Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY249281 Unique Reference Number 29 January 2007 Inspection date Zoe Smith Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2003. She lives in the Great Moor district of Stockport with her husband and their son and daughter who are aged nine and 11. Children have access to all rooms on the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor. They participate in physical and outdoor play activities in the enclosed rear garden. Children can be taken to and collected from local schools. The family have two pet cats. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children and is currently minding three children. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children participate in a good range of physical play activities that provide them with plenty of fresh air and exercise. They regularly play in the garden and enjoy trips to toddler groups, activity centres and music and movement sessions. Playing in the ball pool, riding bicycles and wheeled toys, and sliding down slides are firm favourites. Babies and children are gaining good control and coordination over their bodies. Babies enjoy stretching out to reach tactile toys and activity centres. Children happily rock themselves to and fro on the rocking horse whilst the childminder sings to them.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Effective hygiene procedures and routines are implemented to help keep children healthy. Children are cared for in a warm and clean home. The childminder uses anti-bacterial disinfectants to keep surfaces, toys and equipment clean. She has current training in administering first aid and maintains detailed records on accidents and the administration of medication. Clear policies about care in the sun and children who are sick are in place and are shared with parents.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning about the benefits of healthy eating. They go shopping with the childminder to buy fresh fruit for snacks, play with plastic fruit and vegetables and monitor their growth on a height chart. Children enjoy a healthy balanced and nutritious diet. Food is freshly prepared and home cooked using fresh fruit and vegetables. Individual dietary requirements and preferences are discussed and agreed with parents. Children receive food and drinks in appropriate quantities to meet their individual needs.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, secure and well maintained home. A height chart, educational posters and examples of the children's paintings are displayed on the walls. This creates a stimulating and child friendly environment. Potential dangers have been identified and effective safety precautions put in place. For example, a fire guard, safety gates, plug socket covers and cupboard locks are used to minimise risks. Good precautions are in place to reduce the risks from fire. Smoke detectors and a fire blanket are provided and checked every week to ensure they are in good working order.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe because the childminder constantly and directly supervises them at all times. Simple tasks and discussions help them to find out how they can keep themselves safe. Children help to tidy toys away, look at books about ‘people who help us’ and practise how to cross the road safely. Children choose what to play with from a broad range of safe, good quality, age and developmentally appropriate toys and equipment. The safety and protection of children is very important to the childminder. She has a written child protection policy, which is shared with parents and she knows what action to take if she has concerns.

p.3

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

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children’s day is planned to provide a well balanced range of enjoyable play and learning opportunities inside and outside the home. Children enjoy mixing with other children and playing with different resources and activities on their regular trips to toddler groups. They confidently choose what to play with from a good variety of toys and activities. Children have lots of opportunities for imaginative play, where they imitate gestures and actions. They happily make snacks and drinks for the childminder in the play kitchen and chatter on the telephone. Children choose what to dress up in from an array of outfits and hats, and also dress the rocking horse in a tiara. They fill the tug boats up with people and they push the trains round the play mat being careful to keep them on the tracks. Children have lots of opportunities to explore a good range of creative and messy activities, such as painting, baking, cutting and sticking,

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

water and dough. They make finger puppets to play with and cut out, stick and use brightly coloured paper and material to make collages.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder constantly talks to children about what they are doing, things of interest and reinforces new words. Children love listening to stories, eagerly finding their favourite book which is about ‘Jack who loves dressing up’ for the childminder to read. They are making good progress in becoming skilful communicators. Children know what noises different animals make, they are starting to learn their colours and to count. Babies enjoy exploring and playing with tactile toys and musical activity centres. They stretch out to reach toys, watch intently to see what happens when they press buttons and listen to the different noises toys make. Using the computer, building with construction toys and playing with the small world figures are firm favourites with school aged children. Children sometimes choose to do their homework and seek support from the childminder if necessary. This helps them to organise and plan their own

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have some opportunities to learn about equality of opportunity and to respect and value differences. They have access to some books and toys that provide positive images of gender, culture and disability. At Christmas they attended a carol service at a local church and they tasted Chinese food at Chinese New Year. However, there are not sufficient resources and activities readily available to help children find out about the wider world.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive methods are used to promote good and manage challenging behaviour, and to prevent bullying. Children are kept occupied, interested in and enjoying their play and activities. They respond to the plentiful praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder and behave well. Children say 'sorry' without any prompting when they accidentally bump into other children or adults.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a friendly and effective partnership with parents. She takes positive steps to keep them up to date about the care provided, policies and procedures. Verbal discussions keep parents fully informed about their child's day, development and any issues. Parents speak

p.4

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 very highly of the childminder, how happy their children are in her care and the good range of activities provided.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a caring environment, where they are treated as part of the family. The childminder has very good relationships with the children. Chatting, smiles and cuddles are plentiful throughout the day. The home routines of babies is followed to help them settle and to ensure continuity of care. Children confidently explore their surroundings and choose what to play with from the easily accessible toys and activities. All childminding records and documentation are in place, they are clear, up-to-date and stored appropriately. The childminder has developed a comprehensive range of well written policies and procedures. These are used to effectively underpin her childminding practice and to inform parents about the care provided. Outings and trips are regularly planned to places of interest and local amenities. Children look forward to trips to parks, toddler groups, physical activity centres, aquariums, farms and zoos.

p.5

Organisation

This provides them with a wide variety of fun, interesting and educational experiences.

p.5

Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection three recommendations were agreed to improve the quality of care. The childminder has developed changing procedures to ensure the risk of spread of infection is minimised. She has also made some progress in developing resources that reflect positive images of diversity. However, another recommendation has been made on this inspection to ensure children actively learn about the wider world. Written consent for all childminding arrangements are now obtained to ensure the wishes of parents are respected at all times.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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): • continue to develop the range of resources and activities that help children learn about the wider world.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6