Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY104412 Unique Reference Number 11 December 2006 Inspection date Sylvia June Crawford 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 registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and their child aged eight years. They live on a residential estate in Bletchley, Milton Keynes close to local shops, pre-school, and schools.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder uses all downstairs and a playroom upstairs for childminding. There is a garden available for children's outside play. The childminder takes children to the local pre-school and attends a toddler group on a regular basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children. She currently has four children on roll. 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 outstanding. Children are cared for within a very well maintained and hygienic environment. The childminder employs very effective and thorough hygiene routines and procedures which ensure children are kept healthy. Excellent procedures are in place in relation to the personal hygiene and hand washing of the childminder and minded children. For example the younger children have a chart they mark when they have washed their hands and the childminder has provided exciting hand wash and individual towels for the children. This means that children enjoy their visits to the bathroom and they are learning the importance of good personal hygiene practices.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has an excellent policy in relation to sick children which she shares with parents to support her childminding practice. For example, children who are infectious are not allowed to attend in order to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and to provide children who are ill with the best possible care. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, which means she can give appropriate care to children if there is an accident. She is meticulous about recording any accidents or incidents and keeps parents informed to ensure continuity of care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an excellent range of activities and experiences indoors, outdoors and away from the childminding setting which actively contribute to their very good health and well-being. They have the opportunity for fresh air and exercise at the local park, in the woods and when they go for walks. Children particularly enjoy going to the local soft play area where they can develop their gross motor skills. At home and in the childminding support group children develop a range of small physical skills, for example, using glue sticks and other creative materials during craft activities to develop hand eye coordination and finger control.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a healthy, varied and nutritious diet, with all meals and snacks taking account of the children's individual dietary needs. The childminder ensures that any packed lunches are stored appropriately. The childminder successfully guides children into making healthy choices, for example, having fruit for a snack from the lunch box instead of the chocolate, she also cooks new foods and encourages children to try them. Children enjoy a relaxed and sociable time while eating. The childminder uses herself as a good role model and encourages good manners, for example, 'we do not eat with our mouths full'. Young children are supported to develop their independence during meals and learn to feed themselves. Comprehensive and imaginative menus are devised by the childminder so that children can experience all types of food. Children are able to access drinks on a regular basis throughout

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Helping children to be healthy

the day and they are confident to ask for snacks and drinks when feeling hungry or thirsty.

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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 very safe and secure environment where any risks are identified and minimised. This is because the childminder is extremely vigilant and carries out a regular risk assessment to reduce potential hazards. Appropriate safety precautions are in place such as stair gates and having access to the telephone when upstairs. The childminder carries out

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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 regular fire drills with children, so that they begin to learn about maintaining their own safety. The childminder is also vigilant about children's safety when on outings ensuring they travel in appropriate car seats or are suitably strapped into their buggy. The children learn about road safety when out and how to keep themselves safe when crossing the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children foster their independence skills as they chose for themselves from the exceptional range of toys, play materials and equipment. These include items to promote children’s development in all areas. The range of resources are of very high quality and imaginatively and attractively presented. Consequently, children are interested and excited by what is on offer. The childminder does a regular check of toys and resources, to ensure there are no broken parts that could harm children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted by the childminder who has a clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures and understands her role in safeguarding children. She has completed training through the NSPCC and keeps herself up to date with relevant literature. The childminder ensures that parents understand her responsibilities through her well written and clear child protection policy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very settled and happy in the childminder’s care. They enjoy the welcoming, child orientated environment and this contributes towards their sense of belonging. The childminder is skilled at identifying and meeting children's needs and consequently children new to her setting quickly begin to feel at home. Children take part in a very wide range of interesting and exciting activities and experiences that help them to make progress. They are motivated, eager and actively participate in the activities and experiences offered to them. For example, children enjoy making a Christmas stocking and gluing a snowman, with eyes and a hat, onto the front of it, colouring in dinosaurs and making up a train track. During the activities the childminder supports children's development by talking about different colours, shapes and numbers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's confidence and self-esteem is given high priority as they are offered praise and acknowledgment for their efforts and achievements. This helps to promote children's confidence and make them feel valued. Children's independence is fostered as they make their own choices and decisions, for example, choosing the train set to play with and putting together the track. Children are listened to and their learning extended as the childminder ask questions and introduces them to new vocabulary, such as, looking at the post together and finding out what has arrived and who it is for. Children benefit from the childminder's highly skilled ability to balance her time, interacting with children effectively and at times allowing them to play alone. This enables children to explore and develop their own skills. Children enjoy visits to toddler groups and childminder support groups; these experiences encourage children to relate well

