Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY335955 Unique Reference Number 19 October 2006 Inspection date Jennifer Pearce 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 has been registered since 2006. She lives with her husband and one child of school age in the Wickham area of Hampshire. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time including one child overnight and she is currently minding one child over five years on a part time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends a local toddler group and library. The family have a pet dog.

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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 are cared for in a home with a good standard of comfort and cleanliness. They are taught the importance of good hygiene routines through guidance from the childminder and co childminder. Children are encouraged to wash hands before food, after playing outside and touching the dog.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered nutritious snacks and plenty of drinks to meet their needs. The childminder takes account of the wishes of parents and works closely with them to provide food and drinks to meet each child's likes, dislikes and dietary requirements.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have opportunities to develop their physical skills as they use a variety of equipment, for example they climb on the climbing frame, scramble up the net, ride bikes and scooters, run and kick the football and jump on the trampette. Children have opportunities to use different parts of their bodies as they use equipment in the outdoor play house, use tools for cutting play food, dig and pour the sand and draw around stencil shapes and peel stickers. Children also have opportunities to explore meadows, parks and outdoor places of interest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are able to move around the childminder's home with safety and freedom due to the careful supervision of the childminder and the attention to minimising risks and the provision of clear safety procedures. Toys, equipment and resources are carefully monitored for suitability and safety by the childminder on a regular basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder ensures that children benefit from a good range of safety features, for example, safety gates, a fire drill procedure, a fixed fireguard and a secure area for outdoor play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are taught the importance of road safety when they are met from school. Children are taught to enter and exit the car from the pavement side and to hold hands when they are near roads. For example children stop, look and listen when they approach the road, keep looking as they walk around a parked vehicle in order to get onto the pavement, watching the road and holding hands at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected because the childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection procedures and issues around confidentiality and she shares these with parents. This all seeks to ensure that the children's care and welfare are safeguarded and promoted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder involves the children in conversation when she meets them from school asking what they have done during the day. Children respond with confidence talking about what they

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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 had for lunch, their school work and receiving a sticker for good reading. Children are relaxed and confident in the care of the childminder and happily select toys and resources from the good selection on arrival.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children demonstrate high levels of involvement during a creative activity as they draw and write their name and select collage items for a Halloween picture. The childminder involves the children in conversation, encouraging speech and language as the children discuss the different characters they have chosen for their picture and talk about their favourite colour. They discuss what might have frightened the cat, what spiders spin and the pumpkin costume they are going to wear for a party. Children discuss size when they talk about wearing wellington boots to play in the garden. They talk about the different size shoes they take and if they wore each other's boots they would be either too tight or too big.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children use sound and movement as they talk about loud and soft sounds and they respond with enthusiasm as they explore the variety of musical instruments with the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children share a warm and friendly relationship with both the childminder and co childminder as they talk to the children, take time to listen and show interest in all the children do.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued as individuals, their preferences and wishes are considered, for example when they are asked what they would like to do both in and out of doors. Children have opportunities to celebrate special events through conversation and activity. The childminder provides resources such as dressing up and uses hand puppets to encourage children to communicate and talk about any concerns they may have.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are taught good manners and learn to share when they choose stickers for an activity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children respond well to the childminder's instruction during an activity for example when they are asked to stop when playing the instruments, help to tidy up and put away the resources from a craft activity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good relationship with parents. She explains what they have been doing, what she plans to do and shares comprehensive policies and procedures.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder ensures that all areas both in and out of doors are planned to maximise opportunities for the children to play, explore and develop. Children are able to move around with freedom to participate in all of the activities available. Children are also provided with plenty of comfortable areas for rest and relaxation.

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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 is currently updating her knowledge to enhance the quality of care and education she provides for the children. Whilst the childminder is qualified in first aid for adults the childminder has not attended an appropriate first aid training for child carers.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps a good standard of records for the children in her care. This includes permissions to transport children in a vehicle. However there is no written consent from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. Children's individual needs and health needs, likes and dislikes are discussed before the child commences with the childminder and all policies and procedures are shared with parents. This seeks to ensure that they are kept fully informed about the welfare and care and development of their child.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the ranges of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This does not apply as the last visit was a registration visit.

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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. 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): • ensure that written consents from parents are in place to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. • complete a suitable first aid course for child carers.

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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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