Hill Teresa

Inspection report for early years provision

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405327 Unique Reference Number 27 November 2006 Inspection date Michelle Smith 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 2001. She lives with her husband and two children aged six and seven years in the West Midlands. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding. Children also access the first floor to use the bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. She is currently minding 12 children who attend either before or after school and one child under five years part-time during the day. A high percentage of children are aged over eight years. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has a dog and two guinea pigs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has a recognised early years qualification and receives support from the local authority.

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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 learning about personal hygiene and keeping themselves healthy. The childminder is clear and consistent in her application of daily routines such as, always washing her hands before preparing food. Children become increasingly independent as they are able to reach the taps, squeeze soap and dry their hands using paper towels. Children's medical care is safeguarded. Written consent is gained from the parents for the seeking of any necessary emergency treatment; a suitably equipped first aid box is easily accessible and all accidents are recorded and signed by parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children eat healthy food. Snacks such as, oranges and raisins help them to work towards eating five portions of fruit or vegetables a day. Lunch time meals are nutritious. Children enjoy such meals as, baked beans on toast with yogurt for pudding. They have regular drinks. Younger children have their own water beaker and as a result, can access their drink whenever they wish.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy daily access to fresh air. They walk to the local cinemas and from school. Trips and outings to the park help them to further their coordination skills. Creative activities and playing with small pieces such as Lego help them to develop more control over their fine hand movements.

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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 warm and welcoming environment. They spend the majority of their time in the front room where they complete art work and play on the computer. Resources are both age and stage appropriate, for example younger children play with cars and happy street. All children are able to choose what they wish to play with and can reach their toys with ease. This helps them to be motivated learners and gives them the freedom to develop their own ideas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe for most of the time. An emergency box is readily available in the kitchen. It provides instant access to emergency contact numbers, the first aid box and written records such as, the accident book. A written fire escape plan is in place and is practised. The childminder prioritises children's safety on outings. As a result, they are safe as they walk to and from school. Older children are told they must always be within sight. Younger children in a pushchair wear appropriate harnesses.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are mostly protected from abuse or neglect. The childminder has attended a child protection course. She is aware of local child protection procedures together with contact numbers to seek advice. There is a written child protection policy in place. However, the childminder does not have regard for the Government booklet 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Summary'. This reduces her working knowledge of child abuse and the swiftness in which any concerns can be acted upon.

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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. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They thoroughly enjoy the time she spends sitting, playing and talking with them. Together they draw and complete pictures. Children learn the names of colours such as, purple. The childminder extends their learning well by asking questions to make them think. As a result, they make reasonable decisions for example, choosing if the bike on a picture should be travelling on the grass or on the road. Children's vocabulary is extending as they learn and attempt to say new words such as, skateboard.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show an active interest in how and why things work. They play with friction cars, moving the car back and forth exploring how the car moves. Through effectively organised resources they follow their natural curiosity. They move freely between activities and are content as they play. Children gain further control of their hand/eye coordination as they put shoes on a Barbie doll and slot characters inside a jeep.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children express their creative ideas through dressing up and messy play. They paint pictures and design photo frames, using glue to stick and making large group collages. Older children play on the computer or with suitable resources such as, Lego and Action Man. They are stimulated by trips to the cinema and to watch local street theatre. At this setting, learning is fun.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are recognised and met. The childminder knows each child well and as such provides them with a stable routine and care in line with their parent’s wishes. There are effective procedures in place to meet the needs of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. All children develop a strong sense of belonging to the setting. A bright coloured notice board displays their creative pieces of work. This makes children feel valued and helps them to feel good about themselves. Children behave well. They learn to show care and respect for others as they tidy away their toys. Older children begin to learn the consequences of their behaviour as the childminder talks to them to explain why their behaviour may have a negative impact on others. The childminder is proud of having a few simple rules which the children are clear of for example, not touching the front door. This means children are clear about what

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about their local community and the wider world around them. They visit local places of interest such as, travelling on the bus to see the Christmas lights in Birmingham and going to the greengrocers to buy fruit. Through the childminders enthusiastic approach to festivals and celebrations, children are beginning to understand their own culture and the beliefs of others. During Diwali they paint their hands and learn about the festival. At Christmas, they help to paint the windows in the front room and make calendars to celebrate the turn of a new year. However, the range of methods used to increase children's understanding of learning difficulties and/or disabilities is very limited. This reduces children's overall ability to fully respect others.

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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 Children benefit positively from the open and friendly relationship the childminder has with parents. Parents can see the childminder's registration certificate, public liability insurance and qualification as they are prominently displayed in the entrance of the setting. Effective settling-in procedures ensure that a strong sense of trust develops between parents and the childminder, contributing to children being safe and secure.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's health, well-being and welfare are effectively promoted in the well-organised environment. The children receive stable care as they are always in the sole care of the childminder. This also protects them from any persons not vetted and ensures their safety. The childminder is fully committed to providing them with a stimulating range of experiences to progress their all-round development. The large majority of documents are in place to aid the smooth running of the setting. Children's attendance is recorded on a daily basis and a written complaints procedure is in place.

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Organisation

Space and time are used effectively. Children access their resources independently. They move around confidently and are very much at ease in the familiar environment. They receive a high level of individual attention during the day-time as the childminder spends the majority of her time playing with them.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provider agreed to give children access to an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote their understanding of diversity. Children now learn about their own culture and the beliefs of others through an interesting and varied range of activities such as, celebrating festivals. However, the range of methods used to raise their awareness of disabilities is limited. As a result, their understanding of special needs is restricted and a recommendation has been raised from this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provider was asked to conduct a risk assessment identifying action to be taken to make the open stairway safe and to devise and practise an emergency evacuation plan. A written risk assessment of the stairs is now in place and implemented effectively. Children are observed as they go up and down the stairs. This means they are safe. An emergency escape plan has been devised and practised.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provider agreed to develop her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. She was also requested to maintain all the required documentation and obtain the necessary written consent to administer medication. Documents now support children's care and welfare. Any medicine that has been administered is recorded which means that children's medical needs are met. The childminder has attended a child protection training course which has increased her knowledge of the signs of abuse and procedures to follow if she has cause for concern. However, she is not fully familiar with national guidance. This means children are not fully safeguarded and a recommendation has been raised from this inspection.

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Improvements 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 The provider was requested to implement good hygiene practices regarding hand washing and ensure that animals on the premises do not pose a health risk to children. Children play safely around animals. A stair gate prevents them having unsupervised access to the dog and the guinea pigs live in a well maintained clean cage. The childminder washes her hands before preparing food and makes sure all children wash their hands after handling any pets. The consistent implementation of these routines means that children are healthy.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 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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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): • obtain a copy of the Government booklet 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Summary' • further the range of methods used to increase children's understanding of disabilities.

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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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