Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY233585 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2006 Inspection date Margaret Bryant 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 2002. She lives with her husband and three children aged three years, four years and six months in the village of Cottingham, which is in the East Riding of Yorkshire. She can care for a maximum of three children and currently has two children on roll. The ground floor is used mainly for childminding with upstairs accessed for use of the bathroom only. Outdoors there is an enclosed area for children's use.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes children on regular weekly outings to soft play sessions and playgroup. She has a childcare qualification in nursery nursing and is a member of the National Childminding Association and the East Riding Childminding Network.

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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's health is promoted as they are cared for in a warm and comfortable home, where all resources in use by them are clean. They enjoy healthy snacks of fruit, and drinks are freely available for children to help themselves whenever they wish and these are sugar-free. Parents bring in their own children's food for meals, which the childminder serves in line with parents' wishes. She reminds children about washing their hands after the toilet and they use wipes themselves before they eat their lunch to clean their hands. They begin to understand about germs and their effects.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's nappies are changed with regard for their rights of privacy and children learn when they use tissues to wipe their noses to dispose of them after they use them just the once. The childminder has written permission from parents to seek medical help for children in case of emergency and through her first aid training is competent to deal with any situation that may arise to protect children in her care. Any child who is taken ill is cared for by parents, who are informed they collect them when this situation arises. This helps protect all children in her care. Children enjoy daily fresh air and exercise as they play in the childminder's garden. They also enjoy trips to the park where they run around and enjoy the swings. This exercise helps children develop their bodies and grow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. There are satisfactory measures in place to keep children from harm. For example, all toys, resources and equipment, which includes highchairs, are safe. Exit doors ensure escape in an emergency is not hindered through having secure devices on doors which are unlocked. However, there are two flights of stairs with no gates across and sharp knives are in a low, unlocked drawer. The childminder does have public liability insurance, however, with permission from parents to take children on outings. She has a fire plan of the home, a fire blanket and smoke alarms. She shares with parents her fire procedure; however, she has not introduced children to evacuation procedures in case of emergency. This means if there was an emergency situation children are not prepared. However, she is aware of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and what she should do if there is cause for concern, which ensures children are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's highchairs and pushchairs are fitted with appropriate harnesses which keep them safe and older children know they hold hands and do not run off when out walking. There are procedures in place, shared with parents, about the collection of children. Parents will inform the childminder if anyone else is to collect their children. Children rest on the comfortable settee when they tire and also use their buggies at parents' request to sleep and have rest.

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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 show good levels of concentration as they play with their toys to find out how they work. For example, they roll and cut the play dough to make shapes with the many accessories available, including different shaped cutters of different colours. The childminder helps children with colour recognition as they play and she talks about the shapes as well which helps children learn. Children enjoy colouring in the firework pictures she provides and when they bang on the paper to make dots, she talks about the sound they make being like fireworks. Children's individual achievements as they play and learn are observed by the childminder, who records this information for parents in children's individual files. Parents are welcome to see these at any time, though they go home regularly on a monthly basis. Older children experiment with basic science with the childminder's close supervision as they learn about 'capillary action'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They cut and wash celery and add colouring agents which helps them see how the plant soaks up the water. Photographs show them as they enjoy this experiment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder consults parents when their children start to find out what stage they are at and what they can do. She then plans her routine, not only in line with weekly outings which children enjoy to toddler groups, but around children's individual stages of development and learning. This helps children progress to the next step in their learning. They enjoy the many opportunities they have with the childminder and love looking at photographs in which they recognise themselves. These include enjoying horse rides, pedalling on tractors at a farm and outings to soft play centres where they climb the equipment and enjoy the ball pools. Children's files include photographs of pictures children do which they take home. Young children recognise these and recall their actual pictures and inform the childminder they are at home. This shows they recognise their work and parents value their children's attempts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are helped to feel they belong through being cared for by a childminder who knows them well and attends to their individual needs. She speaks with parents about issues, such as toilet training, and is happy to comply fully with their wishes. Children's individual dietary needs are respected and all medical information including immunisations are recorded. Parents who enquire about her service receive some information about her family, her background and experience. The childminder then shares with them her portfolio of training certificates, insurances and some procedures, including the complaints procedure. However, these are not readily available for parents and the complaints procedure has misleading information about the investigation of complaints.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children receive plenty of praise as they play and behaviour is managed well with good use of distraction and diversion, which avoids conflict and encourages children to have regard for one another. She also reminds children about how important it is to share and have regard for their friends' feelings. The childminder recognises how important it is to introduce children to other people and countries of the world and celebrates the Chinese New Year and Diwali, the Hindu festival of light with them. Children enjoy a Chinese lunch and attempt to eat this with

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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 chopsticks. The childminder has some positive images of race and diversity through books, play food and information for children to look at about religious festivals of the world.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children have sufficient space to move freely around and play with floor toys, sit at the table or rest on comfortable furniture if they are tired. There is a range of available resources, some which are stored in a cupboard and others are brought out for them on a rotation basis. Children are well cared for and settled with the childminder, who has a childcare qualification and several years' experience of working with children. She has attended first aid training and is keen after a break in childminding to update her knowledge in some areas, for example, child protection.

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Organisation

Documentation is available and of a satisfactory standard; however, medication recording lacks consistency with regard to the obtaining of prior written permission from parents. The childminder reports good relationships with parents and has daily discussions with them about their child. Through sharing her certificate of registration, parents are reassured she is suitable to care for their children and they are aware of the conditions by which she operates. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure she had a balanced provision of toys that reflected race and culture.

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Improvements since the last inspection

She has increased her resources to include books that reflect all kinds of people and all kinds of beliefs. Also she has positive images of race including dolls and multi-cultural play food.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 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. 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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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 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 parents have more ready access to operational policies and procedures with the correct information if they have a complaint, including the address and telephone number of Ofsted • ensure there is no risk to children's safety from unprotected stairways and possible access to sharp knives • ensure children have knowledge of evacuation procedures in case of emergency.

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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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