Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY337988 Unique Reference Number 02 November 2006 Inspection date Joyce Bowler 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 partner and children, aged five and seven months, in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The whole house is used for childminding. The family have a dog and a tank of fish and terrapins. The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time. Currently there is one child on roll. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and welcoming environment. They are learning to keep themselves healthy through effective routines where they wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Children are protected from cross-infection as they have their own hand

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 towels to dry their hands. The childminder uses a changing mat and washes her hands after changing nappies. She also uses alcohol hand gel to reinforce her procedures to avoid cross-contamination. She does not currently have a stock of disposable gloves for use when cleaning up after accidents, or changing nappies of minded children. Parents give prior consent for the childminder to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. Children's minor injuries are treated appropriately as the childminder holds a first aid qualification. There is a first aid kit to support this. Since registration she has not had any occasion to record accidents or administration of medication but holds record books in preparation for future use. The pet dog is a friendly member of the family and minded children are familiar and relaxed with him. All

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Helping children to be healthy

inoculations are up-to-date. He mainly stays in the kitchen or garden when minded children attend.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's meals are provided by parents and the childminder stores lunch boxes appropriately in the kitchen. She provides snacks and drinks in addition to meals and these adhere to children's dietary requirements. Children can choose from fresh fruit, such as apple and pear, and also biscuits or seasonal treats to link in with activities and festivals. For example, children have enjoyed Halloween biscuits when learning about things that happen in autumn.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have lots of opportunities to develop and practise their physical skills at home and when on outings. The childminder builds in daily exercise for the child currently minded as she loves to play outside. They go for walks, visit local parks and use the fixed play equipment there. Fine motor skills are developed well by children having access to a huge variety of resources and activities including tools for drawing, painting, cookery and gardening, puzzle pieces and construction toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder's home affords a good space for children to play and rest in safety. The dining and sitting rooms are open plan and allow for very good floor and table top space for different activities to happen at the same time and to keep all children safe. For example, one child playing with lentils and dry pasta and making pretend pancakes was able to play happily at the coffee table while the baby enjoyed floor play in the dining area. This enables the childminder to engage with both children and to keep them under her safe supervision. She is aware that small toys pose choking hazards to children of certain ages and children are learning to be careful as they play, for instance when using the fishing game and keeping it out of the reach of the baby. Children's safety is given high priority by the childminder and she has taken steps to minimise risks in her home. Measures in place include the use of stair gates at appropriate

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

positions, cupboard locks, a fireguard and a drain cover in the garden. They have recently made pumpkin lanterns and, when lit, these stand inside the fire guard. Children know not to touch them and are able to enjoy the full effect of the lanterns in safety. Front door security is effective. As the stairs to the upstairs toilet are quite steep children are learning how to climb up and down them safely and with assistance when necessary. Children are kept safe when away from the house as the childminder takes all contact details for parents with her. They are beginning to learn about road safety, to hold on to the buggy and the childminder's hand when walking near busy roads. The childminder uses safety straps on children's wrists in the street.

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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 She has a written emergency evacuation procedure and shares this with parents in the folder of information provided for them. Smoke alarms and a fire blanket are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder only releases them to named persons known to herself. She demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and is aware of who to contact in case of a concern. She has written a child protection policy which is available in the parents' folder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from the childminder's very good knowledge and understanding of both early child development and the importance of providing interesting and exciting activities and resources to foster their love of learning. She has given time and thought to devising routines and play opportunities which relate to children's interests and enables them to learn about the world about them, to develop their creativity and their imagination. The whole of the downstairs living space is arranged to promote and foster children's play and development needs. Excellent storage and accessibility to resources means that children are able to make independent choices from a wonderful variety of toys and games. In fact the downstairs play space appears like a small children's nursery as areas are zoned off for play at table top height and on the floor, a sofa for cuddles and quiet story time and children's art work and educational pictures and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

