Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY334354 Unique Reference Number 06 March 2007 Inspection date Julie Denise Edmonds 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 July 2006. She lives with her husband and three children, aged 10, eight and five years in Norwich, north of the city centre. The house is within walking distance of local amenities. The whole of the house is used for childminding, with the exception of one bedroom. An enclosed rear garden is available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She currently cares for a baby, a pre-school child and a school age child. The children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder has use of a car to transport minded children. The family has pet rabbits.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an NVQ level 3 equivalent childcare qualification.

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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 enjoy an acceptable range of varied food to support their growth and development. Fresh fruit and vegetables offered are organic. They have breakfast, such as fruit, cereal and yogurt. Snacks include biscuits and crisps, carrot, raisins, cheese and fresh fruit such as apples. Cooked food offered includes smiley face potato, with fish fingers or chicken dinosaurs and mixed vegetables or hot dogs with bread rolls and salad. Children are asked what they would like to eat, taking into account what parents have said their children prefer. This provides some opportunities and encouragement for children to eat fresh foods. Children are offered drinks to provide them with sufficient fluid intake. Babies are cuddled when having their bottle, meeting their emotional needs and are offered food provided by their parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Routines and practice followed by the childminder promote children's good health well. For example, the premises, including where food is prepared and served are kept clean. Babies have their nappies changed with the childminder using disposable gloves on a wipe clean changing mat. Children are encouraged to follow appropriate simple routines maintaining hygiene and supporting their learning, such as hand washing before eating and after using the toilet and stroking pets. Communicable disease information followed protects children from illness and infection. Children are cared for sensitively and reassured if they become unwell while they are with the childminder. Meeting children's medical needs in the event of emergency is not assured as there is no written parental consent to seek emergency medical advice or treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in physical activity with local walks. This includes to the park where they play on equipment such as a slide and swings. In the garden the children play on push-along and pedal toys, in a sand pit and with footballs. Babies and children rest and sleep according to their individual needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in clean and warm premises. Appropriate use of space allows for the children to play comfortably on the carpeted lounge floor and have meals at the table in the dining area of the kitchen-dining room. They take part in messy play in the conservatory. The children play with a range of accessible good quality age and stage-appropriate toys and activities. These include soft indoor balls, a large range of books, dolls, a wooden train set, and a variety of pretend play household items, with a play kitchen, telephone and vacuum cleaner. Baby toys include rattles, musical, electronic, such as a 'baby driver' toy with buttons to push to make sounds and a steering wheel. Suitable nursery equipment to meet babies' needs includes a travel cot, double and single pushchairs and a dining chair booster seat with tray.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The premises are risk assessed with appropriate measures taken to promote children's safety. For example, a safety gate in the hallway prevents children's unsupervised access to the stairs, catches prevent children's access to potentially harmful substances and items stored in low level kitchen cupboards and low level sockets have covers fitted. The outdoor area is fully

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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 enclosed, with the shed padlocked. Close supervision, including outdoors and upstairs supports children's safety. Children are learning to keep themselves safe. For example, when walking on outings they use pedestrian crossings with the childminder, looking for the 'green or red man' to indicate if it is safe to cross. Younger children ride in or hold on to the pushchair, with older children walking close by. However, children's fire safety awareness is not promoted, as the childminder does not talk to them about this. She has also not practised emergency evacuation to confirm that her procedures work to keep children safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected as the childminder is able to put procedures into practice to safeguard them. She has access to current information and contact numbers to report any concerns that she may have.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are well settled and content in the company of the childminder. They are confident and happily interact with her and visitors. They initiate interaction with the childminder, calling her by name when they want her to be involved. She responds promptly, maintaining her calm and caring manner and supporting development of the secure relationship.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are very well occupied. The childminder encourages them in their play, making suggestions. For example, 'what are you going to make for lunch?' as the children play with the play kitchen, food and utensils. The children benefit from the childminder's consistent interaction with them, talking to them about their play, encouraging them to respond and supporting language development. The children sing to musical toys playing, such as 'twinkle twinkle little star'. They play with dolls, 'drying' their hair with the play hair dryer. They draw on a magnetic board, drawing family members, with the childminder talking to them about who they are drawing. Children make choices, such as asking to do drawing at the desk in the dining area, moving on to cutting out and sticking to make a picture for 'mummy'. They are offered other activities such as play dough and painting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The needs of younger children attending are met as the childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework to complement her already sound knowledge and practice. She uses the document to ensure that she is covering all aspects of development, highlighting statements such as making choices, involve children in conversations at meal times and encourage crawling, hiding and peeping.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's behaviour is managed as agreed verbally with parents. This includes praise and encouragement, supporting positive behaviour. For example, 'the way you are holding the pen is great', recognising when children are doing something well. Children follow the good role model of the childminder who is consistently polite. Children's behaviour is managed appropriate to their understanding. They respond to the childminder's voice tone indicating if their behaviour is acceptable and listen to the childminder explaining why behaviour is unacceptable.

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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 The childminder knows the children in her care well, for example, that a baby enjoys hearing and moving to music. She responds to this providing musical toys and plans to attend a music and movement group. Children learn about the local community on outings with the childminder, to and from the local school and to carer and toddler group. They become aware of diversity and the wider world through a range of modern toys and books in use. The childminder has a positive attitude to caring for children with additional needs. Children in her care are regarded with equal concern.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good communication with parents includes gathering detailed written information about individual children's needs before they begin attending, for example, comforters they use. This helps children to settle in. Daily notes on a notice board keep parents informed of the activities their children have taken part in. In addition there is verbal exchange at arrival and collection times, such as if the children have eaten their food and if they are tired. This ensures children's changing needs continue to be met. A poster on display gives parents Ofsted contact details, supporting exchange of information with the regulator.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Record keeping is organised to a satisfactory standard, with most in place, supporting the generally efficient management of the provision to promote the well-being of children. The National Childminding Association documentation is mainly used and historic records are kept.

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Organisation

Children are cared for in the childminder's suitably organised home, where they can play, eat and sleep in comfort. Children are not left unsupervised with unvetted persons, with the childminder closely supervising them on outings and when there are visitors present, promoting their welfare. Routines help the children to feel a sense of security, while allowing flexibility for the children to choose what activities they would like to do. The childminder's time and attention given promotes their care, learning and play. Her knowledge and experience enables her to provide a range of enjoyable play and learning experiences.

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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): • increase opportunities and encouragement for children to eat fresh foods • raise children's awareness of fire safety and practise emergency evacuation procedures • ensure attendance records are kept for all children and obtain written parental consent to seek emergency medical advice or treatment.

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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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