Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY301640 Unique Reference Number 17 October 2006 Inspection date Timothy Butcher 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 satisfactory. 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 2005. She lives with her sister, brother-in-law and two children aged seven years and nine years, in Ashton, Bristol. The whole of the ground floor and bedroom and bathroom to the first floor of the property, are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is currently minding four children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. Three children are under five and one child is over five and attends only after school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local park.

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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. Children benefit from appropriate physical care. Children are checked regularly to ensure that they are comfortable and suitable nappy changing procedures are followed that protect children from the spread of infection. The childminder has the required documentation in place to help promote children's health. There are suitable procedures in place to record accidents and for the safe administration of medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder consults with parents to ensure dietary preferences are identified. She ensures that children have healthy meals and a varied diet according to the stated preferences. The childminder is flexible and parents are able to supply foodstuffs like snacks and packed lunches if they prefer. Drinks are made readily available to children. The childminder ensures that feeding cups are close at hand to children so that they are able to drink whenever they wish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder ensures that children have suitable opportunities for exercise and fresh air. They regularly visit 'the Marsh', the local park and toddler groups.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have a safe environment in which to play. Potential risks to children have been identified and control measures put in place to reduce hazards to children. The premises are kept secure. Smoke detection equipment is in place and stair gates are used to restrict children's access to areas unsupervised. Cleaning chemicals stored in the first floor bathroom pose a potential hazard to children. Children learn about how to keep themselves and others safe for example by clearing toys away before others are taken out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder makes constructive use of the space available. A satisfactory range of toys are made available to meet the needs of the children currently minded. A suitable selection is put out in readiness for children in both the lounge and dining room. Larger items of equipment, like the home corner and the builder's work bench, are on display and resources are organised at low level to be made easily accessible to children. The childminder rotates toys in and out of use to ensure that children's interest is maintained. The garden provides further opportunities for children to play on equipment outside and to be active.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a satisfactory awareness of child protection procedures and some of the possible signs and symptoms of potential abuse. She understands her responsibilities in regard to the protection of children and children's welfare as a result are safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children make satisfactory progress in all areas of their development. Children are helped to settle and to feel secure as the childminder provides plenty of cuddles and close contact to

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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 babies and young children. She has a sound awareness of children's routines and suitably organises her care around their feeding and sleeping patterns. An assistant works with her one half of the week and children have plenty of individual attention. The childminder has a solid understanding of child development and has just begun to use the Birth to three matters framework to support children's all round progress. She has a suitable awareness of each child's abilities and recognises the developmental progress they make. She has a satisfactory understanding of how children learn but has yet to fully develop this knowledge and to plan specifically for their next steps in development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have positive experiences through play. They have a suitable range of activities that are appropriate to their development and interests. They are able to exercise choice. Babies are encouraged to stretch, crawl and to reach for soft toys and other items that capture their attention. They are suitably encouraged, when ready to bear weight.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children begin to learn to count and to repeat back numbers. They count such things as wooden blocks, pegs in the workbench and pieces of fruit. Children begin to develop their language skills. They repeat back words and are encouraged to answer simple questions that prompt their responses. Children engage in imaginative play, for example, with home corner equipment. They pretend to eat food items and to push prams and dolls around, negotiating furniture and each other. They practise their small motor and coordination skills through creative activities like painting and colouring. They bang pegs into a toy workbench with hammers and concentrate hard to turn the screws with their fingers and with tools.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children appear happy, are settled and are largely content. They enjoy their time with the childminder and with her assistant.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have regular opportunities to socialise with other children of their own age through the use of toddler and childminder groups. Children are suitably encouraged to get on well with each other and to share. Children are prompted to think of others, for example, when they make sudden noises, the childminder explains that this is likely to scare babies. She encourages them to be polite, for example, to say 'please and thank you'. The childminder relies on a small number of strategies that she uses to promote children's positive behaviour, for example, the use of distraction and the use of explanation. The childminder has yet to develop more strategies to manage the wider range of behaviours that she is likely to meet.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the sound partnership with parents. Parents are kept very well informed about their child's day through comprehensive daily diaries. These provide full detail of the feed and sleep patterns and the activities that children have undertaken. Time is set aside for discussion with parents at either end of the day. Parents report positively about the care and the comfortable relationship that children have with the childminder. They report that children are well supported to settle and to grow in confidence. The childminder is keen to provide good quality care and to meet the wishes of parents. She provides a comments book for parents and carers to further enhance the solid exchange of information.

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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 begin to learn about diversity and the wider world. The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of equality of opportunities issues and has some resources and artefacts to support her in her practice. Book resources that show positive images of disability, race and culture are few in number. The childminder has yet to care for children with learning difficulties or disability, however, the procedures for sharing information with parents are comprehensive and are inclusive of all children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is well organised, using her time, space and other resources positively to create a welcoming environment for children. Children experience a suitably balanced range of activities and play opportunities. Children appear to be happy, settled and secure and to enjoy their time with the childminder and her assistant.

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Organisation

The childminder has the majority of documentation in place. Suitable records, policies and procedures are held that promote the welfare of children and support the safe management of the provision. Initial information is readily shared with parents and subsequent processes mean they are consulted and kept well informed. This contributes to the continuity of care for children.

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Organisation

The childminder is keen to develop her practice, for example, in regard to how children learn and in her use of the Birth to three matters framework to plan for children's next steps in development.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she 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.

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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 satisfactory. 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 cleaning chemicals in the bathroom do not pose a hazard to children • further develop knowledge of how children learn and the use of the Birth to three matters framework to plan for children's next steps in development • develop a range of strategies that encourage children's positive behaviour

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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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