Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY277874 Unique Reference Number 23 October 2006 Inspection date Christine Ann London 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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged 11 and 14 in a village to the east of Norwich, Norfolk. The whole of the ground floor and the main bedroom and second bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The house is within walking distance of the local schools. The childminder has use of a car to transport minded children. The family has two dogs and two guinea pigs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding seven children, all attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also cares for children over the age of eight years. The childminder attends the local childminder support group and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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. The home is well maintained in a clean and hygienic condition, to promote children's welfare. Well established routines mean that children know to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet, the younger children are assisted if necessary to ensure their hands are thoroughly clean. For example, before lunch the older children wash their hands independently and the younger children go to the cloakroom area where the childminder supervises their hand washing and drying. The childminder generally promotes the health of the children and takes steps to prevent the spread of infection. A thorough routine is followed after children’s nappies have been changed, but the preparation for nappy changing is not always consistent with this. Appropriate documentation and consent forms are in place and a health and safety policy is shared with the parents, to ensure appropriate care is given.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are well met, the childminder provides regular home made snacks and hot meals throughout the day. Meal requirements are discussed with the parents and any likes, dislikes or special dietary needs are recorded to ensure these continue to be met. Children have fruit and fresh vegetables daily to promote a healthy awareness to food. Young children can independently access their beakers or flasks throughout the day, however, this process could compromise children's health if supervision is not consistent. The older children ask for drinks which are readily prepared for them, a choice of milk, juice or water is offered.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a range of activities which contribute to their physical development, promoting a healthy lifestyle. They walk to and from school daily and have regular opportunities to play and explore in the garden or at the local park. The daily routine offers a balance of active and quiet play, enabling children to rest or play according to their needs, promoting their health and well-being. Young children are able to have undisturbed sleep, in a travel cot, in an upstairs bedroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are well settled and confident in the secure setting created by the childminder. The premises are welcoming with the lounge being particularly child-centred. A range of posters and children's art work, help to make this a stimulating environment. Children have the space to play freely, to be active, quiet and rest or sleep. The bedrooms provide the children with an area for undisturbed sleep in the travel cots provided, the older children rest or sleep on the settee or in a comfy chair. A ground floor toilet is used to encourage children to independently attend to their personal needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a variety of play equipment that is presented in a manner which encourages children to select toys safely. Boxes are open so children can view the contents before selecting. The children help to tidy toys away when they have finished, helping to keep the play area tidy and clutter free. The older children are encouraged to think about the safety of their activities around toddlers and use the table for cutting with scissors and the use of small piece activities.

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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 The childminder has a clear understanding of keeping children safe within her care. Her home is secure and only authorised persons may collect the children. The childminder identifies possible hazards within her home and puts worthwhile measures in place to ensure children are safe. For example, she secures the stairs and kitchen with the use of stair gates and ensures that electric sockets are either in use or protected. Children's welfare is safeguarded when outside the home because car seats with appropriate restraints are used when transporting children in her car and written parental consents are in place. Children's awareness of road safety is raised while out walking, hands are held to keep children close to the childminder. The childminder has developed an emergency escape plan and displays it on the wall in the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

entrance hall, she has discussed the procedure with the older children, but has yet to practice the evacuation to ensure they are all familiar with the routine.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected because the childminder has a sound understanding of her role in child protection and emergency situations. She has a written policy in place which she shares with the parents in order to safeguard children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled with the childminder. They move around the home with confidence and chat easily with the childminder. Regular outings to the park, visits to the library and local walks enable children to learn about their environment and nature. For example, children collect leaves and make collage pictures to take home or display on the walls with the many colourful posters and other art works. Their self-esteem is promoted well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children of all ages are able to access a range of good quality toys and resources which are rotated for variety. Storage boxes are open for children to freely explore, they enjoy playing with the resources on offer which provide stimulation and challenges to them. Younger children have their toys on a play mat, some laid out ready for the children and others in a basket close by, this encourages even the youngest of children to independently select their own toys. Older children are encouraged to be aware of the younger children when moving around the lounge and when choosing activities with smaller pieces, encouraging them to be aware of their own and others needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder gives individual time to each child throughout the day, ensuring children are well supported and valued. She uses positive praise and good eye contact when playing with the children. Stories are read to the children, questions are asked during the story to encourage children to take an active part in story time. Children are beginning to distinguish right from wrong as the childminder is consistent with her boundaries. She explains to children that they will have to wait for their turn if she is busy with another child. She encourages the children to share and take turns to raise their awareness of others needs. Children freely approach the childminder with idea's for play. For example, children ask the childminder to make a pouch to carry eggs in, they tell the childminder the eggs need to be carried before they can be laid. The childminder makes a pouch with her cardigan, this is not holding the eggs securely, so a child

