Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY341424 Unique Reference Number 31 January 2007 Inspection date Mary Anne Henderson 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 2006. She lives with her partner and two children, one of whom is an adult and the other is four years of age, in a suburb of Telford, Shropshire. The whole of the ground floor and the younger child's bedroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a pet dog. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children and currently cares for three children under eight years old.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends the local carer and toddler group on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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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 enjoy playing with their activities in a clean, warm and well maintained environment. They know to wash their hands before eating and after outdoor play because the childminder talks to them about staying healthy. They are also learning about cleanliness through planned activities where they bring along their own flannels and toothbrushes to use at the childminder's home. Medication, allergies and specific requirements are appropriately recorded and maintained by the childminder ensuring children's needs are well met. This includes written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment or advice for all children on roll.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a good range of nutritional meals and snacks. This includes roast dinners with vegetables, chicken salad and pasta and cheese and potato pie. Snacks include a range of fruit for example, bananas, oranges and apples. Children are provided with drinks of water and squash throughout the day. They are learning about healthy eating options through planned activities where they look at foods that are good and foods that are not so good for them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are beginning to have an understanding of a healthy lifestyle because they are given lots of opportunities to be physically active. For example, they go on walks around the local areas to feed the ducks, visit parks where they can run around in the fresh air and use the large and small equipment such as slides and climbing frames. They also regularly ride their bicycles in the back garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are welcoming to parents and their children. There is a notice board available for the parents which displays the registration and insurance certificates, daily planning and the emergency escape plan. The children make good use of the available space to undertake their activities, eat and rest. For example, they undertake messy play and also eat their meals at the table, rest or sleep in the lounge and visit the toilet independently while the childminder keeps a close eye on them. There is a good range of toys and equipment available to meet the individual needs of the children attending. Equipment to meet children's physical requirements includes a high chair, buggies for non-walkers, toileting equipment to ensure children's comfort and reins to keep them safe on walks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe at the house because the childminder ensures she undertakes daily written risk assessments in the areas they have access to. Outings and visits are also risk assessed before the children are taken out. There is a good range of equipment in place to ensure the safety of the children. For example, there are safety gates around the house, a mounted fire blanket and smoke alarms are checked regularly. Children are learning about keeping themselves safe because the childminder talks to them about crossing the road appropriately. She has also included the children in the emergency escape plan so that they know what to do in an emergency.

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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 The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues. She has undertaken training on safeguarding children and knows what to do and who to contact should she have a concern. This ensures children's safety and welfare at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, confident and well settled at the childminder's home. They are involved in a good range of activities to support their learning, for example they use paint, glue and scrap materials to make faces on paper plates. While involved in their activities they giggle with each other and the childminder. Children say " my mommy calls me her little darling" and "I'm going to the shops to buy something nice for you!" The children are valued by the childminder who interacts positively with them asking open questions and encouraging them to take it in turns to talk and listen to each other. There is a good range of resources to promote children's learning in all areas of development. Children do not have full access to the broad range of toys and resources during child initiated play as much of this is kept in a different room. This does not fully promote children's learning and development. The routines of the day includes

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

time for planned activities and child initiated play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy a very good range of outings to places of interest. This includes trips to the library and various toddler groups throughout the week where they play with a broad range of toys and socialise with other children. They also enjoy visits to parks and going on walks around the local areas. Older children are taken bowling while the younger children are taken on a more suitable outing, for example, to see the Sooty show at the nearby theatre. The younger children are well supported by the childminder because she has undertaken training and implemented the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Activity planning is in place for all children attending the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children enjoy access to a broad range of toys and resources that reflect positive images of diversity. For example, they play with dolls, puzzles and books depicting various cultures, religions and people with disabilities. The childminder talks to parents about their child's requirements with regard to culture, religion and ability, thus ensuring their individual needs are fully met at all times. She has some experience of working with children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and would strive to meet the needs of any child attending the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good. Strategies used include distraction and discussion with the children and encouraging sharing and turn taking with the toys. Behaviour is discussed on an ongoing basis between the childminder and the parents which ensures consistency between home and at the setting. Praise is used throughout the day to promote good behaviour and children enjoy small rewards such as stickers.

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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 There are positive relationships between the childminder. Parents are kept informed about their child's routine and development through ongoing two-way exchange of information both verbally and through the use of daily diaries. There is a portfolio available for parents outlining activity planning, menus, policies, information about the service provided and about the childminder's experience in child care. Required consent forms are comprehensive and include written permission to take children in the car, on outings and to take photographs for the child's development files. There is a clear complaints procedure in place for the parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well cared for by the childminder who has ensured that all persons living at the premises are appropriately vetted. The childminder makes good use of the resources, toys, equipment and space to meet the needs of the children attending. Required ratios are well maintained and the register of attendance is kept up to date and accurate at all times. Accident, incident, medication and existing injuries are clearly recorded, signed by the parents and made available for inspection. To ensure children's welfare, the childminder keeps all records beyond three years and any complaints records beyond ten years.

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Organisation

The childminder undertakes ongoing training and has attended workshops on childcare for many years. For example she has recently attended training on food hygiene, manual handling and safeguarding children. Children's health and safety is well maintained because the childminder has undertaken a first aid training course. Overall children's needs are met.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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): • improve the organisation of resources so that they are readily accessible and supports children's play and learning

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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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