Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY252227 Unique Reference Number 25 June 2007 Inspection date Gail Groves 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 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged eight years, five years and two-years-old in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and 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 two children at any one time and is currently minding one child under five who attends on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group, takes children to the local library and to the local park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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 good. Children are well protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. For example, parental permissions and accident and medication records are carefully completed, good nappy changing procedures prevent cross-infection and children are excluded for appropriate periods of time if they are have an infectious illness to prevent the spread of the infection. Children learn to understand simple, good health and hygiene practices such as washing their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Consequently, even very young children are beginning to develop good hygiene routines for later life.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered a varied and well balanced diet over a two week cycle of menus. These incorporate a good variety of meat, fish and vegetables. The childminder avoids offering children biscuits and encourages them to eat fruit at snack time. Consequently, they are well nourished. In addition, children have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. She discusses allergies and dietary needs before children begin to attend and is always careful to meet any religious requirements or parental preferences. Children have some opportunities to learn about healthy eating because they grow vegetables in the garden with the childminder and then harvest and eat them. However, these opportunities are limited and as a result, children are not fully supported to understand how they can develop a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in regular physical activity both indoors and outdoors and are therefore developing large muscle skills and good coordination. For example, they visit the park to play ball games and use the large scale climbing equipment, swings and roundabout. Indoors they enjoy taking part in music and movement sessions and join in with energetic action songs. Active play is balanced with less energetic play so that children can rest and sleep according to their needs and do not become tired and irritable. Young children's sleep routines are closely followed and older children have a period of quiet play after lunch when they look at books or listen to stories.

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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 welcoming, secure and safe indoor and outdoor environment in which the risks to their safety are minimised. As a result, they can move around and access resources safely and independently. For example, the childminder completes a written risk assessment twice a year in each area of the house in order to identify and address any potential hazards to children. She has devised and written an emergency evacuation procedure and has an agreement with another childminder to provide emergency cover if it is ever needed. In addition, children use good quality, suitable and safe equipment which is well maintained and meets their differing needs. Resources are stored at low-level and are checked when they are put out. Any broken items are thrown away or repaired. As a result, children are able to play and take part in activities safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe both through discussions and through practical experiences within their daily routines. For example, they are reminded that they must not

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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 climb on the furniture in case they fall and learn road safety rules by using the 'Green Cross Code' when they are out walking. Appropriate procedures ensure that children are kept safe on outings. Young children use wrist straps and have to hold onto the buggy or the childminder's hand and on outings to busy places they each wear a wrist band with the childminder's telephone number on it in case they become lost.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are also safeguarded because the childminder understands her role in child protection and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary. She has a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and has all of the necessary contact details readily to hand should she need to report any concerns she may have about a child's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle and are very happy in the setting. They gain self-esteem because their efforts and achievements are acknowledged and praised at all times and consequently, they readily join in with all of the play and learning opportunities provided for them. They confidently make decisions, explore and investigate the environment and are therefore able to extend their thinking and learning about the world around them. For example, a baby explores some shakers and noise makers with interest, finding out what happens when she waves them around. Then when she hears someone coming down the stairs she quickly crawls into the hall to see who it is and what they are doing. Children respond to adults who are interested in what they do and say because the childminder interacts with them at all times. For example, she encourages babie's early attempts at speech by responding positively through her facial expressions, gesture

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and tone of voice and by repeating and modelling the correct word for them. Consequently, they relate well to others and are learning good communication and social skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a broad range of planned activities and spontaneous events, which support all areas of their development and learning. For example, they enjoy a range of interesting activities such as painting, gluing, singing and playing musical instruments to develop their creative skills. They have opportunities to play with materials such as play dough, gloop, sand and water to encourage their sensory development and as they cook biscuits and cakes to support their early mathematical understanding of size, weight and volume. They build with a range of toys such as wooden bricks, Duplo and Lego to encourage small motor skills and their hand and eye coordination and they develop their imagination as they play with cars and a garage or the play house in the garden. Weekly visits to the local parent and toddler or childminder's groups and trips to see the childminder's friends and their children encourage

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

their social skills and interactions with others. The childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework well to monitor that the activities she provides are meeting all of the aspects of young children's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and included and feel a strong sense of belonging. They are treated as part of the family and feel comfortable and at home in the childminder's care. As a result, they are confident and show good self-esteem. Opportunities for children to make choices and make decisions throughout their daily routine encourage this still further. Children have their individual needs met because the childminder works in close partnership with their parents and carers to provide the appropriate support to extend their development. For example, a baby who is

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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 learning to walk is encouraged to reach and stretch for toys and to crawl and pull herself to standing to encourage her to bear her weight on her legs. A daily diary for children under two-years-old containing details about the activities they have taken part in, how long they have slept and how many nappy changes they have had is completed and sent home each day. This keeps parents well informed about their children and supports continuity between the care provided at home and that provided by the childminder. The childminder is also aware of the requirement for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to be offered appropriate help and would liaise closely with their parents and other involved professionals in order to meet the children's particular needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to respond to appropriate expectations for their behaviour. The childminder values politeness and encourages children to think about the effect of any poor behaviour on others. They are encouraged to share and take turns and to apologise if they have hurt someone. Even babies are asked to stroke a child they have hurt whilst the childminder says the word 'sorry' for them. As a result, they show caring attitudes to others and are developing good social skills. Children also learn to work harmoniously with others because they are encouraged to play interactive games together. For example, a baby is encouraged to catch a ball rolled to her by another child and to roll it back to him.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from appropriate activities and resources which help them value diversity. For example, they play with a range of toys such as dolls, puzzles, books and musical instruments which reflect different cultures and show positive images of disability. Older children learn about different religious festivals such as Divali, Hanukah and Chinese New Year. Consequently, they are developing a positive awareness of the differences and similarities between people.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a high regard for the well-being of all children and has attended training to update and enhance her skills. For example, she holds a current first aid certificate to ensure that she can provide appropriate care to children who are ill or injured and has attended a food hygiene course to ensure that children's meals and snacks are hygienically prepared and stored to prevent contamination and illnesses. All of the necessary documentation for the efficient and safe management of the provision is in place and record keeping systems are used well to meet children's needs. The childminder has a range of written policies and procedures in place which she shares with parents before children begin to attend so that they are fully informed about the care she provides. These policies and procedures work well in practice to promote positive outcomes for children.

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Organisation

The childminder's effective use of her time and the available space significantly contributes to children’s good health, safety, enjoyment and achievement and ability to take an active part in the setting. She spends all of her time interacting with the children to support and extend their play and ensures that they are in her sight or hearing at all times so that she can monitor their safety. Resources are stored at low level to give children independence and choice and appropriate areas of the house are used effectively to provide space for different kinds of play. For example, the kitchen and garden is used for messy play such as painting or playing with sand and water, whilst the lounge has a large carpeted area for floor play. In addition there is a playroom with a smaller floor area for more intimate play. Toys are laid out attractively to entice children to play with them and resources are prepared in advance so that children do

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Organisation

not become bored waiting for activities to start.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Overall children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that some items in the kitchen were made safe or inaccessible to children. She has now moved the knife block onto the window sill and ensures that the kettle is placed at the back of the work top so that children cannot reach them. Children's safety is therefore fully protected. She also agreed to review her illness and equal opportunities policies. She has now re-written and expanded both of these policies and shares them with parents. They are therefore fully informed about the circumstances under which children will be excluded from attending and understand how the childminder's practice promotes equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. Consequently, children's health is protected and their development and learning is supported.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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): • increase the opportunities for children to learn about healthy eating and the part it plays in developing a healthy lifestyle.

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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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