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

suggests his top is used instead. This is more successful and the child carries the plastic eggs around until lunchtime. Children begin to organise a tea party and ask for the childminders

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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 help to find play food items. This play develops to include good conversations about healthy foods, sizes and counting, promoting children's learning and understanding.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses her 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan and support young children's play and development. She has booked to attend training of this framework to enable her to develop her knowledge and awareness of the contents and to use these in her daily routines to further benefit the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with equal regard and the childminder works hard to ensure their individual needs are met. She encourages them to feel positive about themselves and promotes their self- esteem. The childminder has good settling in procedures which promote children's well-being. Children can access resources raising their awareness of diversity. Books are well used to explore issues and topics further as they enjoy sharing stories and talking about the pictures. Regular trips with the children to the library allow for the range of books to be changed regularly and their choice of books is respected.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has no experience of caring for a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, but demonstrates a sound understanding of working with the parents to meet current children's needs effectively. The childminder will work with parents and any other agencies involved to ensure children's needs are met. However, the childminder is unsure of what action she would take if learning difficulties and/or disabilities are identified by her for children she is already minding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A behaviour management policy is in place and shared with the parents. Discussions at the initial visit ensure behaviour management is agreed with the parents to provide consistency for the children. Positive praise is given appropriately and distraction is used as a means of managing children's behaviour. Children are beginning to be aware of right from wrong and are encouraged to share and take turns. For example, the childminder was reading a story with some of the children and had to explain to other children that they would have to wait and take their turn, because she was reading with some of the others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents is good. Written policies and procedures help them to understand the service that is provided and develops a sound working relationship. Daily exchanges of information with the parents keeps parents up to date. This is supplemented by the use of a daily diary for the younger children in which both the childminder and parents make comments to keep all concerned up to date with current practices. Letters from the parents kept in the children's files support the evidence that good working relations are established with childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel secure and comfortable in the childminder's home. They benefit from the care of an experienced childminder who has an understanding of the National Standards and is

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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 committed to training. She is currently training for the Norfolk Quality Kite Mark with other childminders in the area. The childminder has also booked training workshops to update her practices in, health and safety, child protection and 'Birth to three matters'. She is a member of the local childminder support group and socialises with the other childminders to extend the children's play opportunities.

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Organisation

Children safety is promoted as suitable person checks have been carried out on the three adults in the household and they are always supervised by the childminder to protect them from persons who have not been vetted. The childminder uses flexible planning for the children's day and is always willing to change this to incorporate the ideas and needs of the children.

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Organisation

All required documentation is well organised and maintained to promote the welfare and care of children. For example, the childminder keeps their information in individual files to ensure that children's personal information is confidential, the register is marked with times of arrival and departure of the children. The childminder has developed policies and has signed consent forms in place to help in promoting children's well-being. Written agreements are reviewed regularly with parents to ensure that children are provided with the care that is appropriate to their current needs. Overall, children's needs are met. Their welfare is suitably promoted.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to accurately record times of attendance, she now enters times of arrival and departure for each child within the register. She was asked to improve her fire safety precautions, she now has her fire blanket fixed to the kitchen wall and has devised an emergency escape plan that she displays on the wall in the entrance hall. She was also asked to obtain written parental permission to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future, she now holds signed consent forms for the children in their folders. The childminder has met the three recommendations and in doing so, she is able to promote and safeguard children's welfare.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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 the parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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Complaints 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

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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 practices to prevent the spread of infection are consistent • develop systems to ensure that appropriate action can be taken when children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are identified.

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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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