Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY334348 Unique Reference Number 05 February 2007 Inspection date Pamela Woodhouse 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 partner and two children aged two and six years on the outskirts of Salisbury City Centre in Wiltshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding, this includes the lounge and kitchen. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five and two children over five part-time. The childminder collects the children from school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes the children to the local library and toddler group and also to Clown-about soft play facility and the park. The family have a dog, three cats, four cockatiels, and a guinea pig.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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. Children's risk to the spread of infection is reduced due to the childminder's understanding and implementation of suitable procedures. They are cared for in a warm, clean environment and practise simple every day hygiene routines such as washing their hands before eating and after visiting the toilet. The childminder encourages this by providing children with towels depicting their favourite characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine. She ensures that children only have supervised and controlled access under her supervision to the family pets whose health needs are regularly maintained to ensure children's good health and safety. However, surfaces are not always checked to ensure that they are clean and suitable for children to use. Appropriate permissions and agreements are obtained from parents to enable the childminder to act appropriately in the case of a child having an accident or an emergency befalling them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has appropriate procedures in place to return children to their parents should they become ill whilst in her care to prevent cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are discussed with parents and respected by the childminder. She provides a light sandwich lunch for some of the children which contain a variety of fillings. These often consist of healthy options such as ham and salad items, however, there are occasions when the options are not so healthy which does not promote healthy eating. Children are also offered snacks of fresh fruit or a plain biscuit accompanied by a drink of water. In addition, they are offered regular drinks throughout the day to ensure that they keep their bodies hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have opportunities for regular exercise to develop their physical skills. They walk to the park to play on the play equipment and to feed the ducks and also visit Clown-about soft play facility where they are able to access large play equipment. During drier months they have access to the enclosed garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is satisfactorily promoted. Safety equipment is used to prevent them from accessing potential hazards and the childminder supervises them effectively. However, children are not familiar with the emergency evacuation plan that the childminder has devised because this has not been practised with them. They are kept safe on outings because the childminder ensures that younger children are suitably restrained in their buggy and that all children are suitably restrained in her car. Walks are taken in the safe traffic free area of the local park. Children are currently unable to use the garden due to the storage of discarded items which makes the area unsafe for them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a suitable range of equipment that is safe and meets their needs. They are able to make independent choices about what they want to play with because most of the toys are stored within their reach. They play in a suitably organised environment where there

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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 is sufficient space for them to move around, however, the amount of toys the children choose to play with is not constricted, consequently posing a tripping hazard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded due to the childminder's basic understanding of child protection awareness and the procedures to follow should she have any concerns about a child in her care. She shares her policy with parents so that they are aware of her responsibility to the children but has not thought through her procedures should allegations of abuse be raised against herself or others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are very settled and have a warm relationship with the childminder, readily approaching her for support and to enlist her help with their activities. She engages children in discussion about their activities and poses suitable challenges to progress their learning. For example, they are beginning to learn to count and to recognise colours. Children are familiar with their routines and because of this, know what will happen next which instils their sense of security and belonging.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children engage in a suitable range of activities throughout the day, however, their concentration span is often short because they have too many distractions. For example, having too many toys available at once. They enjoy creative activities, exploring different textures as they squeeze and pummel their playdough. They enjoy making shapes out of the dough using a variety of cutters and make imaginary foods such as sausages and bananas. Children confidently recall recent activities such as making krispie cakes, remembering the ingredients they use and how they added these to the mixture. The childminder encourages this dialogue to prompt the children's memory and to promote discussion.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are respected by the childminder who knows them well and provides care which is appropriate to their individual needs and stage of development. The children are confident and happy and have equal access to all toys and equipment. They develop suitable levels of independence, through choosing their own toys and have regular opportunities to explore their local environment. For example, they visit the local library and toddler group where they are able to socialise with others. However, there are few positive images of diversity to promote their awareness of the wider world. The childminder does not have any experience of caring for children who have special needs. However, she recognises the importance of working closely with parents and gathering sufficient information to enable her to make an informed decision about her ability to provide appropriate care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and are beginning to play cooperatively with their peers. They enjoy helping with tasks and work together to achieve this, for example, they prepare the rug for snack and help to fold it up and put it away when they have finished. The childminder advocates positive behaviour management strategies, regularly praising the children for their achievements.

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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 She intervenes appropriately in their disputes but is not always consistent with her explanations about why, for example, she is removing a toy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the positive partnership the childminder has established with parents. She gives them comprehensive information about her provision which tells them about her policies and practice and maintains a daily diary which outlines the children's routine each day. The childminder welcomes parent's contribution to this and as a consequence there is a two way exchange of information to ensure that children's needs are met in accordance with their wishes.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from the childminder's understanding of her responsibilities and has attended appropriate training to care for young children. She maintains all required documentation and parental consents to enable her to undertake her role satisfactorily. Children receive suitable support because the childminder maintains required adult to child ratios.

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Organisation

The childminder makes satisfactory use of space so that children can play comfortably and arranges suitable activities to support their development. She organises time appropriately to ensure that children have a varied range of play experiences throughout the day. As a result they enjoy their time in the childminder's care.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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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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 that surfaces are suitably cleaned before children use them for their activities • ensure that the emergency evacuation procedure is practised with the children • ensure that the garden is safe and suitable for the children to use • consider the action to take should an allegation of abuse be made against yourself or others.

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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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