Childminder in Rotherham

Inspection report for early years provision

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302989 Unique Reference Number 13 December 2006 Inspection date Angela Howard 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 was registered in 1993. She lives with her husband. They live in Swallownest, a large residential area in the borough of Rotherham. The whole of the ground floor of the premises is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a safe, secure fish pond.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of nine children at any one time with an assistant present and a maximum of six children when working alone. She currently has seven children under eight-years-old on roll. The childminder walks to take and collect children from the local school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has been awarded the Quality First kitemark.

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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 are cared for in an extremely clean and well maintained environment. The childminder is very proactive in ensuring children remain healthy. For example, children learn effectively the importance of good hygiene and personal care. They clean their teeth after meals and know they need to wash their hands to remove germs to keep themselves healthy. There are robust policies and procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Such as the use of disposable gloves when changing nappies and feeding equipment and baby toys are regularly sterilised. The highly effective procedures help children to gain an excellent understanding of good hygiene practices which are incorporated into daily routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children relish in a highly imaginative and creative range of activities that contribute to keeping them healthy. They are able to access a wealth of physical activities, which develop their physical skills on a daily basis. For example, children delight in walking to feed the ducks, walking around the garden to find mini beasts or to collect leaves. They are skilful at riding bikes and scooters, throwing and catching balls and jumping on the trampoline. They thoroughly enjoy building dens and babies enjoy crawling on the sand when visiting the seaside. Indoors music is played in the background and children spontaneously dance and sing. For babies there is a superb range of every day objects to be sucked, pulled, squeezed and held to encourage exploration and development of physical skills. The access to an extensive range of physical activities contributes to children's good health in an extremely positive manner.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a highly nutritious and balanced range of meals, snacks and drinks. For example, for breakfast they have cereal, toast and fruit and for lunch they have pasta and rice dishes or healthy sandwiches. Children are provided with an extensive range of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis to ensure they have the required five portions a day. Comprehensive records show that children's dietary requirements and parent's wishes are adhered to. Meal times are treated as an opportunity to help children to enjoy their food and become independent in feeding themselves. This results in children being extremely well nourished as they develop an excellent understanding of the importance of healthy eating.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a warm, vibrant and welcoming environment. The equipment is set out in a very attractive manner which encourages children to make choices and develop decision making skills. The space available is used extremely well to provide children with an extensive range of play opportunities. The childminder has significantly enhanced the safety of the home with rigorous safety assessments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Excellent quality resources are easily accessed allowing children to make choices in a safe manner. Children's toys and equipment are meticulously monitored to make sure they remain safe, clean and appropriate for their age and stage of development.

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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 Children are extremely well protected as the childminder has extensive knowledge and understanding of her role and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding children. She ensures that her practice is underpinned by first class up to date knowledge of signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow. She has an excellent written child protection statement which is discussed with parents before children attend.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. An excellent range of activities are offered, which helps children to extend their knowledge and development in varied, creative and exiting ways. For example, they wade in wellington boots in streams and build dens from bushes and broken tree branches. They bake, paint with hands and feet and explore the garden searching for mini beasts. This gives them the freedom to express themselves and learn through hands on experience. Therefore, children are enthusiastic about exploring and investigating the wealth of equipment and materials on offer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children love coming to the childminder's. They are eager to attend and relish the time at the childminder's. The childminder shares an extremely warm and caring relationship with the children. For example, babies and young children enjoy lots of cuddles and physical closeness, so that they feel secure and content. This helps to successfully enhance children's sense of trust and self-confidence. They have an extremely strong sense of belonging and are familiar with daily routines.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has begun to implement the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework in a highly effective manner. Babies are becoming competent learners as they explore and discover, experiment with sound and develop competency. For example, they explore musical toys, pressing buttons to discover the noise they make. They listen attentively to the childminder as she describes animals on the jigsaw. Children then suggest the noise the animal will make without being prompted by the childminder and become competent at fitting a jigsaw back together. Therefore, children are progressing at a rapid pace and are beginning to make a dynamic sense of the world as they join in a diverse range of exploratory and sensory experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy and content and are showing an extremely strong sense of belonging. They are very familiar with daily routines and have formed excellent relationships with each other, the childminder and her family. This results in children being highly independent and feeling safe and secure, through which they develop a high degree of self-confidence, an extremely strong belief in themselves and healthy self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's awareness of the local community is promoted extremely well through regular well planned outings. They go on regular visits to local playgrounds, country parks, farms and places of interest and in the summer to the seaside. Children have equal access to all resources and are beginning to learn about the wider world through the use of an extensive range of equipment

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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 and activities that positively address diversity. They enthusiastically take part in planned activities which increase their knowledge of festivals and celebrations around the world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn right from wrong in a very caring and sensitive environment. Their behaviour is exemplary. The childminder has clear, high expectations with regards to children's behaviour. They are given clear, effective and consistent guidance and this results in them knowing what is expected of them. The childminder's highly effective use of praise and encouragement ensures that the children feel self-assured and well supported. She is sensitive to children's feelings and gives praise freely to ensure they understand when they have done well. This enables them to decide for themselves what they can and can't do.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is excellent. Parents receive an abundance of information to keep them up to date about their child's care and learning. The childminder works in complete partnership with parents to ensure each child's individual routine is followed successfully. Very detailed records are kept which aid the childminder to enhance all aspects of children's care. This inclusive approach means children's individuality is strongly valued and nurtured. This clearly contributes to the children's overall well-being and development

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's welfare and enjoyment is promoted extremely well by the exceptionally well organised and flexible approach of the childminder. This results in children feeling at ease in their surroundings and enables them to be extremely confident in initiating and extending their own play and learning.

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Organisation

Documentation is kept in an extremely well organised professional manner and confidentiality is maintained at all times. The highly comprehensive policies and procedures in place, which are reviewed, updated and shared with parents; provide a clear sense of purpose and direction. The childminder systematically reviews her policies and procedures to address any changes made to the National Standards. For example, she has devised a robust system for recording complaints.

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Organisation

The childminder is highly committed to continual improvement and development of the service she provides. She is very enthusiastic about attending training. The childminder has recently attended ‘Birth to three matters’, additive free cooking, Asian and Caribbean cooking, diversity and promoting learning with babies and toddlers training. 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 three recommendations were made. Two in relation to safety and one regarding resources.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has extended her resources to promote children's awareness of disability. Therefore, children are provided with a range of resources which raise their awareness of

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Improvements 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 diversity. She has in place appropriate procedures for monitoring babies when they sleep and keeps records of any fire evacuation practices. Therefore, children remain safe.

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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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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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