Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY338867 Unique Reference Number 14 December 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 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 2006. She lives with her husband and three children of school age in Oakley near Basingstoke. The ground floor and daughter's bedroom on the first floor of the property are 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 and is currently minding two children under five years and four children of school age on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder also provides care for children over eight years. The childminder walks to the local pre-school and school to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local toddler group and takes the children to the 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 are encouraged to develop their own personal hygiene needs. Older children take themselves to the downstairs toilet and washing facilities where they help themselves to soap and individual terry towels to dry their hands before food and after playing in the garden or doing craft activities. Young children begin to learn the importance of hygiene practices. For example, they are encouraged to wash their hands before food and are reminded to have their noses wiped and to keep the tissue separate. Children are also taught to cover their mouths when they cough. This helps to prevent the spread of infection and promote an awareness of the importance of personal hygiene. Generally satisfactory hygiene practices ensure that surfaces and equipment are clean, however the carpeted areas accessible to the children are not well maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with nutritious foods at snack time. These include fruit and sandwiches and the children are able to access their drinks at any time.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have opportunities to develop their general health and physical development. Throughout the daily routine the childminder provides opportunities for children to walk to school or play in the park. Children have access to an enclosed garden and conservatory when the weather permits. Children use tools to dig in the sand, they crawl through the tunnel and climb up the slide. Children also take part in organised activities such as visits to soft play areas and trips to the shops. They engage in activities to develop their hand-eye co-ordination such as doing puzzles and fitting pieces of the train track together.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a spacious home where they are able to move around with ease as the childminder develops clear safety procedures. Children are able to access a range of toys and resources that are regularly checked for safety by the childminder. Children are well protected by the use of a variety of safety measures such as smoke alarms, socket covers, a stair gate and a secure outdoor area for play. Children develop a good awareness of keeping safe and staying together when they are on outings as the childminder teaches the children about road safety when they walk from school. They are taught to stop when they are near a crossing and to look, listen and wait until it is safe to cross the road together. Whilst most areas are risk assessed by the childminder, some low level glass is accessible to children and some cleaning materials in the kitchen are not always securely stored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection issues and knows the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. The childminder has a written statement about child protection which is shared and discussed with parents before the children attend. The childminder knows who to contact should she have any concerns about a child in her care. This seeks to ensure that the children's welfare and care are promoted.

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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 satisfactory. Children are provided with a satisfactory range of resources for play and learning, such as puzzles, construction, role play, craft materials, and outdoor play equipment. Children are able to access toys and resources which are arranged into areas within the play room.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children benefit from taking part in some of the creative activities planned for the older children, such as painting, making paper chains to decorate the play room and pictures of winter scenes to place in the windows. However the younger children are unable to access books and creative resources for themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children generally settle well and their speech and language skills are encouraged as the childminder talks to the children during their play activities. Children are gaining in self-confidence as the childminder praises their achievements, for example, when they fit pieces into the train track and use the toy hammer and drill. The childminder is beginning to use development charts to monitor the children's progress to share with parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are cared for in an environment where they are valued and treated with respect. Information regarding children's individual needs, their likes, dislikes and any dietary or medical needs are obtained from parents. The childminder seeks to meet each child's needs working in partnership with parents. Older children are able to access all toys and resources whilst the younger children have limited access to some resources. Children begin to learn about their local area as they visit the park, shops and local toddler group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's good behaviour is promoted by the childminder through the use of praise and encouragement. Young children respond well to the instructions of the childminder when they are asked not to throw toys. Any concerns regarding the children's behaviour and their individual needs are discussed with parents and any strategies are agreed. Children are encouraged to apologise to one another if they have upset someone. This encourages the children to become aware of the feelings of others and teaches them to respect each other. The childminder also shares a written behaviour policy with the parents. Children are learning to share toys and resources and they often help to tidy these away.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder's policies and procedures are shared with parents and each family receives a copy when their child starts. The childminder seeks to develop a good relationship with parents. The childminder keeps parents informed about what their children have done, where they are going and any needs they may have. This seeks to ensure that the individual needs of the children are met.

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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 satisfactory. The children's play room is available to all children. The childminder organises the areas used for childminding to enable the children to move around freely and easily. Policies and procedures are shared with parents and are used to keep the parents informed about the childminder's practice. The childminder maintains confidential records for the children in her care and these include permissions to seek emergency medical advice or treatment and permissions to transport children in a vehicle. Whilst most essential records are in place there is no documentation to record any complaints and some consents from parents are not in place to ensure the children's welfare and care. Children's art work is on display for everyone to see and share in their achievements.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the 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 the 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 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 that all carpeted areas used by the children are well maintained. • ensure that all low level glass is made safe and that all cleaning materials in the kitchen cannot be accessed by children. • ensure parent's prior written permission to transport children in a vehicle and to seek emergency medical advice or treatment is in place for all children. • maintain a record for complaints.

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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 • adapt the range of activities to meet the needs of the younger children, for example, by using the Birth to three matters framework.

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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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