Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY320896 Unique Reference Number 27 March 2007 Inspection date Paula Jane Hayhow 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 registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and three children aged 11, nine, and four years in Ampthill, in Bedfordshire. The whole of the property, excluding the main bedroom and study, is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden and two parks available for outdoor play. The local schools and shops are within walking distance.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding four children, three of whom are under five years and all attend on a part-time basis. The childminder regularly attends local toddler groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a comfortable, well ordered and clean home. The childminder promotes very good hygiene procedures to ensure that the children are protected from the spread of infection, such as washing hands thoroughly before snack time, after using creative mediums and putting their hands over their mouths when coughing. The childminder provides separate

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 paper towels for each child to prevent cross contamination and explains the reason why food dropped on the floor is unsuitable to eat. Children participate in a wide range of physical activities, contributing to their good health. The childminder ensures that there are daily opportunities for outdoor activities, such as walks to school, playing in the well equipped garden on the swings, trampoline or playing co-operative games such as football. The children also enjoy walking in the woods, collecting pine cones and leaves as well as using the climbing frame at the local park. On inclement days the children enjoy dancing to different music such as African beat music. They learn to dance and beat time to the music whilst gaining control over small hand movement when using musical instruments such as the triangle. This helps children

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Helping children to be healthy

develop control of their bodies and improve their physical skills, coordination and spatial awareness.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished and their health is promoted due to the childminder's good knowledge and understanding of healthy eating. There are captions and pictures relating to healthy eating on the play room wall and the children are encourage to discuss and understand the importance of healthy eating. They are offered nutritious meals and snacks which the childminder prepares using a balanced range of fresh ingredients ensuring that foods high in salt, sugar and fat are limited. At snack time the children cut up their own fruit salad with child sized cutlery and this gives them the opportunity to learn how to slice the fruit themselves thus promoting their independence. The childminder discusses individual dietary requirements with parents and keeps an accurate record of these so that the needs of all children can be met.

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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 stimulating, welcoming and child-orientated environment. The play room is set up daily with interesting and age-appropriate activities. The children use safe resources and equipment and the childminder makes sure that these are stimulating for the developmental stage of each child attending. Children are able to independently select activities from a wide range of good quality toys and equipment. The childminder sensitively supervises the children’s choice of toys and activities, ensuring that they are safe and appropriate. She arranges the storage of toys to ensure the children can select the toys independently. For example, the toys for the youngest children are stored on the lower shelves whilst the toys for the older child are stored higher, but within easy reach. This enables all children to reach their toys, access their own play but prevents the younger children accessing toys which could be

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

harmful to them such as those with tiny parts. The children's welfare is further promoted because the childminder has all of the necessary documents in place. She holds a current public liability insurance certificate and has a good understanding of child protection issues and procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a secure and generally safe environment. Risks of accidental injury are minimised because the childminder is vigilant and has thought about her work in order to reduce potential hazards, for example, she carries out daily safety check, undertakes regular fire drills and teaches the children about road safety which is practised on their daily walks. The children are also encouraged to be respectful of others property such as being carefully to step over flowers and not to throw litter. The older children are taught about stranger danger. However, the children's safety could be affected by having access to the study which stores items such as the vacuum cleaner and bottles. Whilst the children have never had any accidents regarding these items the childminder is to make this area safe or inaccessible to protect the children from harm.

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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 good. Children are very confident and settled. They enjoy a varied, stimulating range of activities including imaginative play, crafts, music, building, listening to stories and outdoor play. Their overall development is promoted well and they are encouraged to explore and extend their knowledge because the childminder has a good understanding of child development, 'Birth to three matters' and the Foundation Stage publications. She carefully considers and plans a broad range of activities to cover all areas of play. She has individual tracker books for the younger children and diaries for the older children which she uses when planning further activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children's independence is fostered well as they freely make choices about toys, books and activities. They have built up excellent relationships with the childminder who joins in enthusiastically with their play and demonstrates that she thoroughly enjoys their company. She promotes their interest in the world around them through activities linked to particular themes or projects such as the differing seasons. The children enjoy craft work where they use various mediums and make items such as bunny hats for Easter. They also have opportunities to socialise with other children through attendance at the local toddler group.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are offered activities and play opportunities that are thoughtfully adapted by the childminder so that they are sufficiently challenging but children are able to meaningfully participate. The childminder is particularly good at responding to all the children's questions. For example, when fitting a long alphabet puzzle the children took turns, the childminder suggesting clues to look for and then further increased their understanding of mathematical language by measuring the children against the puzzle, and discussing who was longest and who had the shortest arms. The children are therefore given clear reasons and explanations, increasing their understanding of their environment and the world about them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder ensures that she knows all of the children's particular needs and meets these well. She has a good relationship with the parents, keeping them well informed of their child's progress through daily dialogue, diaries, a notice board and a parents' welcome pack which contains the childminder's working practice and policies. Children's individual needs are discussed with parents in detail at placement time. Any special requirements or information are discussed thoroughly and consistent communication and information exchange takes place. Any specific needs of children are recognised and met sensitively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well mannered and show care and affection for each other and the childminder, playing together and learning about sharing and turn-taking. The older children often help the younger ones by collecting their toys or playing gently with them. Their behaviour is good and they are confident within the childminder's home, contentedly making choices about their play. This is further reinforced by the childminder's good understanding of the importance of setting consistent and appropriate boundaries for all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder appreciates the importance of providing a range of activities and resources to promote positive images of our society and increase children’s understanding of this. The children learn about their local community on routine outings to local parks, shops including the bakers to buy buns for snack time. Children are encouraged to respect and appreciate other

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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 cultures and ways of life through discussion, a good selection of resources, stories and craft work such as making Chinese lanterns when celebrating Chinese New Year. All children feel valued by the childminder as she encourages them to feel good about themselves through praise and appreciation of kind actions such as including the younger children in their play and packing away the toys at the end of the session.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Overall, children's needs are met. The childminder organises all aspects of her work well, helping the children to feel comfortable, relaxed and at home. The childminder has organised the play room to facilitate children's learning, for example, the toys are easily accessible and children know where to find their favourite toy. She actively encourages the children through praise and the celebration of their accomplishments. This ensures that children feel confident and independent thus enabling them to initiate their own play and learning. The individual needs of the children are well met by the childminder through her procedures to ensure that she has all relevant information relating to the children before they start their placement. She regularly discusses and reviews this with the parents. However, incidents recorded should be countersigned promptly by the parent to prevent misunderstandings and this is to be the childminder's future

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Organisation

The children's development is well promoted through the childminder's organisation of her day. She ensures that her plans include a balanced range of resources making sure all children are offered stimulating activities and opportunities, and that all are able to participate. The childminder improves her childminding practice through ongoing training and regular pre-school visits to see other professionals in the child care field. This enables her to gain current information, new ways of working increasing her knowledge of supporting the children in her care.

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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 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 that hazards to children on the premises are minimised; this refers to making the study safe or inaccessible • ensure that records such as the incident book are kept up to date with the parent's countersignature.

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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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