Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY333146 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2006 Inspection date Sheila Collins 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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged 3 and 5 years in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder attends a toddler group, and takes the children for walks and visits to the park. She takes children to and collects from local schools and preschools.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five years and five school aged children on a part -time basis.

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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 learn about good personal hygiene through their daily routine. The childminder has good hygiene practices herself and supports the children well ensuring that they wash their hands after going to the toilet and before eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is actively promoted by the childminder who responds appropriately when they are ill. The children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of their individual health needs and all the relevant documentation is in place, to support the meeting of these needs. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and a good understanding of the ways to prevent accidents, which contributes to keeping the children healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary requirements and preferences are known by the childminder. The children enjoy healthy meals and can access drinks at all times during the day as the childminder ensures that their cups are within reach.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children enjoy physical exercise and the childminder successfully plans their day to ensure that they have a wide range of activities to help them develop physically. The children benefit from outings to the park and playing in the garden, as well as using the equipment in the school playground when they are collected from school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder's home is warm and welcoming for children. She conducts regular risk assessments and gives high priority to ensuring that the children are safe both within and outside the home. However due to work being carried out in the kitchen, the fire blanket is not sited on the wall. The childminder has equipment suitable for the age and stage of the children attending, which includes items such as safety barriers. The childminder checks the equipment and toys frequently to ensure that they are safe for the children to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has built up a good range of toys and resources for the children to use, which covers all areas of their development. The children independently access toys and activities for themselves from the range in the living rooms and ask the childminder to get out anything they can not reach, for example the cars from the cupboard. The children use the downstairs rooms for playing in, with messy activities in the dining room and quiet play and floor play in the sitting room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder promotes the children's welfare through a working knowledge of child protection issues. She has a clear understanding of the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child and knows the local routes of referral.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are happy, relaxed and confident. They settle and interact well with the childminder and her children. The children select what they would like to do from the range of stage appropriate toys and resources. The childminder allows the children to decide for themselves what they would like to do and is supportive of their choices.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows the needs of each child in her care and is therefore able to offer activities and resources, which will appeal to all the children, for example stencilling dinosaurs and making craft items. The childminder takes into account the children’s own routines when planning the day. Although the childminder has not yet put into place the Birth to three matters framework, children under three benefit from the childminder's experience in caring for this age group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has good knowledge of the individual needs of each child through ongoing discussion with parents. She ensures that all children are included in the activities at a level appropriate to their stage. The children use a range of resources, which promote a positive view of different cultures and abilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children understand the rules and boundaries that are in place. They know the rules for acceptable behaviour and the childminder talks with them so that they are aware of why any unwanted behaviour is unacceptable. The childminder encourages good standards of behaviour and politeness. The children's efforts and achievements are praised by the childminder which promotes their confidence and self esteem, for example playing well together and sharing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good partnership with parents and works closely with them to ensure continuity of care for the children. Contracts are in place so that both parents and childminder are clear about the arrangements. The childminder discusses with parents daily to keep them informed about events and their children's progress.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is meeting the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. The children benefit from the childminder's good organisation. The childminder organises her time and the space available very well, to give the children a good range of play and learning experiences both in and outside of the home environment.

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Organisation

The available space is well laid out to give the children different areas for different activities; for example, quiet and floor play in the sitting room and table top activities such as drawing and craft in the dining room.

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Organisation

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 has completed the registration course and holds a first aid qualification. She has an ongoing commitment to training and has completed a safeguarding children course and is waiting to attend a Birth to three matters framework course, which benefits the children.

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Organisation

The childminder has all the required documentation in place to make sure that she is able to meet the individual needs of the children in her care. The certificate of registration is displayed for parents to see, so they are aware of the conditions of registration.

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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 any 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): • ensure that fire blanket is appropriately sited where it can easily be accessed • develop knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework, to further enhance the good practice offered to children under the age of three years.

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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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