Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY343544 Unique Reference Number 22 March 2007 Inspection date Denise Sixsmith 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 has been registered since 2006. She lives in her family home with her mother and sister. They live in a semi-detached house in a residential area of Lancashire, close to local shops, parks and schools. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purpose. This includes the lounge, playroom, kitchen and cloakroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, or nine children under eight years when working with another childminder on the premises.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently four children on roll under the age of eight years, who are minded on a part time basis. There were two children under the age of five years present at the time of the inspection. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification.

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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. The childminder contributes to children's understanding of the importance of good personal hygiene by ensuring they wash their hands prior to eating their snack and through cleaning their faces and hands after snack time. However, the children do not have access to individual towels after washing their hands. The childminder acts in the children's best interests if they are ill. Children do not attend if they have a contagious illness, which helps to prevent the spread of infection. Recommended exclusion times are clearly outlined in the childminder's policy document. Children's general health is supported well through the childminder's vigilance and completion of current first aid training. However, some of the contents of the first aid box have passed their expiry date.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy the benefits of fresh air and exercise during walks, visits to garden centres and access to outdoor play in the rear garden. A variety of equipment is available for children to practice climbing and sliding. They can also practise the manoeuvring and operation of the large 'sit and ride' digger. A quiet area is provided to ensure that the younger children receive adequate and appropriate rest and sleep times according to their needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young children's food preferences and eating patterns are shared appropriately with their parents. They benefit from the daily routine, which is shared with parents and ensures sleep and eating patterns reflect their individual needs. Children are provided with drinks and fresh fruit daily to encourage healthy eating. They enjoy healthy, homemade meals provided by the childminder.

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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 and suitably welcoming 'home-from-home' environment. Children have ample space in which to move around and play within the ground floor rooms, which provide opportunity for quiet and boisterous play as well as creative activities. Children play safely with a range of age appropriate toys and equipment. Indoor toys and equipment are organised in a way that allows children easy access, for example, a variety of toys and different sized books are available at low level.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children develop an understanding of safety through play to enable them to take responsibility for their actions and the safety of others. The childminder has developed an emergency escape plan that is clearly displayed and practised with the children to enhance their safety. Consequently, children's safety, care and welfare is promoted generally well both on the premises and during outings. However, the outdoor shed is not appropriately secured to prevent access by children. The childminder has appropriate collection procedures in place which ensure that the children's welfare is safeguarded and that they are only handed over to a known adult, as agreed with their parents.

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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 are appropriately safeguarded because the childminder has a sound understanding of her responsibility with regards to child protection, however, she does not have contact details of relevant bodies readily available. The childminder has attended training to raise her awareness of safeguarding children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy being with the childminder and are secure within the home and routines. They are very comfortable with the childminder, who anticipates their needs through close observation. Children respond well to her quiet, steady manner; they enjoy hugs, comfort and express their emotions freely. Their self-esteem is fostered very well as the childminder talks to, praises and makes regular eye contact with them. The childminder has the 'Birth to three matters' framework pack and has attended training to assist her to promote the learning and development of children of this age group.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are interested in the toys available and take the opportunity to sit and use their play laptops when they see the inspectors laptop, they also look through the dressing up area for bags to enhance their play, and carry the laptop. Children are developing their language well and are learning colours through everyday activities and play with the childminder. The childminder enhances their development and understanding through well thought out questions and support for their ideas. For example, the children enjoy sitting in the doll's container box once they have emptied it and laugh spontaneously as they enjoy rides in it.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals, helping them to develop a sense of security and fostering their self-esteem. The childminder has a positive approach to promoting equality of opportunity, which is supported through a written policy that reinforces the childminder's positive attitude. Children effectively become aware of the wider society through access to some good books and toys as well as through multi-cultural packs that the childminder has on loan from the resource centre.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing a good understanding of what is right and wrong through the consistent approach of the childminder to behaviour management. Their self-esteem and sense of belonging is fostered well through the childminder's use of praise. Children's differing levels of understanding are taken into consideration, with positive distraction and reassurance being employed by the childminder for the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder verbally shares children's daily requirements and achievements with parents at the start and end of the minding day. Children settle well as their needs are discussed and recorded at the start of the minding period and complied with by the childminder.

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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 satisfactory. Children are safe, settled and comfortable within the childminder's home environment. The space and resources are arranged appropriately to enable children to initiate their own play and learning and to promote their levels of independence. The childminder ensures that there is a balance of indoor and outdoor activities, as well as suitable provision for children to rest and relax.

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Organisation

Children are well protected and cared for because the childminder ensures that persons living on the premises are suitably vetted. Most documentation is in place and confidentiality is observed well. However, the current system of organising documentation means that there is a lack of consistency in recording details and consents for all children. A range of written policies and procedures are shared with parents to ensure that they receive appropriate information about the service provided.

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Organisation

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 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 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): • develop a system for the checking of the contents of the first aid box to ensure contents do not exceed their expiry date, and provide children with access to individual towels to reduce the risk of cross-contamination

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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 • ensure that children cannot gain access to the shed and that the appropriate contact numbers are readily available for the safeguarding of children • review the organisation of record keeping to ensure that all consents and details required for each child are systematically obtained and readily available.

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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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