posters decorate the dining room. There is a remarkable amount of good quality resources available in clear storage boxes and on open shelving for children to request and help themselves to. This includes train sets, boy and girl play figures and dolls reflecting different nationalities, construction toys, dressing up clothes, tea sets and small world toys to promote role play and arts and crafts materials. Babies are well provided for with a good range of soft toys and those which make sounds and offer different tactile experiences. The childminder supplements her resources by using the local toy library and currently has a toy computer on loan. Children benefit from having their interests maintained as not all toys are out at once and the childminder rotates the use of some toys and changes the choices on offer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children receive lots of friendly and affectionate care from the childminder who supports their play with questions and encouragement, for example when playing the fishing game and remembering to match the colours of the rod to the fish. While children play they are helped to learn and practise skills such as counting, identifying colours and reciting the alphabet. They have a good range of activities over the course of each week and this includes trips out and attending childminding groups. Children are able to learn to mix and play with other minded children and are encouraged to play cooperatively together. The childminder is aware of the importance of this for children who rarely meet other young children and how this helps to increase their confidence and social skills, for example, at snack times when they all sit down for a break together. Children have been to the garden centre and bought seeds which they

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

have planted and are watching their 'seed heads' grow. Children are being helped to compare the growth of different seeds and to begin to understand the concept of time and change. They learn about nature and the seasons when out for walks and have recently collected conkers. They helped to make two pumpkin lanterns and scooped out the seeds and pulp. They are drying off the seeds to try and grow them in the spring. Children enjoy good opportunities 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 explore their creativity via art and craft, singing and dancing and imaginary play. The childminder realises that one child does not like messy play so is supplying alternatives for her, such as lentils and dry pasta, to enable her to explore different materials. Children's language development is fostered very well as the childminder engages children in conversation throughout their play and is giving them a very good introduction to books and stories every day. They visit the library regularly together and children select their own books. The childminder is also aware of the need to stand back and let children give their imagination free rein when playing. She creates a very comfortable environment which fosters learning through play. The childminder is beginning to keep records relating to children's development and is devising a

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

progress diary to share with parents. She is familiar with the Birth to three matters framework and although she has not been able to access any training she is implementing it in her practice effectively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children settle in well at the childminder's home as she takes steps to ensure that they are happy in their new surroundings and that she cares for them in accordance with parents' wishes. To this end she collects and records relevant information regarding children's likes, dislikes, eating and resting patterns and any special dietary requirements. Daily routines and types of play and activities offered are tailored to children's specific interests, such as enjoying going out to the park and going to toddler groups. Resources, including books and toys, reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of modern society. The childminder is keen to extend her knowledge in this area and to offer more activities which relate to different festivals and customs. Behaviour management is sensitive to children's ages and stages of maturity. The childminder is aware of the need to agree and to share her codes for behaviour with parents. Children benefit from

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Helping children make a positive contribution

clear guidance such as reminders to come downstairs carefully to keep safe. The childminder has not minded any children with special needs, learning difficulties or physical disabilities to date. She is aware of the need to share any identification of a suspected special need with parents and to liaise closely with them regarding this in the future if the need arises.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is very good. The childminder has produced a small prospectus for parents which includes details of her family and the service she offers including policies and procedures and conditions of her registration. She explains about the child profile she will keep and the daily report diaries she can produce if parents would like one. Currently she uses verbal feedback effectively to exchange information with parents at drop off and collection times. Contracts are set up with parents and they are provided with information regarding Ofsted. The childminder has a complaints log which is kept with her childminding documentation.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She demonstrates her continued suitability to be registered as she has established a highly effective service in the short time since her registration. She has identified areas to expand her service,

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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 for example, in her provision of activities relating to multicultural festivals, and is keeping up to date with current early years practice via childminding groups and the National Childminding Association magazine, 'Who Minds'.

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Organisation

The organisation of her home is highly effective in meeting the needs of the children and enables her to provide good levels of care and early years education. She organises short periods of time very well to provide a good balance between indoor and outdoor play and opportunities to socialise with other children and to have free play in her home. She maintains her register and attendance is countersigned by parents. All policies and procedures required by the National Standards are in place and these are supplemented by additional documents to ensure full parental permissions for outings, the use of sun cream and taking of photographs. The childminder displays her registration certificate along with her first aid and childminding qualifications and public liability insurance.

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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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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): • consider the use of disposable gloves when changing nappies.

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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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