Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY339243 Unique Reference Number 12 January 2007 Inspection date Penny Wood 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 2006. She lives with her husband in Wash Common, West Berkshire. The whole of the childminder’s property is used for childminding including a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have two cats.

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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 currently has three children on roll aged between one and two years old. The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language. She is able to walk and drive to local toddler groups, play parks and attractions. She 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 good. Children are developing their understanding of the benefits of good hygiene through the daily routines and the childminder’s good practice. The childminder ensures the home is clean, with procedures in place to maintain hygienic toys and equipment. Children wash their hands throughout the day in order to reduce the risk of spreading germs, although this is not routinely practiced prior to eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good procedures protect children’s health from contagious illnesses, with exclusion times in place for illnesses such as sickness and diarrhoea. Children benefit from the childminder’s knowledge of first aid procedures and her systems for managing emergency situations. Documentation in place to record accidents ensures parents receive information regarding the event and the treatment their children receive. Written consent from parents allows the childminder to seek professional advice should a major accident or illness arise.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children rest according to their individual needs, with soft music playing to ease them quickly to sleep. Good procedures ensure the regular changing of children’s nappies, with the childminder paying attention to maintaining appropriate hygiene levels.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s good health benefits from opportunities to play outside. The childminder utilises equipment within the home during times of inclement weather to ensure children continue to benefit from physical exercise. The provision of a good range of toys and equipment encourages children to develop their physical skills. During the summer, the childminder is aware of protecting children’s skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks and meals provided by the childminder. She is aware of the importance of liaising with parents when providing food to ensure she provides foods the children enjoy. Records of children’s allergies ensure children only receive foods that are suitable for their individual dietary needs. Drinks are routinely available to the children, ensuring they do not become thirsty during the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enter a home which is very well maintained, with plenty of space to allow children room to play freely. Good safety measures in place within the home, such as barriers fitted to the entrance of the kitchen, reduce the risk of harm to the children and enable them to play in a safe environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Outside, children enjoy different areas, such as a decked patio area, an area laid to lawn and a further flat area equipped with a good range of resources, such as a climbing frame, cars and rockers. The safety surface within this area allows the children to take risks and explore their abilities without the worry of experiencing a serious injury.

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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 Children enjoy access to a range of toys that are age appropriate and in good condition. The childminder is vigilant in promoting safety within the children’s play, for example, by requesting that children do not run within the home in case of slipping and falling over. Good levels of supervision promote children’s safety. When children sleep, the use of a monitor and regular checks enables the childminder to check children are sleeping soundly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder’s clear knowledge of child protection issues and procedures promotes children’s welfare and safety.

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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 confidently play with the available toys, with the childminder offering a variety of age appropriate resources and activities during the day to maintain children’s interest. Children enjoy the childminder’s support and input into their play, particularly when completing jigsaws.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children display high levels of confidence, which is boosted by the praise and encouragement offered by the childminder. Children feel at ease to seek attention and comfort from both the childminder and her husband when he is present.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing good use of their language skills through discussions when playing and questions asked by the childminder. The childminder seizes opportunities to introduce children to new words, such as 'dumper truck' when completing a jigsaw of different vehicles. Children also enjoy singing familiar songs and nursery rhymes, joining in with the appropriate actions. Clear systems in place enable the childminder to support those children who speak English as an additional language.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the attention they receive from the childminder, who shares her time well between the children present. They play an active role when tidying up, helping the childminder to put toys away before further resources are accessed. Children behave well as a result of the childminder’s reinforcement of rules and boundaries, such as not running in the home and sitting down when eating.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good strategies that are age appropriate and understandable to the children within her care encourage good behaviour. To deter issues from arising, particularly regarding the sharing of toys and taking turns, the childminder ensures she provides sufficient resources for children to play with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has considered ways to develop children’s understanding of diversity through the celebration of different cultural festivals and the provision of resources, although due to her newly registered status has yet to have the opportunity to fully develop this area within her practice.

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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 from the childminder’s excellent understanding of the importance of working in partnership with parents. Parents receive detailed information regarding the childminder’s provision ensuring they are fully informed of the service she provides. The childminder liaises continually with parents both through discussion and the completion of diaries on a daily basis to ensure she is able to meet individual children’s needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good systems are in place to ensure the childminder works closely with parents and professionals such as health visitors, particularly if caring for children with additional requirements. For example, she aims to provide a longer period to settle children into her care and to allow her to gain a full understanding of the child’s particular needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is suitably qualified having completed the introductory training course to childminding and first aid. In addition, since registering as a childminder she has also been pro-active in completing further training in order to extend her personal knowledge, for example, in aspects such as food hygiene and health and safety.

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Organisation

The childminder organises her home well in order for children to benefit from the space available. Resources and activities provided are appropriate for the age and stage of development of the children within her care, ensuring they remain occupied and happy.

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Organisation

All documentation is in place and contains the required detail, with most completed as required during the day. The childminder has a very good set of policies and procedures, which she has ensured are an accurate reflection of her provision and available for parents to refer to. 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. 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): • encourage children to develop their awareness of diversity and improve the range of resources that depict positive images of race, culture and disabilities • ensure the daily register is completed upon children's arrival and departure.

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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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