Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY340729 Unique Reference Number 08 February 2007 Inspection date Rosemary Musgrove 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 husband and four children in Horsham, West Sussex. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes. Children can use the children's bedrooms for sleeping or selecting resources. There is a rear garden for outdoor 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. She is currently minding six children on a part-time basis. The childminder supports children who have English as an additional language.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder collects children from local schools and she attends the local parent and toddler group. The childminder takes children to the local park and places of interest.

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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 The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a good range of outdoor activities that contribute to their physical development and good health. For example, children go to a local gym, have regular walks in the surrounding area and feed the ducks. The childminder has a large garden and in the summer months, children enjoy the exciting tree house and a variety of wheeled vehicles.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good understanding of healthy food and the importance of a balanced diet. Before caring for children, she seeks detailed information about their likes and dislikes and really tries to accommodate individual dietary preferences. Children enjoy nutritious home cooked meals, such as, mince with peas, carrots, onions and potatoes. Healthy snacks include fresh fruit and bread sticks. Children are independent and feed themselves, with help from the childminder when needed. Fresh drinking water is available at all times. Children help themselves from their own cup whenever they are thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has requested written parental permission to seek medical treatment in the event of an emergency. She has the appropriate documentation and knows how to maintain records if a child has an accident or needs medicine. The childminder has previously attended first aid training; however, she does not hold a current first aid certificate. Children who are infectious do not attend, this means that other children do not catch unwanted illnesses.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. They learn the importance of personal hygiene through regular hand washing. These routines are after school, before they eat and after they have visited the toilet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a well organised, spacious home. This means they can move around freely and independently and choose resources that are suitable for their age and stage of development. These include building blocks, a farm and a computer. They browse their favourite story from a wide and varied selection of good quality books.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a secure environment and the childminder is aware of potential hazards. She has implemented safety measures to protect children from harm and to keep them safe. These include safety gates, protective corners on shelves and safety glass indoors. Before children arrive, she checks that small toys are out of reach of young children and that no cleaning materials are in the bathroom. The outdoor area is enclosed by wooden and wire fencing and there is a locked side gate. Currently, there is a water butt in the garden. The childminder will remove this before children play outside. The childminder knows how to evacuate her house in the event of an emergency, has smoke alarms on each level and a fire blanket in the kitchen.

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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 an understanding of keeping children safe on outings. She straps them safely in a buggy, takes all contact details with her and checks the play area for hazards, such as, broken glass.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for by a childminder who has a sound awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. However, she is not fully aware of current procedures to follow if she had concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled and happy in the childminder's home. Toddlers select toys and resources that are easily accessible on the spacious floor area. If children are not sure what to choose the childminder is on hand to suggest ideas and to encourage the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Toddlers are keen to play with the railway track. They enjoy fixing the pieces together and playing with the battery train. Children like to play with the creatures in Noah's Ark. The childminder encourages them to find two of each type. Young children develop their small motor skills as they pick up and hold a small ball. They are then fascinated as they watch its journey along the ball run.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder likes to take the children out. This means they socialise with a number of different children and take part in a variety of activities. They visit Springboard where they play with a range of toys, take part in activities and enjoy the sensory calming room. At the local toddler group, they test their skills on the climbing frame, do art and craft activities and sing nursery rhymes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder and children enjoy a quiet moment together as they share a book. The childminder uses appropriate language for young children, talks about the animals in the book and teaches the children the sounds they make. Toddlers particularly enjoy the interactive books; they squeeze them and enthusiastically listen to the sound of an animal.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have opportunities to do creative activities. They stick pictures to make their own Christmas cards and the young ones enjoy colouring.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children who are minded after school, choose to relax or play a game. They enjoy Monopoly and a variety of verbal games when they question each other and guess who they are.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder is aware of the needs of individual children. For example, she knows which comforters are important to a toddler when they go to sleep. She has a satisfactory understanding of equality of opportunity and tries to treat everyone the same, whilst acknowledging there are individual differences, such as, one child needs a longer time to read their school reading book. The childminder has experience of caring for children from other cultures and supports them by learning key words in their home language. This means children

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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 can communicate and understand important things in order to express their needs. The childminder has a limited understanding of diversity. This means that activities and resources that promote a positive image of diversity are limited.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although the childminder has not cared for a child with a learning difficulty or disability, she is happy to consider minding a child with a specific requirement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses a range of behaviour management strategies, such as, distraction. She encourages older children to work together and to cooperate. She regularly praises the children, for example, when they are helpful.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder collects detailed information before she starts caring for the children. This includes details of individual preferences and their daily routine. Prospective parents visit her home and meet the family and pet dog. The childminder writes a detailed and informative diary for parents. This contains information about the child's activities during the day, such as, sleeps and their general demeanour. This means that parents know about their child's care and the significant events in their life.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children play in a home that gives them plenty of clear space, appropriate resources and enough adult attention. This means children feel at home and are settled. They play by themselves, alongside the childminder's family, with minded children or learn through interaction with the childminder. The childminder has experience of bringing up the children in her own family; this means children are looked after by a person with knowledge and understanding of children of a variety of ages.

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Organisation

The childminder has a number of the required records and documentation in place. These are generally satisfactorily maintained and securely stored. However, the record of attendance is not always accurate and does not indicate precise times of the children's arrival and departure. The childminder knows about confidentiality issues and all children's personal information is locked in a file.

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Organisation

Parents and the childminder share information about the children on a daily basis. This contributes to and enhances the continuity of the children'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. The provider is required to

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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 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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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 the record of attendance includes accurate times of the children's arrival and departure • extend knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures • ensure children have access to a broad range of resources and activities that reflect diversity.

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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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