Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY335084 Unique Reference Number 27 October 2006 Inspection date Margaret Bryant 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 May 2006. She lives with her husband and her son aged six years in the East of the City of Hull, some four miles from the centre of Hull. She works alongside her husband who is also a registered childminder. The childminder can care for a maximum of five children when working alone. When working alongside her husband the number remains the same. There are currently eight children on roll. The childminder takes children to the local park, the shops and the museums. The family has one rabbit and one hamster.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Downstairs of the home is used mainly during the daytime with upstairs accessed for use of the bathroom only. Overnight care is provided for a maximum of one child. Outdoors there is an enclosed garden. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the local support group for childminders.

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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 satisfactory. There are positive steps in place to protect children's health and well-being. For example, the premises in which children are cared for are clean and all resources are very clean and in good condition. Children understand about simple hygiene procedures and are encouraged to develop their independence when visiting the toilet. They have a step to help them reach the sink where they use anti-bacterial soap and a clean towel is available for their use on a daily basis. They help to clean out the rabbit and talk about how they wash their hands after this. They are also helped to know they should cover their mouths when they sneeze and should wash their hands after this. This helps prevent the spread of germs through cross contamination. Nappy changing procedures are adequate and generally children are changed in private. However, this is not always done and children's rights to privacy and dignity are therefore compromised.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children get plenty of exercise as they enjoy the trampoline in the garden, with written permission in place from parents for them to use this under close supervision. They benefit from this as they jump and develop their leg and arm muscles. They also enjoy regular walks to the park and to and from school. Healthy food is given to children who enjoy snacks of fresh and dried fruit as well as sandwiches with meat and salad. Children have drinks at snack and mealtimes though drinking water is not readily available for them to help themselves whenever they wish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good knowledge of first aid and is confident to deal with any emergencies that may arise. Parents receive information about sickness and illness and know the childminder cannot care for children who are ill. She has information about children's health through consultation with parents and this information is recorded. This ensures children's welfare in an emergency situation is safeguarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's safety is very important to the childminder as she helps them understand about taking care when both indoors and outside of the home. They know they need to be careful when playing with the toys on the floor. They help tidy these away which ensures there are not too many out at once which helps prevent accidents. They know they need to be careful near their younger friends and they ensure they take care when walking past them to not knock them over as they sit and play. Children know when they go out walking they should hold hands and through wearing their fluorescent tabards the childminder provides, children are easily recognisable on outings in busy places. Children begin to know about safe evacuation in the event of an emergency as they take part in fire drills. They know they need to congregate at the door and wait for her and get out as quickly as possible. They also enjoy outings to the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

local fire station where they learn further about the dangers of fire. Children are asked to remember their visit and they speak about this. They recall the message about not touching matches from the book they read and remember the stickers and bag they received.

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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 premises are bright and welcoming with many displays of children's work of which they are proud. The premises are also warm with adequate ventilation through top opening windows which help ensure children are safe indoors. Final exit doors meet with local Fire Officer Regulations and are fitted with quick release mechanisms in case the childminder needs to get children out quickly in an emergency situation. She is knowledgeable about the possible signs and symptoms of child abuse and is aware of the procedure she should follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. Parents receive a copy of the child protection procedure that is in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very settled in the care of the childminder who provides them with a good range of activities to develop their learning whilst they have fun. Older children particularly enjoy being creative and have access to a good range of pens, stencils, paper and glue and enjoy compiling pictures and cars to take home or to display on the wall. They also enjoy taking part in word searches which the childminder provides for them from the computer. These help them develop their knowledge of numbers and letters and words and their meaning. Children are helped to use their manners when playing together and to say please and thank you. This helps them to get along together well. Children are proud of their pictures and enjoy sharing these and recall their content. For example, they look at pictures of fruit and recall the Harvest Festival and show pictures of hot dog stands they colour about the Hull fair.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy outings to the museums: the transport museum; the school museum; and the dinosaur museum. These help them learn about life in days gone by which they thoroughly enjoy as they talk about and remember these outings. The childminder helps children build on their natural curiosity as learners as they use their magnifying glasses to look for ladybirds and ants in the garden. She also helps them to develop their learning when they enjoy days out. For example, children enjoy a recent trip to a large hall and estate where they use activity sheets to identify and find different things such as animals, trees and birds. Children show their sheets and though not complete, they enjoy the recognition they receive when they show their certificates for taking part. This helps them understand about values when they learn that it's not about winning and being the best but about the taking part and trying.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is kind and caring and helps children to feel good about themselves as they play and learn. She says she helps develop children's knowledge and learning whilst she recognises the most important thing is that they have fun.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder is very knowledgeable about the children for whom she cares and their individual needs. She ensures she has information about them from parents which enables her to give them the appropriate care they need. For example, children's individual dietary needs and medical information is recorded including any allergies they have. She is kind and caring to them and shows genuine affection to all children which helps them feel special and develop 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 sense of belonging. The childminder helps care for children with learning difficulties and ensures she is fully aware of their needs through close consultation with the parents as well as the main childminder with whom she works. Children are helped to learn about the world around them and she introduces them to special days in the calendar, for example, United Nations International Day of Peace. She explains to children at their level of understanding about this and helps them understand about being kind to others. They make flowers from craft material to show friendships and remember some information about their celebration when she asks them about this. Children also celebrate Harvest Festival which they enjoy and learn about sharing and helping others from this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are helped to notice the world around them and have respect for one another. They show some concern for each other in their play, and are helped to understand they should share and be nice to each other and say sorry if they hurt their friend's feelings. Children in turn receive not only stickers but certificates for good work and behaviour which helps them begin to appreciate one another. The rules of the home and behaviour are written and children know these when asked to say what they are.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are given information about the outings their children will pursue with the childminder and also receive information through conversation on a daily basis about what their children have been doing. Parents give their written consent to the childminder to allow outings to be undertaken as well as photographs to be taken when they enjoy their many activities. The childminder reports a very good relationship with parents whom she feels are happy to discuss any issues they may have and pass on any information to her freely and easily. Parents receive letters and notes from the childminder about any special activities with which they can help. For example, when they celebrate special days and events, parents are asked to help by seeing if they have photographs or pictures to give their children from real life, such as them or their grandparents who take part in Remembrance day.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a home which is well organised. For example, children can freely access both available rooms downstairs without their safety being compromised. This is because areas where children may come to harm without adult supervision are protected by safety gates, for example, the stairway and the kitchen. Children have a range of resources available to them which are stored in a series of see-through boxes for their easy access.

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Organisation

The childminder works on a part time basis with children as a co-childminder. She is however, very much aware of the documentation that is in place and equally shares her responsibilities for the completion of these. She also helps compile the many and detailed policies and procedures that are in place and shared with parents. She shows a commitment to her role and ensures that all information, when not in use, is securely put away in a locked filing cabinet. She is happy to attend any relevant training to increase her knowledge about childcare related subjects. Any training she undertakes is shared with parents through the certificates she displays in the entrance hall.

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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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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

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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 then 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): • ensure children's rights of privacy are respected at all times when attending to their individual care • ensure drinking water is available to children at all times.

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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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