Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY265657 Unique Reference Number 16 April 2007 Inspection date Suzanne Joyce Stedman 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband who is also a childminder and three children aged 11, 18 and 20 in Leigh on sea, Essex. The whole of the childminder’s bungalow 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding five children under three while working with her co-minder. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a guinea pig.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children play in a very clean and hygienic home environment where they are protected from infection because the childminder follows good hygiene routines. She cleans the kitchen daily

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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 and the toys regularly. Children learn effectively about their own personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands before snack time and see the childminder's good practice of washing her hands after changing the baby.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from cross infection because the childminder has all the appropriate procedures and documentation in place. For example, a sick child policy which excludes children for a minimum of 48 hours if they have had an upset stomach. Therefore other children are not exposed to cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents can choose to provide the children’s food. However, the childminder provides a range of healthy snacks and meals for the children who want them, catering for individual dietary needs. She organises all the menus and prepares freshly cooked meals daily. Children are beginning to learn which foods are good for them and why.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical exercise when they participate in music, movement and action rhymes with the childminder. They enjoy plenty of fresh air when they visit the woods, park and local beach.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are free to enjoy their play in a safe and welcoming environment where the childminder has identified and minimised risks. Children move around safely and independently and have space for messy play on the dining room table, noisy play in the garden and lounge area and rest time in the master bedroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder ensures that toys and equipment are checked regularly to ensure that they are safe for children to use. Children easily access a range of toys available at low level which promotes their independence skills well and enables them to have choice in what they do. There is a wide range of toys available in the home to encourage children’s enjoyment and these are rotated to ensure children remain interested in what they do. The outdoor area offers the children a secure place for supervised play. However, due to a trampoline that does not have a safety net, which the minded children are not allowed to use, their free flow of inside and outside play is restricted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are very well protected when on outings because the childminder carefully considers the potential risks and takes effective steps to overcome these. For example, they are appropriately strapped into buggies, on the co-minder's bike, or in the car with appropriate seats. The childminder is responsible for the fire drills which children practise monthly exiting the building by either the front or back door.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very clear understanding of her responsibility to protect the children she cares for and has local contact numbers if concerned for a child’s welfare. She has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and is confident that she would recognise these and act accordingly.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a varied and wide range of activities and experiences provided in and out of the home. They benefit from the childminder’s understanding of the importance of ‘learning through

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 play’ and how this promotes children’s all round development. They have colour weeks, such as, a red week when all the children wore red jumpers, made a big red bus and played with red balloons.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s language skills are promoted well through the daily conversation with the childminder. The younger children are encouraged to be confident language users by repeating words when looking at the story books. The childminder talks to children explaining what they are doing which encourages children to link words with actions and she listens and pays attention to what children say and do.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have opportunities to use their imaginations and be creative through a range of resources and activities. For example, dressing up, music, movement and action rhymes. Children benefit from visits to the local toddler and childminders groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are cared for in an environment where the childminder promotes equality of opportunity for all children. Children’s individual needs are met because the childminder gets to know the children well. Children learn about the wider world and our differences and similarities through books, puzzles and posters around the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well because they are given clear and consistent boundaries by the childminder. Children are beginning to share and take turns with the childminder's good support.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children feel a sense of belonging because the childminder makes them feel at home. Children develop good relationships with the childminder and the other children. There are small photograph albums of the children’s parents, family, homes and friends from toddler group for children to look at and enjoy. Their art work is displayed among appropriate posters in the lounge/diner. The children have individual coat hooks in the hall to promote their independence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents to enable the children to settle well and to ensure children are cared for with consistency. The childminder makes time each day to speak to parents and carers to share information about their child’s day so that they are well informed. Parents are actively encouraged to send in things from home. For example, the parents dress the children in appropriate colours for colour weeks and bring in items from home. This promotes good home links and further promotes parents' involvement in their child's learning. The childminder's excellent portfolio ensures that parents are fully informed about the childminder's working practices.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are protected from non-vetted persons because the childminder ensures that all persons in the household are vetted and that non-vetted persons do not have unsupervised access to children. Children’s needs are met well because the childminder ensures that the required adult to child ratios and training requirements are met and maintained. She is booked on a "treasure basket" training day later in the year.

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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 The childminder organises her time effectively to enable her to spend most of her day being actively involved with the children. The childminder also works with a co-minder in the home. The additional support of another adult enhances the children's time within the home because there is always one adult who is readily available to deal with the children's needs. This arrangement also enables the childminder to meet children’s differing abilities. For example, she looks after the younger children while the co-minder collects children from school.

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Organisation

The childminder is aware of the requirements of her registration and she keeps documentation and records in very good order to promote the children’s welfare. She is responsible for producing all the polices and procedures and ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with current legislation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that children had an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice and to obtain a copy of "What to do if you're worried a child is being abused". The childminder has expanded her resources regarding equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice and has a copy of "What to do if you're worried a child is being abused". Therefore children have a better insight of people's differences and are protected as the childminder is aware of the appropriate procedure if he is concerned for a child's welfare.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 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.

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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): • develop the outside play area so children can have free access therefore developing independence and choice of inside or outside play.

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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 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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