Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY284269 Unique Reference Number 11 January 2007 Inspection date Judith Reed 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 their two children, one of pre school age and one of school age. They live in a house in the Netley Abbey area of Eastleigh, Hampshire. All areas of the property are used for childminding, however, this normally occurs downstairs. There is an enclosed rear 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 four children at any one time and is currently minding two children who are under eight years of age. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends a weekly parent and toddler group and a monthly meeting of childminders.

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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 healthy because the childminder has a thorough understanding of hygiene issues. Children are encouraged to use the downstairs toilet independently. They have their own individual hand towels which are available on clearly labelled hooks. The childminder employs hygienic nappy changing procedures to ensure children are safe from cross infection. The childminder has completed a first aid course and has a suitable first aid kit available in the home as well as a kit to take out and about. She has obtained consent for emergency medical treatment for each child. Procedures for caring for sick children and administering medication are clear, and are shared with parents. The current method of recording accidents in two separate books is not clear or confidential.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from regular daily walks to and from school. They are taken to local country parks and soft play centres for physical activities. Children enjoy playing in the garden in fine weather. They ask to use the garden when it is raining and the childminder's assistant carefully explains that the garden is very muddy and slippery so it is not safe to play outside.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered nutritious sandwich lunches of cheese or ham. They have yoghurts for pudding and juice drinks. The childminder works closely with parents regarding food and at the current time parents provide food for the youngest children. Children arriving after school are offered drinks and healthy fruit snacks. The childminder is aware of each minded child's dietary requirements.

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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 secure environment where they move around the ground floor play areas freely. The front door is kept locked and the rear garden is fully fenced and secure. Children are protected from the risk of accidental injury by the appropriate use of safety equipment. Socket covers are in place and the kitchen cupboards are latched. Cleaning equipment is stored in a high level cupboard, inside a locked utility room. The lounge room is out of bounds for minded children and is kept secure at all times. Smoke detectors are in place throughout the home and a fire blanket is available in the kitchen. The childminder and her assistant regularly practise fire evacuation. They record an evaluation of each procedure to further improve and develop the drill. Free standing radiator heaters have not been made safe as a new heating system is planned and ordered.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children access resources independently from shelving the play rooms. Toys are stored in large, clear, plastic boxes so that children can see what is available. The childminder ensures toys and equipment are suitable and safe for those children present. She cleans toys when necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded as the childminder and her assistant have a very good understanding of child protection procedures and understand their professional duty regarding child protection. Both the childminder and her assistant have taken further training courses in this field.

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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 settled and happy with the childminder. They chat together in a relaxed fashion as well as joking and laughing together. Children make jokes with the childminder and her assistant and the adults tease the children and continue the joke, causing all the children to laugh enthusiastically. They enjoy each other's company. During meals children sit at low tables with the childminder and assistant. Children discuss their pets and their families as well as the morning session at pre-school.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children organise their own games and activities. They arrange picnics in the play room with cushions and the dolls. They find suitable equipment from the shelves, such as blankets and a picnic set. The childminder and assistant are fully involved and play with the children. The assistant helps children build with large scale construction kits and they each build a figure, carefully choosing suitable bricks for each body part. They discuss their creations and make a model for everyone present. When the creations fall over and break they all laugh together. The assistant makes a joke of the falling over causing further hilarity. The childminder plays with younger children. They dress dolls and change them, sitting them in the pram or pushchair ready for a walk. Children are very well occupied and busy throughout their time with the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated as individuals and the childminder knows them well. They develop an understanding of diversity through the range of toys and books available. Children use a range of equipment, such as dolls and cooking implements, which reflect other cultures.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder has no experience of caring for children with disabilities or learning difficulties, but has a positive attitude towards additional needs and would work closely with parents and therapists to ensure children's individual needs are met. The childminder is willing to take further training as required.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children generally behave well and are polite. The childminder has a behaviour management policy in place which is shared with parents. The policy states clearly how behaviour will be managed and that any issues will be discussed with parents. The childminder handles challenging behaviour in an appropriate manner. A list of house rules is displayed for all to see. The childminder has been unable to book a behaviour management training course, as requested, and this remains a recommendation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the good communication between the childminder and their parents. The childminder and her assistant have built a good working relationship with parents. They discuss the children's day when they are collected, telling parents about nappy changes and food consumed. The childminder knows and supports the families well. Parents are given copies of policies and procedures, although these do not include contact information for making complaints to Ofsted. A complaints record is available for parents.

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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 good. Children feel comfortable and at ease in the suitable and well organised environment. They settle well and are familiar with the home. The childminder ensures she remains within her ratio at all times and that her register is always up to date and accurate. The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of her registration. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

Children's care is enhanced due to the additional training undertaken by the childminder and her assistant. They have both taken a number of relevant training courses to enhance the care of children. The childminder is currently completing the Extending Childminding Practice course, and both the childminder and her assistant are updating their first aid training.

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Organisation

The childminder is organised and keeps all her documentation confidential. She keeps all necessary forms and information to hand and ensures she holds contact information about minded children at all times when she is out and about.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was required to: devise and implement a procedure which ensures that the behaviour of all children is managed with consistency; ensure that all the required records are kept for every child cared for and that the heaters do not pose a hazard to children, also improve fire safety precautions by ensuring that the fire blanket is accessible in the kitchen.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has a policy for behaviour management which is shared with parents. All necessary records are in place and the childminder has devised a check list to ensure all necessary documentation is completed by parents and children remain safe at all times. A fire blanket is available and fire precautions have been checked by the local fire brigade to ensure safety. Heaters are currently still a hazard for children although a new heating system is planned very soon.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004, Ofsted has received one complaint about National Standard 11-inappropriate behaviour management for the age of children being cared for- and an unannounced visit was made by Ofsted. Following this visit an action was set to "provide an action plan to show how knowledge and understanding of behaviour management will be developed, including booking of and attendance at behaviour management training". The childminder responded and Ofsted took no further action. The childminder remains qualified for registration.

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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 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 complaints policy for parents includes contact information for Ofsted • keep one record of accidents and ensure confidentiality at all times • improve knowledge and understanding of behaviour management by undertaking a suitable training course

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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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