Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY264802 Unique Reference Number 01 February 2007 Inspection date Lynne Kathleen Talbot 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 June 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and eleven years. Their house is in the town of Letchworth, Hertfordshire. The whole ground floor of the house is used for childminding, the first floor is used under supervision. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. There are shops, schools and pre-schools within an accessible distance.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to collect and take minded children. She attends toddler groups with minded children. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time. There are currently three children on roll within the registration age range.

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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 are cared for in a warm, clean home where they are learning the importance of hygiene and personal care. Children are beginning to take responsibility for their own needs, because the childminder acts as a positive role model and has clear routines such as using gloves when changing nappies and washing her own hands after wiping children's noses or clearing away foods. However, children are not yet given sufficient access to independent self-help facilities such as tissues or hand-wipes to develop a sense of their own personal hygiene. This needs to be addressed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's well-being is promoted as the daily routine supports children's individual needs, and helps them maintain health, through meeting their physical care needs and resting periods. They walk to and from school and have access to local parks and playgrounds. Children are appropriately nourished and enjoy meals provided by their parents. They enjoy social meal-times and discuss healthy eating together as they enjoy fruits and snacks supplied by the childminder. They begin to understand the need for fluids and are encouraged to help themselves to drinks throughout the day in their own cups.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's immediate health and safety is protected because the childminder is informed of current health guidelines and requirements of the National Standards, for example, through clear sickness procedures. Each day thorough risk assessments of the premises addressing health and safety issues are completed and this ensures that children are cared for within an environment suitable to promote their health and safety. Children are fully supported through planned emergency support networks such as emergency contact carers. Their health and medical needs are met due to the childminder's attention to maintaining accurate information and reviewing the care of children with parents. However, children are not protected in the event of infection, notifiable disease, or in the event of significant injury because of a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding relevant authority requirements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's safety is consistently promoted and appropriate action taken in the event of illness or accident because the childminder has an organised approach to this area of care and takes steps to prevent accidents and to plan for emergencies. This includes updating her knowledge, for example, by reviewing safety procedures using periodicals published to address safety in the home and ensuring that car safety meets the latest regulations. Fire evacuation is planned and instructions displayed for older children to view. However, children's safety is compromised at present as the outlined plan has not been carried out with sufficient frequency to ensure a thorough understanding or familiarity by children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a welcoming environment, accessing equipment that meets safety standards with sufficient space to explore and develop their full potential. They access very well organised play materials in accessible storage boxes. The arrangement of the boxes is

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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 designed to ensure that items suitable only for older children are kept out-of-reach from younger children. Children are learning to keep themselves safe due to clear explanations and routines. This includes understanding safety in the sun and using sun-protection lotion and appropriate clothing, as well as road safety procedures. Children carry out road safety routines each day as they walk to and from school or the local facilities in the area, younger children are kept safe through the use of wrist straps.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected because the childminder clearly understands child protection issues and the appropriate steps to follow that will support children’s wellbeing. Planned procedures include the latest information according to the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are able to develop confidence and self-esteem because the childminder gives them opportunities to talk and values their efforts at all ages. They are encouraged to try new activities because they are praised frequently by the childminder. Younger children enjoy attention and new activities introduced by the childminder where she uses the children's names, gives them eye contact and shows appreciation for each effort they make. They are encouraged to experiment with language using counting and numbers, colours and shapes, size comparisons and positional language. Children are encouraged to try actions repeatedly which leads to them persevering and accomplishing new skills each day. Each child is listened to carefully and their developing language reinforced through repetition by the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children explore their developing language in everyday activities and with play materials. For example, they respond to singing and action rhymes, and experiment with noises such as animal sounds through role play and puzzles. Children take part in a broad range of activities including baking, growing cress, working with clay, face painting and strawberry picking, as well as having a good range of toys and play materials. Photographic evidence shows that children take part, regardless of age, with activities adapted so that each may participate fully at their own level.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

From everyday events and celebrations such as Easter or Halloween children extend their knowledge of the world around them and have regular opportunities to discuss their developing knowledge with the childminder. Children extend topics covered in pre-school or school, such as cultural celebrations, with the childminder as they talk about what they have learnt and continue using a good range of play materials showing cultural diversity and world awareness.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are well met as they follow their normal daily routines as discussed with their parents. Relationships are positive and children are making early friendships with other children both in the childminder's home and at social groups and activity sessions. Children thrive because their individual developmental stages or requirements are recognised and planned for by the childminder. This is supported by daily verbal feedback and regular reviews of children's needs with parents and carers. Preparations

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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 have been made to record any concern or complaint raised by parents or carers and this demonstrates a professional approach to care for children in line with current regulations. Transition into the care of the childminder is well-planned and completed at the pace dictated by children's needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are beginning to understand responsible behaviour and recognise the needs of others due to consistent boundaries being maintained by the childminder. They have routines which encourage good social behaviours and are supported in learning about the development of babies, they show that they are caring and appreciative of younger children's needs. Children enjoy a close relationship with the childminder shown as they seek contact and show affection for her which demonstrates a sense of stability and safety in the home. Older children have developed a set of behaviours together with the childminder which are displayed on the wall enabling them to feel ownership of their own behaviour and recognising socially acceptable boundaries.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children appreciate and understand about other cultures and ways of life because the childminder provides a very good range of resources to promote conversation and interest, including topics and exploring the wider community. Children receive appropriate support that meets their complex needs as individuals because the childminder seeks appropriate information from parents and takes positive steps to inform herself on a variety of special needs. Children with learning difficulties or disabilities are supported because the childminder takes into account the individual needs of each child and works with parents and carers to support that need.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are secure within the surroundings where they develop a sense of trust in the childminder. They feel at ease in this organised environment leading them to confidently initiate play and explore their surroundings. They respond to new adults with confidence demonstrating security within the home. Their daily comfort and enjoyment is enhanced by the quality of organisation and the attention to all details relating to their care and well-being. Play is effectively planned with flexibility and the routine led by the children attending. The childminder has developed a personal portfolio which addresses relevant areas of care and outlines policies with parents. This adds to the professional service enjoyed by families attending.

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Organisation

Children's daily care is shared with parents in conversation, this promotes children's welfare and all-round development. Care given is flexible to parental requirements with overall hours of care adjusted to meet the needs of families. Organisation within the home allows access to all play activities both indoors and outside. Children have some independent access to personal care facilities and develop responsibility for play materials as they have access to well-organised play materials in accessible storage units. The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of the Children Act and associated regulations. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to seek permission from parents for children to carry out outdoor activities and to improve her methods of information regarding such activities. Since that time she has obtained permission for all outings and extra activities which has improved both communication with parents and carers and safety for children.

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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.

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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 opportunities for children to understand and take responsibility for personal hygiene • improve knowledge of procedures to prevent the spread of infection or notifiable disease, or in the event of significant injury to minded children and ensure that action taken complies with relevant authority requirements • improve safety for children by practising the fire evacuation procedure in accordance with own written plan.

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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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