Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY342125 Unique Reference Number 11 January 2007 Inspection date Christine Powlesland 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 and two children aged two and seven years in Callington. The whole of the bungalow is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden at the rear for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently minding two children part time. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. Goldfish in the front garden are the family pets. The childminder attends local toddler groups and takes children to the local library. 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 outstanding. Children thrive because the childminder follows extremely effective procedures and practices, which meet children's physical, nutritional and health needs. For example, children are protected from the risk of infection because the childminder is an excellent role model to the children on hygiene practice. This helps children to develop a very good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. They understand they must use soap to wash their hands and independently help each other to use the soap dispenser. They learn to minimise the spread of infection as they use different coloured individual towels to dry their hands after toileting. Children are cared for in a very clean and orderly environment. There are very good procedures for nappy changing, including wearing disposable gloves, to protect children from infection. Children enjoy a varied day and get plenty of exercise through regular trips to the school, toddler group,

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Helping children to be healthy

walks and outings, as well as quiet times. When children no longer require a daytime sleep they have opportunities to play quietly and listen to music. The childminder has a keen knowledge of Birth to three matters and her excellent understanding of each child's stage of development, and her close links with parents, means that the youngest children are confident to try out new skills, such as potty training.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from exceptionally healthy snacks and meals. Younger children choose their snack from a ’what shall we have today’ paper plate, which has pictures of various pieces of fruit from which they may choose. They are offered a choice at lunchtime of healthy options, for example sardines on toast or beans on toast. Drinks are always available. The childminder has recently undertaken Food Hygiene training and the knowledge she has gained further supports the good health of children. All the necessary documentation, such as accident, incident and medication records and consents and information provided by parents, is carefully and clearly maintained.

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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 spacious home where risks are identified and minimised. This means children are able to move around safely, freely and independently in the home, for example doors are kept locked for security and a safety alarm also sounds when the back door is opened. The childminder gives high priority to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe and to maintaining children's safety outside the home. However, the ivy growing in the back garden may be a hazard to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use toys and resources that are in good condition as they access a wide variety of resources, including those from the toy library. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises children's choice of toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development. Risk assessments are regularly undertaken, recorded and displayed. Children are encouraged to participate in keeping themselves safe by taking part in regular fire drills. The childminder has all the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children's welfare

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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 safeguarded and promoted. For example, the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has a secure understanding of child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. All children are welcomed. They are happy, secure and consistently well cared for as the childminder respects their individuality and the family context for each child. Children are valued and their achievements acknowledged, with their art work carefully displayed on the kitchen walls for all to see. Children's creativity is stimulated by painting, sticking and modelling and is proudly acknowledge by the childminder. The children enjoy selecting colours to paint a picture of a tractor with brushes, which gradually evolved into uninhibited finger and hand painting. Children's self-esteem is encouraged when they look at photographs and talk about what they have enjoyed doing in the past, such as visiting a farm. The childminder asks questions about the visit to encourage the children to reflect and remember, they were particularly impressed by the noisy bird disperser.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A close and caring relationship exists between the childminder and children, who enjoy their time at the childminder's. They concentrate well, sitting at the kitchen table to do jigsaws as they discuss with the childminder the sounds of letters linked to the pictures. Children play well together as the childminder uses her knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework to promote high-quality play and activities. Children’s imaginations develop as they play with dolls, emptying the potty and taking them for walks in pushchairs. The childminder develops this play and the children undress and bath the dolls, pouring water to wash their hair and discussing the smell of the bubbles. Children share well, one child passing a tractor to another on request when setting up the farm layout. Children are developing, through encouragement, to help with the daily routines such as tidying away. They have opportunities to enjoy music

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

with children's nursery rhymes gently playing in the background and a weekly visit to the library for a music session. The childminder is warm, enthusiastic and perceptive and has a clear understanding of how children learn through purposeful play. Toys are taken to the library to stimulate the baby during the music session for the older children. Communication skills are extremely well supported through high-quality adult child interactions. Children's vocabulary is continually expanded, for example describing tissues as flimsy, and the temperature of water between hot and cold recognised as warm. Records are kept of the children's play in a daily diary.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children enjoy the company of the childminder and of each other. They are all valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are met well as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed with their parents. Children play together harmoniously, learning to be sensitive to their own needs and the needs of others and encouraged by the childminder to be considerate and well mannered. Children behaved very well. They make themselves at home and respond positively to the meaningful praise from the childminder. There are some resources showing differing lifestyles in the wider world and children learn about their local community through

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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 visits, for example to the local library and train station. The childminder would work closely with parents to support children with additional needs. Relationships with parents are friendly and supportive, with daily verbal exchanges contributing to the continuity of care between home and the childminder that the children enjoy.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children feel at home and at ease with the well-organised environment. The childminder makes effective use of time and space throughout the day to enable children to have access to a balanced range of stimulating planned and free choice activities both inside and outside the home. This means that children have time to be active, relax and develop their own play. Very comprehensive policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. They are shared with parents to keep them well informed about the service and their child's activities and development. This contributes to continuity in the children's care. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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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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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 hazardous outdoor plants, in particular ivy, are inaccessible to children.

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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 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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