Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY231015 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2006 Inspection date Sara Jane Frost 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 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and six years in the Latchbook area on the outskirts of Saltash. The house is split level and children have access to all levels of the childminder's house apart from the childminder's own bedroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five and one child over five before and after school on a part time basis. The childminder walks to local school to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends the local childminders' and toddler groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 good. Children's health is well promoted as the childminder demonstrates very good hygiene practices. For example, the wearing of protective clothing when changing nappies and the wiping down of the changing mat with anti-bacterial spray after each use. The risk of cross contamination is further reduced as the childminder ensures all items which babies have dropped on the floor are thoroughly clean before giving back to the child. The childminder is currently updating her paediatric first aid certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Older children are encouraged to eat healthily. By providing a range of snacks such as, crackers, cheese, cucumber and raisins the childminder ensures children have a degree of individual choice. All children are expected to sit at the dining room table with the childminder to eat their meals. This helps develop children's social skills. Children can access drinks throughout the day and babies are given boiled water between feeds. This ensures children's fluid levels are maintained. Bottle fed babies are held and fed according to parents' wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming home where safety is paramount. For example, the lounge is located on the first floor and stair gates are used to deny unsupervised access to the lower and upper levels of the childminder's home. Sleeping babies are monitored by the childminder who conducts regular visual checks. The childminder completes record sheets on sleeping children thus keeping parents fully informed. Fire drills are conducted however, only basic records are kept such as date, time and signature. This limits the process to improving the evacuation process and to develop the children's awareness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from the good range of resources, which meet the safety standards. Resources are stored in clearly labelled boxes and are easily accessible to children, allowing them, a degree of choice in their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a clear understanding of child protection procedures in line with the current legislation. This ensures children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has only recently commenced new childminding arrangements with a young baby. The baby was content and easily fell asleep in the childminder's arms. The childminder ensures their routines are respected and adhered too, for example, sleeping and feeding patterns are carried out in line with parents' wishes. She is responsive to babies' needs and easily reads signs such as needing their morning sleep. Babies receive lots of contact, cuddles and conversation with the childminder effectively responding to the babies' gurgling sounds and babies responding further with smiles. Babies are provided with a varying range of play

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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 opportunities that include different textures, hard and soft materials and sound making resources. Children get the opportunity to mix with others as the childminder regularly attends the local parent and toddler and childminder's groups. The childminder is aware of the Birth to three matters framework although as yet has not resourced for development of new childminding arrangement, as she wants to get to know the baby first. Older children have access to a range of craft making activities, sand, paint and water play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder spends time with parents discussing routines, a planned settling in procedure gives parents and children time to build up confidence and trust. The childminder is aware of children's individual needs, for example when to use the baby's dummy and cradling the baby in her arms to rock them off to sleep.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about the wider world through discussion and various resources provided by the childminder. Children enjoy using resources, such as doll's house figures, which reflect positive images of race and disability. These resources are further increased as the childminder makes good use of the local toy library.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a calm approach to behaviour management. Children regularly receive praise and respond positively to her encouragement. Children are beginning to show care and concern for each other. They are made aware of simple house rules such as sharing, putting games away before getting more out and keeping small items away from babies.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are welcomed into a well organised home environment, which is clean, tidy and activities are readily prepared before the children arrive. The childminder ensures that during the day children receive individual attention thus ensuring their individual needs are met. She is very aware of protecting children through good supervision and restricting access to people who are not vetted. For example, the childminder makes appointments for any work to be conducted in the house on days when minded children are not present.

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Organisation

Documentation is used effectively to ensure that children are well cared for. The childminder displays her registration certificate and detailed records are maintained which include a register of attendance, parental agreements and records of children's needs. However, the complaints log requires developing in line with the latest regulation. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last children act inspection recommended that the childminder should; develop her procedure for checking sleeping babies and undertake emergency evacuation of the property involving children in the exercise. The childminder has made significant improvement which promotes children's safety. The childminder has devised a system and shares with parents to show checks

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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 are regularly made on sleeping children and basic records show fire drills are conducted on a regular basis.

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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 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): • continue to develop and evaluate the fire evacuation process and promote children's awareness in this area • develop a procedure for recording complaints and update knowledge of all current requirements

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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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