Walker, Susan

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY297806 Inspection date 08 July 2005 Inspector Karen Ling

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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 has been registered since 2004. She lives in a mid-terrace house in Longbenton, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She shares her home with her husband and three children aged ten, seven and three years. The family have a cat. Children have access to the sitting room for play activities and the kitchen for craft activities and meals. Children access the bathroom which is on the first floor. They also use the enclosed garden to the rear of the house for outside play. The childminder attends local parent and carer toddler and playgroups, takes them to the local park and other local attractions.

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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 outstanding. Children's health and well being is positively promoted because the childminder follows highly effective procedures and practices which meet children's physical, nutritional and health needs. The excellent support and encouragement they receive helps them to begin to develop an understanding of hygiene and personal care. For example, the childminder helps very young children to clean their hands before and after eating and older children enthusiastically show their independence in their care routines. Children have drinking water and juice regularly and thoroughly enjoy fresh fruit or other healthy foods at snack times. Meals are well balanced, provide variety and take account of individual dietary needs. All meals are homemade using fresh products where possible. The childminder has completed a food hygiene course and eagerly promotes healthy eating with children in her care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children regularly enjoy a wide range of purposeful physical activity both in the garden and during visits to the park and the local soft play centre which provide high levels of challenge. Babies and young children take an active interest in the range of activities on offer and the highly effective relationship with the childminder supports them well in helping them to cope with challenging and new situations. As a result, children have made rapid physical progress during their placement. They become skilful in a range of large and small physical movements and show developing skills as they negotiate space and manoeuvre wheeled toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are well cared for. They use the indoor and outdoor play spaces well and the childminder identifies and minimises risks within the home and on outings. Children are able to select from a variety of toys, however on a few occasions the range of toys that children can independently access is limited which leads to minor disagreements among children. The childminder gives high levels of supervision to children at all times to ensure that they are safe and chooses toys which are appropriate for their age and stage of development. Children begin to develop an awareness of how to keep themselves safe, for example they regularly practise emergency evacuation procedures with the childminder and manage very well. The childminder has the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted, for example, she has completed training in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

relation to child protection and has a secure understanding of 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 well at the childminder's home and happily engage in a range of

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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 indoor and outdoor activities which help to promote their learning. They show developing confidence as they make choices for example, asking the childminder for things they would like, and growing independence as they select toys. The childminder has attended 'Birth to three matters' training and is beginning to introduce the framework as she plans. Activities effectively encourage children's development. Children use their imagination for example, as they play with tea cups and plates to have picnics. They enjoy and take part in a selection of action songs and rhymes, such as 'The dingle, dangle scarecrow'. They show developing skills of listening and responding as the childminder helps them to relate to one another during play and meal times. The childminder sets clear boundaries which help children to learn right from wrong and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children's behaviour overall is good. Their skills are further developed as they socialise with other children through regular attendance at local toddler groups. Children's language development is fostered well because the childminder relates to them well and values their contributions. She reinforces early efforts to talk and builds on their skills, reinforcing their attempts at new words. Children develop skills of concentration and perseverance, such as balancing objects and building with bricks, and the childminder gives them space and time to explore.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop caring relationships with the childminder which helps them feel happy and settled. Their self-esteem and confidence is nurtured well because the childminder provides consistent comfort and reassurance and follows children's routines. Where children's behaviour is challenging the childminder uses effective strategies to help them manage the situation and resolve differences. They are encouraged to share and take turns for example, as they play with outdoor toys. This helps to foster caring attitudes and relationships and children are beginning to respect each other's needs. Children are valued and respected, with the childminder ensuring individual needs, including special needs are met. The childminder has attended training to further develop her own knowledge and understanding of inclusion and caring for children from a range of backgrounds. Relationships with

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents are friendly and regular verbal dialogue takes place which helps to keep parents and the childminder informed. She has prepared written information which informs parents of her practices.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel at home and at ease within the environment and the childminder organizes the space well. This enables children to confidently initiate their own play, ask the childminder for things they would like and make choices for example, when they want to play in the garden. Documentation and records are well organized however, accurate times of arrival and departure are not consistently recorded. The childminder is proactive in developing her own knowledge and understanding of

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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 childcare issues and has attended a variety of training courses since registering in 2004. Policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and development of children and are shared with parents. This means that overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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 a sufficient range of toys can be accessed independently and safely by children at all times • ensure records accurately show times of arrival and departure.

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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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