children in line with practice set out in the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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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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