Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY335129 Unique Reference Number 26 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. He lives with his wife and one son aged six years in the East of the City of Hull, some four miles from the centre of Hull. His wife is also a registered childminder and assists him on a part time basis. The childminder can care for a maximum of five children when working alone. When working with his wife the number remains the same. There are currently eight children on roll. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes children to the local park, soft play centres, the library and the museums. Outdoors there is an enclosed garden. 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 under eight years. 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. The childminder generally promotes the good health of children through the measures in place. For example, the home is clean with most furnishings and floorings clean and all resources in use by children are very clean. Older children know about good hygiene procedures and the childminder asks children if they have washed their hands after visiting the toilet. Children know why they should do this as well as washing them before they eat as germs may be present on their hands after playing. Children enjoy a nutritious lunch which they help buy from the supermarket. They buy the French bread and choose their fillings of meat. The childminder helps children to make their own lunch and they thoroughly enjoy the responsibility of this. They spread the butter on their bread, put in the meat and then eat the sandwiches they make themselves. They have salad also including lettuce and tomato. Children enjoy fruit for snacks

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Helping children to be healthy

and have drinks at set times including meals. They are also offered drinks at regular intervals. The childminder recognises young children's needs of hunger and rest and allows them the opportunity to feed themselves which they enjoy. Children enjoy daily exercise on walks to and from school as well as outings to the park. They also have the opportunity to enjoy the trampoline in the childminder's garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected through the policies in place for sickness and illness with parents aware they should exclude children who are ill. Information about any allergies and children's individual health including vaccinations information is obtained from parents. This information is kept along with written permission from parents to allow the childminder to seek medical help in case of emergency. This information ensures any professional whose help is sought in an emergency situation, has sufficient information about individual children until parents arrive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The home has good measures in place which help protect children from harm. These include safety gates at the bottom of the stairways and across the kitchen, locks on cupboards where cleaning materials are kept and an enclosed rear garden in which children play. The childminder is careful about fire safety with smoke alarms in place, a fire blanket and exit doors which meet with Fire Officer Regulations. Children know how to evacuate the home through discussion and a visit to the fire station helps them further understand about fire safety. Photographs show children at the fire station which they really enjoy with useful information given to them as they leave. Children also know about how important it is to keep safe when outdoors, how they hold hands and stop when the childminder asks them to do so, if they walk alone in front of him. Children's safety is also protected by children who wear fluorescent tabards when out

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

walking with the childminder. This helps him easily recognise children when in busy crowds and also reassures parents their children are well cared for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children who need a rest and sleep have the opportunity to do this in quiet. Children who stay overnight are protected by a monitor which helps the childminder hear them should they awake. The childminder shows some awareness of the possible signs and symptoms of harm and remembers what he learns from recent training. However, he is not fully clear about the procedures he should follow if he has concerns about any children in his care. This means children are not as adequately safeguarded as they should be.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder helps children feel very happy as he ensures they have a good time when in his care. He allows them freedom to play alone and freely access available resources, though they receive purposeful intervention when he recognises this will support their learning. For example, children who play with jigsaws are helped to look at the pieces and recognise similarities and begin to use skills of association to complete their puzzle. He helps them see the colours and shapes and feel the texture of the pieces which are covered in shiny, bumpy and smooth material. This also helps children learn new words as they play. Children enjoy creative play as he helps them to stick feet, eyes and hands onto their inflated balloons. Children put on their shapes wherever they feel they should go without adult intervention to put them in the right places. This allows children freedom of expression and they are proud of their efforts.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children get on really well together and older children have regard for the youngest of children who are not as mobile as themselves. The childminder helps all children feel they belong. When children show strong attachments to him and need lots of attention, he is happy to give them cuddles of reassurance and support. He is careful, however, when doing this that no child feels left out. Children happily chatter about their time with the childminder and talk about their trips out. A recent trip to a large country park children talk about and proudly display their activity sheets they use to identify insects, trees and animals. Children acknowledge their worksheets are not complete, however, they know their certificates are for trying and taking part. Children also enjoy trips to the library where they choose their own books and also outings to local museums which helps increase their understanding of life in days gone by.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder listens to children and values what they have to say. This makes them feel important and know their views are valid. The childminder encourages children to ask questions and interaction between him and the children is very good. He also asks them questions to make them think in their play and consults children about what they like to do and where they like to go. This makes them feel important and gives them a sense of well being as they know their opinions count. Children learn about what is right and wrong and show respect for each other and co-operate very well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's rights of being treated as individuals and with respect are carefully upheld by the childminder. He ensures all children feel valued and good about themselves and ensures their rights to privacy and dignity are respected, for example, when changing children's nappies. The childminder helps children to understand about diversity and appreciate each other's similarities and differences. For example, he explains about why people wear glasses and for different reasons and that some people need aids to hear. He always answers children's questions honestly when they notice differences and increases their knowledge of the wider world though celebrations. On the notice board is a Harvest Festival display and children's pictures relating to this. Children begin to learn about the importance of this and are helped to explain about what it means. This helps the childminder establish how much children learn and remember

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Helping children make a positive contribution

about special activities they cover as they recall the events. He also helps them to look at the world around them when on outings. He helps them understand about the weather through looking at the clouds and explains about how rain is formed and tells them about thunder too. There are some positive images of race through dolls and books though resources are limited which reflect disability.

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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 Children's individual dietary needs are catered for and potty training and toilet training are carried out in line with parents wishes. The childminder also supports children with learning difficulties, closely working with the parents to ensure their needs are cared for too. This helps all children feel valued and included. Children are helped to understand about how important it is to get along together and they show good knowledge of the house rules which are on display. Children share and take turns as they play with each other and the childminder rewards them through giving appropriate praise and encouragement. Children receive stickers for their behaviour as well as work well done and this boosts their confidence and helps raise their self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive many detailed policies and procedures which they are given once a contract is in place. These provide lots of useful information for them about the childminding service they use, how their children are cared for and how the childminder will work in co-operation with them about a range of issues. Once these are read by the parents they sign an acceptance slip to say they have read and understood these. The childminder also has written agreements in place with parents including consents in relation to the care of children including the taking of photographs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children have the opportunity to move freely between the two available rooms on the ground floor, as well as older children being able to visit the upstairs toilet independently. Children have a range of resources available to them which are stored in see-through boxes for their easy access. The childminder is careful that those in easy reach are suitable for children present at any one time.

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Organisation

The childminder is very happy to attend training and has already organised to attend the local authority approved childminding course. This will increase his knowledge further and children will ultimately benefit. He provides warm and consistent care for children and any training he attends is shared with parents through having certificates displayed on the wall for them to see. He is aware of all the documentation he is expected to keep and records are of an acceptable standard. He organises his time well with the children and the detailed policies and procedures work well in practice and ensure the efficient and safe management of the provision. He enjoys a good relationship with parents who receive daily feedback about what their children do whilst in his care. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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. 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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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): • increase resources to include those that reflect disability • develop knowledge of child protection procedures.

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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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