Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY289792 Unique Reference Number 22 November 2006 Inspection date Susan Janet Lee 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 2004. She lives with her husband in a detached property in Leigh. The childminder has a childcare qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathroom facilities on the ground floor and the bathroom and large rear bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for seven children who attend on a variety of placements. She is able to take and collect children from the local primary school and 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 cared for in a well maintained environment. The childminder exercises good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of cross infection. For example, she encourages the children to wipe their noses and disposes of the tissues appropriately and she follows good standards of hygiene when changing nappies to help protect very young children. The children learn about personal care routines as they wash their hands at appropriate times of the day. The childminder has a written sick children's policy to ensure appropriate measures are in place when children are ill. She has also drawn up a list of notifiable diseases so that she is aware when she needs to notify the relevant organisations in relation to the control of disease should the need arise.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works in accordance to parent's wishes in relation to the provision of food and drink. Menus are available for parent's information. The children develop an awareness of healthy eating and they are well nourished as the childminder provides snacks and meals that are healthy and nutritious. They include lots of fruit, home cooked meals and vegetables to aid children's growth and development. Meals are well balanced and include lots of different tastes, textures and aromas to help children's sensory development. The children have access to drinks at all times enabling them to quench their thirst independently. The childminder encourages the children to drink more often when they are a little unwell so that they do not dehydrate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Very young children are able to rest and sleep according to their needs as the childminder follows their individual needs; providing a secure and familiar environment. The younger children enjoy lots of close interaction and eye contact with the childminder during personal care routines such as nappy changing times. The childminder offers lots of positive physical contact by means of hugs and cuddles. The children enjoy a game of tickle as they snuggle up on the sofa with the childminder during a quiet time. Older children have lots of opportunities to enjoy and develop their physical skills as they play in the garden, visit the park and a soft play centre on a regular basis. Photographic documentation shows the children learning and discovering about their bodies as they climb and use a slide, play on swings and play in the snow; all of which contributes to their good health and physical development.

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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 warm and homely environment. They have lots of space to move around and play in comfort. Effective organisation enables the children to access separate active and quieter activities. There is a good selection of equipment and furniture available allowing babies and older children to play, rest and eat in comfort. The childminder provides a very good range of resources to meet the needs of the children being cared for. These are rotated to add variety. Toys are stored in the lounge at child height enabling the children to freely choose what they want to play with; helping to develop choice and independence. The childminder checks resources regularly to minimise risks to children. All items are of suitable design, clean and safe.

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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 The childminder has a good understanding of safety. All reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that the environment in which children are cared for is mostly safe and secure. However, the boiler cupboard in the bathroom is accessible to children and poses a hazard. The childminder has devised a fire escape plan which is practised with the children and recorded on a regular basis; helping the children to develop an awareness of what to do in the event of a fire. The childminder supervises the children well enabling them to play safely and independently. She encourages the children's awareness of keeping themselves safe through very good explanation which is age appropriate. For example she explains to the children that they must not climb on the sofa as they may fall and hurt themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All required documentation is in place and the childminder has a secure understanding of child protection matters and procedures; ensuring that children's welfare is effectively safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has attended training in relation to the 'Birth to three matters' framework. She has a good understanding of the framework and uses this well to provide interesting and stimulating activities and opportunities for the younger children. She has begun to observe the children at play and record this information using the components of the framework as headings. She uses this information to chart children's developmental progress and also to identify next steps for children's learning and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children have access to a wide range of activities and they are happily engaged and occupied. They also benefit from activities outside the home as the childminder utilises local amenities helping to widen children's experiences and give them opportunities to socialise with their peers. The childminder dedicates much time playing with the children and supporting them in their play and learning. She is spontaneous to the children's interests and follows their lead. The childminder nurtures children's communication skills to help them find a voice and to reinforce early speech patterns. For example, she listens intently when the children speak and she responds to extend their vocabulary, to answer questions and to describe what the children are doing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy being creative as they make a collage picture and they explore the texture of the glue as they spread it onto the paper. The children play with small world resources and they invite the childminder into their game. The childminder joins in their play and interacts with the children to introduce concepts such as number, colour, shape and names of animals. The children make connections as they dance to music and point to different parts of their body. They explore rhyme and develop favourite nursery rhymes which they sing enthusiastically.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder shares warm close relationships with the children, who are relaxed, content and secure in her care. The childminder has a good understanding of children's individual needs and meets these needs well.

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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. The childminder ensures that a wealth of information is gathered from parents about their individual children's needs to enable her to be in a position to best meet these needs. The children develop an awareness of their local environment through trips out to local amenities. The children sometimes walk or travel in the car; they become aware of local features as they are able to point out the park and also where their relatives live as they pass by. Some resources are available that promote positive images of other cultures. However, there are few resources available that promote positive images of disability and gender; as a result, children do not have sufficient opportunities to develop an awareness of the wider world. The childminder has experience of working with children with special needs and in working with parents and other professionals to meet children's specific needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder acts as a lovely role model to the children as she treats them with care and concern, listens intently when the children speak and displays good manners. As a result, the children develop an awareness of what is expected of them. The childminder uses age appropriate strategies to manage children's behaviour. Good supervision enables the childminder to observe altercations before they arise and intervene to distract the children. The childminder praises the children at every opportunity for their efforts and achievements; helping to develop their confidence and self-esteem. The children make collage pictures and the childminder talks to the children about their pictures and admires their work. The children clearly feel proud as a big smile spreads across their faces. The children develop a good sense of belonging. They are confident to explore their surroundings and join in daily activities such as collecting the post

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Helping children make a positive contribution

from the hall. The children enjoy a quiet time with the childminder when they become tired. The childminder encourages the children to show care and concern towards each other as she involves them in the care of the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed a file that includes policies and procedures, training certificates and the previous inspection report. This is shown and discussed with parents at the initial meeting; helping to forge good working relationships and a shared understanding from an early stage. Effective systems are in place for keeping parents informed about their children's activities. Parents are happy with the service provided, levels of care and activities afforded.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder keeps herself up to date with current legislation and has a good understanding of her responsibility as a registered childminder. She has a valid first aid certificate ensuring she has up to date knowledge of what to do in the event of an accident or minor injury.

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Organisation

The record of children's attendance shows that ratios are maintained to promote children's care, learning and play. The childminder organises space, time and resources very well to effectively meet children's needs.

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Organisation

All required documentation is in place and is well organised. Individual children's records are maintained and securely stored to ensure confidentiality. The childminder has developed written

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 policies and procedures that work positively in practice to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. She has also developed other policies in line with current legalisation.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was agreed in relation to training. The childminder continues to attend training to further develop her childminding practice.

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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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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): • minimise hazards to children indoors (boiler cupboard in bathroom). • continue to extend resources that promote positive images of disability and gender.

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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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