Brindle, Debbie

Inspection report for early years provision

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301652 Unique Reference Number 14 December 2006 Inspection date Jannet Mary Richards 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 outstanding. 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 1996. She lives in a large property known as Osborne House with her two children aged 11 and six years. The property is situated in the Redlam area of Blackburn and is in close proximity to local schools and other amenities.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are two lounges, a dining room and a kitchen used for childminding purposes. The children have access to toilets and hand washing facilities on the ground floor of the premises. There is an enclosed play area to the front of the house which is used for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder works with another childminder and also employs assistants. She is currently caring for a total of five children under eight years. She also cares for older children before and after school in addition to school holidays.

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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 develop an excellent awareness of health and hygiene issues. During daily routines, such as hand washing before meals, the childminder makes the most of every opportunity to talk to the children about their health. They discuss why they need to wash their hands, for example, and why coca-cola is bad for their teeth. In addition they have many exciting planned opportunities to learn about different health issues, such as dental hygiene. Rigorous health and hygiene policies are followed very well in practice to support the children's health and ensure consistently high standards.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children benefit from a very healthy diet. They contribute their ideas for the menus and have many healthy choices. They are able to make full and informed contributions as they have an excellent awareness of healthy eating. They have completed many themed activities about foods, such as healthy eating diaries, which has enabled them to become very aware of health and nutrition. The children develop outstanding independence and self-help skills as they help to prepare their own meals. Younger children, for example, make their own sandwiches at lunch time, whilst older children are supported and supervised to make very simple meals. This motivates the children and helps them to develop important life skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children develop very healthy lifestyles as they have many exciting and innovative opportunities for exercise and fresh air. The outdoor area has a synthetic playing surface which enables the children to play outdoors in all weathers. In addition to many outdoor toys and games the children have access to unusual equipment such as a climbing wall which provides them with very good physical challenges.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder's home offers a very welcoming environment which is very effectively organised to provide a child-centred space. The playroom is an exciting area which is filled with toys, equipment, posters and mobiles. It is very well organised to provide a rich and stimulating environment for the children to play and learn. The children develop a strong sense of belonging as they have dedicated space for their own belongings and their own work is attractively displayed on the walls. There is an excellent range of high quality toys and equipment for the children to use. In addition the childminder makes very good use of natural objects and makes some additional items to interest the children, such as plastic boxes filled with different items for them to explore. The children have comfortable space to rest and relax in addition to a well resourced outdoor area for physical play. The home environment is very effectively organised

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is given the utmost priority. Comprehensive policies and procedures are in place which the childminder and her assistants follow to ensure children's safety at all times. The childminder talks to the children as they play to develop their own awareness of safety issues. She organises some highly innovative activities which give the children first hand

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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 experiences of safety issues. For example, not only do the children practise fire drills on a regular basis, they also visit the local fire station and learn about fire extinguishers and how to use them. In addition, to further enhance their understanding, they make fire extinguishers from washing-up-liquid bottles and complete simple quizzes about fire safety. The childminder has an excellent, up to date knowledge of child protection issues and procedures in order to safeguard the welfare of any children she may care for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children have a wealth of thoroughly enjoyable, fun play-experiences which provide them with excellent learning opportunities. Many of their experiences are very meaningful first hand activities, such as nature walks, visiting places of interest and listening to visitors, such as a local police officer speaking to them about their job. This provides the children with direct and inspiring learning experiences. Older children who attend after school and during school holidays have access to equally exciting planned activities. They take a walk in the local area to observe and find out about the architecture of local buildings, for example. This is followed up by a visit from an architect to enhance and extend the children's experience and learning. In addition to these inspiring activities the childminder also provides the children with very simple, equally effective learning experiences, such as pairing socks or exploring the texture of pasta with their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are extremely confident, independent, self-assured and settled in the childminder's home. The childminder gives a strong emphasis to encouraging the children to become independent, both in their self-help skills and in their thinking. She does this by encouraging the children to do things for themselves, such as taking out the blankets and laying them on their beds before their sleep. In addition she asks them lots of questions in order to develop their thinking and problem solving skills. The children relate very well to the childminder and her assistants. They enjoy very warm and caring relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children behave very well indeed in the care of the childminder. They respond very well to the positive, caring and nurturing environment. There is a strong emphasis on promoting their confidence and self-esteem, which is very effective. The children are very confident and self-assured. They look at books, play games and engage in play activities which help them to consider each other's feelings and explore issues, such as bullying. They are encouraged to respect each other. Older children, for example, are paired with younger ones during outings, which helps them to develop caring skills and show consideration. The children develop an excellent awareness of differences. They visit a local Asian restaurant and observe how the food is prepared before tasting it. They also visit China town and learn how to eat using chopsticks. This provides them with rich and meaningful opportunities to become aware of

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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 The childminder works very well in partnership with parents and carers to ensure children's individual needs are met. She has a thorough awareness of how to meet additional needs and ensure that all children are included. Excellent systems are in place to keep parents informed of what children have been doing, which vary from daily diaries to informative newsletters. Rigorous systems are in place to consult with parents, such as questionnaires and contributions to children's assessment folders. This very effective partnership contributes significantly to children's high quality care and well-being.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The exceptional organisational skills, enthusiasm and dedication of the childminder leads to children being provided with very high quality care which meets their needs very well. The childminder has a wealth of experience and knowledge about childcare issues, which she uses in her practice very effectively. In addition, she employs skilled and knowledgeable assistants who support her very well. They work together effectively to offer a consistent and co-ordinated approach. The childminder and her assistants have a very enthusiastic approach, focusing on creating a fun environment for children.

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Organisation

The documentation relating to the care of the children is comprehensive, thorough and supports their care very well. In addition, robust and effective policies and procedures are in place, which influence the daily practice and ensure consistency for the children.

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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 time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to extend the opportunities for children to socialise at mealtimes. She has addressed this effectively. The children now sit together at mealtimes, adults sit with them and they exchange conversation about the things they have been doing. In addition, the children help to set the table, prepare meals and do the washing-up. The children now have increased opportunities to enjoy mealtime as a social occasion.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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