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to each other and socialise with others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children benefit from the childminder's very good understanding of the Birth to three framework. Older children have well planned opportunities to learn and develop specific pre-school skills through the childminder's clear understanding of the Foundation Stage. She

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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 makes meaningful written observations of children's development and these are shared with parents. They enable the childminder to plan activities in line with children's individual needs and their developmental stages.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children receive an excellent standard of care because the childminder knows them extremely well and develops a warm and loving relationship with them. She enables children to develop a sense of belonging whilst in her care, for example by responding to a child by sitting close together during story time and making eye contact when speaking. Children are treated with equal concern, care and regard and they look to her for support and guidance. The childminder knows that some children may need additional support to achieve their potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder helps children to understand about the wider world through a range of activities and experiences, for example, celebrating other festivals. Their appreciation of diversity is enhanced by the wide variety of toys and books provided by the childminder which she supplements through the local toy library. The childminder helps children to understand the world of nature through different themes. For example, together they look at birds in the garden and then look them up in books. The childminder has linked this theme to the number posters of birds and some cuddly toy birds with original call sounds.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's self-confidence is evident and is very well promoted by the childminder as they receive lots of positive praise and encouragement. This results in children developing a high sense of self-esteem. Children's behaviour is excellent, which is a result of the childminder's support and encouragement. The childminder is clear about the need to promote children's positive behaviour and she does this through a reward sticker chart. The house rules were devised in consultation with the older children and consequently they have a greater understanding and appreciate of the boundaries. Children are beginning to develop a good understanding of what is right and wrong through the childminder's very positive role model.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

An excellent partnership with parents contributes significantly to children's well-being. Children's individual needs and requirements are discussed carefully and in detail with parents prior to placement and on an on-going basis as they develop and progress. Parents are kept informed of their child's achievements on a daily basis both verbally and in written form. The childminder uses photographs very effectively to convey to parents what their child has been doing while in her care. The childminder records observations noting children's development and progress and she shares this information with parents to promote continuity of care. She also uses these observations to enhance her planning of future themes and activities. The childminder shares all her written policies and procedures with parents to ensure they are well informed and made to feel welcome from the beginning. She asks parents for their comments and observations, as

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for in a very well planned and organised environment. Evaluations of practice against the outcomes for children ensure children are extremely well cared for. The childminder is very clear about her role and responsibility in providing a high quality service to the children and their family. She has an extensive and sound knowledge of child development and has attended many training courses, covering a wide variety of topics. She is pro-active in accessing training, reads relevant publications and ensures she is kept up to date with current practice. This continuing development ensures that children benefit greatly from her increased knowledge and understanding. For example, following attendance at Birth to three matters training she put in place an effective system to record and assess children's development.

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Organisation

All required documentation, records and parental permissions relating to the minded children are retained ensuring that the childminder is able to care for children in a safe and confident manner. Children's welfare is promoted within the setting as the childminder has suitable contingency plans in place to cover absences, emergencies and to ensure children always have appropriate supervision. Children benefit from the excellent communication between the childminder and the parents; she gives copies of her policies and procedures to parents so that they are very clear about her service. She keeps all documents securely to maintain children’s and families confidentiality. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to provide a suitable range of toys and activities for minded children ensuring they promote equality of opportunity and develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection the childminder has completed a distance learning training course on child protection and receives regular up to date information from the NSPCC to enhance her knowledge. She has extended her resources considerably and now has an excellent range that include items to promote children’s development in all areas.

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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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