Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY332857 Unique Reference Number 18 January 2007 Inspection date Catherine Julie Stainthorpe 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, adult son and two children aged five and 13 years in a suburb of Doncaster. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks and drives to local schools to take and collect children. The family have a pet dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently minding two children, both of whom attend on a part-time basis. 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 enjoy good health and learn about healthy lifestyles because the childminder has procedures in place which help ensure that children are protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill. For example, the childminder talks to parents about her sickness policy and of her expectation that children do not attend the setting when they are infectious or ill. This helps reduce the risks of cross-infection amongst the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder places strong emphasis on healthy eating. Children are provided with nutritious, balanced meals and snacks appropriate to their individual dietary needs, which are in agreement with parents' wishes. Children are encouraged to make choices about what they eat. For example, children enjoying lunch are offered white or brown bread, a choice of meats, yogurts and fruits, such as melon or grapes. Drinks are freely available and children choose from water, milk and fresh fruit juices.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged in taking part in regular physical activity. They particularly enjoy visits to the woods with the childminder to walk the family dog. Children enjoy running, jumping and climbing the trees. These activities help build children's confidence as they negotiate obstacles and to learn to move and control their bodies.

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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 warm, welcoming and clean childminding home. The limited space is used to full potential because the childminder provides different areas for different types of play. Children use the floor space to build with the bricks. They can spread out and stretch as they construct castles and towers. Children sit at the breakfast bar to eat and to engage in art and crafts or play on the computer. Toys and equipment are clean and well maintained. They are selected with safety in mind. For example, the childminder ensures small pieces of toys, such as the beads, are removed before younger children are present.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is important because the childminder has adopted a number of safety measures designed to improve safety in the home. For example, a safety gate prevents access to the small hallway and stairs, a fire guard is fixed around the fire and hearth, and safety covers are fitted to electrical sockets. On outings children learn about road safety because the childminder talks to them about staying safe during walks to and from school and nursery.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder puts strong emphasis on her role to safeguard children. She has a sound understanding of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse in young children and the different types of abuse and neglect. She speaks confidently about possible effects on behaviour of children which may give her cause for concern. The childminder has a child protection policy in place, but it is not clear that parents are well informed of her role and responsibility.

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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 satisfactory. Children are settled and at ease in the setting because the childminder is kind and affectionate towards them and listens to what they say. The children interact well with the childminder, who is consistent in her praise and encouragement. Children are confident to move around their environment freely and, with encouragement from the childminder, enjoy the activities offered. For example, children showed sound levels of concentration as they learned to thread the small beads to make bracelets for their parents. The childminder supervises children well and supports them as necessary to help them achieve. Children confidently talked about the different colours and shapes of the beads. They begin to consider number concepts. For example, they counted the beads and compared how many they had and how many they would have if they took some away.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder carefully considers the activities she provides for the children. However, the range of indoor activities offered each day does not always provide stimulation and challenge, or foster children's natural curiosity and interest. Children do enjoy access to the outdoors. They talk about visits to the adventure park. Photographs show children enjoying the tractor rides and using play equipment, such as rockers and the bouncy castle in the playground. Regular visits are made to the local park to feed the ducks and to the woods to collect leaves from the trees to make collage pictures. These outdoor activities contribute towards children's knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder gives important regard to providing an inclusive environment for children, where they are valued for their individuality. Children are encouraged to equally access the range of toys and resources provided. The childminder is careful not to gender-stereotype toys and equipment. However, children generally have access to a limited range of resources which positively reflect the wider world and this will limit children's opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding in these areas. The childminder is committed to including children who may have and additional or special need. She is enthusiastic to take part in training which will help her support a child who may have learning difficulties or disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and respond well to the childminder, who remains calm and consistent in her reasonable expectations for good behaviour. Praise is given freely to the children, ensuring they develop self-esteem and understand what they have done well. For example, children are warmly praised for helping pick up the beads which have rolled onto the floor. The childminder has effective behaviour management strategies in place for when children squabble or argue. She understands different stages of development and recognises that children are learning to deal with a range of emotions and feelings. She acknowledges these feelings and works with the children to find constructive solutions. For example, she ensures children are given the same opportunities for play and creative activities and ensures all take part.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is developing sound relationships with parents and this helps ensure children are settled and secure. She provides information about herself and her family and parents are

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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 able to see the childminder's file if they request it. The childminder shares verbal information with parents about the children's progress and activities at the end of each day and children take home examples of their arts and craftwork. This helps build positive links between the family and childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the National Standards and supporting criteria because she uses these as a source of reference as part of her childminding practice. She complies with conditions of registration because she has completed the required childminding training and she has a sound understanding of her registered numbers and ratios. The childminder shows commitment to taking part in further training opportunities and has enrolled on a number of courses for the coming year.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures help ensure the efficient and safe management of the provision. However, these are currently in their infancy and do not always contain sufficient detail to comprehensively inform parents about the childminding service. Children's record forms contain the required detail but the childminding parental agreement forms are not readily available and parental permissions do not fully cover all aspects of the provision.

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Organisation

Space and resources are managed well to provide suitable free space for children to play and move around comfortably. Resources are used imaginatively to ensure children can engage in activities both inside and outside the home which contribute towards their well-being, learning and development. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it 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 child protection procedures keep parents informed of the childminder's role and responsibility for safeguarding children and obtain up to date Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures • extend the range of planned activities and experiences for children, appropriate for their stages of development and based on their individual needs • ensure children have access to a broad range of resources and activities which reflect diversity • improve the organisation of children's records and ensure childminding agreements are readily available • improve the way in which parents are informed about the childminding service and ensure that parental permissions, such as children having contact with the dog, are obtained as appropriate.

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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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