Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY257267 Unique Reference Number 08 March 2007 Inspection date Hayley Lapworth Inspector

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Integrated Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2003. She lives with her two children aged five and eight years in Leicester. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding along with the bathroom upstairs. 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 four children at any one time and is currently minding five children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is an accredited member of the local Childminding Network and currently provides funded early education.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The premises are cleaned and maintained sufficiently. Children are beginning to learn about good hygiene routines. The childminder ensures children wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day. For example, when they have been to the bathroom and prior to meals or snacks. This helps them to care for themselves and learn about personal hygiene.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have suitable opportunities to exercise their bodies. For example, they frequently visit parks and indoor play areas, run in open spaces and play team games such as football. This means they can develop their physical skills whilst having fun.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children gain good awareness of the concepts of healthy eating. For example, the childminder encourages the children to try new foods such as fruit and currants. Children are praised and made to feel good about themselves for eating healthily. She talks to them about foods that are good for their bodies and involves them in cooking activities. They are well hydrated as there are always sufficient drinks available for them to access independently.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder knows the children's medical needs well. She has experience of caring for children with special needs and is qualified in first aid. There is a first aid box which is safely stored and appropriately stocked. This ensures that children can be cared for appropriately in the event of an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children receiving funded nursery education are developing skills in manoeuvring there bodies. They have regular opportunities to access equipment which promotes their physical development, such as riding on bicycles and climbing equipment. Friends play together using the space around them imaginatively. For example, they play being spacemen in rockets counting down for take off. This shows they are at ease and confident in their surroundings which supports them in developing their own ideas and play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and learn safely in some areas since the childminder has identified and reduced the risk of some potential hazards. However, one item of dangerous equipment is accessible to children indoors and many items outdoors. This compromises the children's safety overall.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to move freely and independently around the lounge and dining area. They confidently access the toys which are stored appropriately. This enhances their safety when they are selecting resources. Children learn about hazards and are beginning to share responsibility for their own safety. This is best demonstrated through their involvement in fire evacuation drills. This promotes their safety in the event of an emergency evacuation being required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted. They are protected from abuse and neglect through the childminder's knowledge of signs and symptoms. She is secure in her knowledge of procedures

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

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. for reporting concerns of suspected child abuse and allegations made against herself or other members of the household.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Security of the premises in and outdoors is good and access is monitored by the childminder. This helps to keep children safe whilst in the childminders home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. All children are at ease, are happy and enjoy time in the setting. They talk with their friends about what they want to play with and are able to select their own resources. For example, they browse around and select what they would like to do. This enables them to develop their skills in independence and make decisions for themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are at ease with the childminder and their peers and are building relationships. For example, they readily communicate with one another during play. Older children are beginning to show skills in socialising. For example, they speak confidently to the childcare inspector talking about a trip to the bowling alley and activities they are going to do with the childminder such as baking. This demonstrates that they are developing their use of language and learning how to express themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s experiences are valuably enhanced by the interaction of the childminder in their play. She has a good understanding of children's interest and child development. As a result, she organises appropriate activities that relate to children's age, understanding and level of development. For example, making telescopes from cardboard tubes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has some knowledge and is beginning to use the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework in planning play for younger children. This means that they are beginning to access appropriate experiences that contribute towards their development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. The childminder has a suitable understanding of the Foundation Stage and how young children learn. This includes allowing them to be fully involved and recognising how they can gain valuable learning experiences from one another. Planning is in place which includes opportunities for the children to develop in the six areas of learning. This means that they are presented with appropriate experiences enabling them to make progress in their overall development. The childminder competently plans a range of stimulating and exciting activities, some of which are adult-led. She is beginning to consider how to extend learning for more able children. This means that they have opportunities to benefit from additional challenge. Children's achievements are monitored by the childminder who is beginning to make observations and link them to the stepping stones. However, she

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

lacks in confidence and understanding in this area and as a result, entries onto children's individual assessment records have not been made. Therefore, the childminder is unable to use this information to inform future planning and it is not possible to determine what progress children are making towards the early learning goals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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. Children are beginning to develop memory skills and are able to concentrate well. For example, they are able to recite from memory information about space and planets. For example, they tell the childcare inspector that to see into space you have to use a telescope. They are also able to answer questions about stories the childminder has read to them such as 'can you remember what the hungry caterpillar ate'?.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They are also beginning to develop skills in listening to others. They show respect for one another, this is best demonstrated by the way they listen when their friends or the childminder is talking. For example, listening to instructions read to them by the childminder from a recipe book when they are baking.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing a good concept of numbers, how to count in order and are showing signs of understanding early stages of calculation. They are encouraged to use number in a suitable variety of ways. For example, counting down from 10 to one imitating a rocket taking off. Also, looking at the numbers on the weighing scales to measure ingredients. As a result children have a good understanding of early mathematics.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder is committed to equality of opportunity. She recognises the children as individuals. As a result, they benefit from having their differing needs suitably met. For example, children's behaviour is dealt with according to their age and understanding. This enables the children to learn right from wrong. Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. Children are able to access good resources and activities which raise their awareness of diversity. For example, the childminder provides resources which depict positive images of race, culture and disability. This makes the children more culturally aware of people in society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children thrive as a result of the effective continuity of care which has developed through the partnership with parents. The childminder builds relationships with the parents at the onset of care during the settling in period. She gathers information about the children's likes and dislikes in relation to food, their medical history and routines used at home. She has developed systems for communication through the use of daily diaries, these are well maintained and include written entries about the children's general well-being and activities they have taken part in. This ensures that the children are cared for consistently taking into account the parents wishes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers of children in receipt of nursery education is satisfactory. The childminder informally discusses with some parents their children's levels of attainment on entry, however, this information is not effectively used to ascertain their starting points and inform planning. Therefore, planning does not always effectively relate to children's level of development and the children's learning is compromised. At present the childminder does not hold consultation meetings with parents to discuss any progress made. Therefore, they are not formally informed of their child's stage of development. Some information is made available to parents about the Foundation Stage and the six areas of learning through displays and the prospectus. This means they can begin to understand what their children are learning and are able to contribute to this learning at home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

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.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's welfare is protected as the childminder has completed appropriate vetting procedures and is aware of procedures for any persons living at the premises over the age of 16. This promotes the children's welfare. Children's learning opportunities are enhanced because the childminder has extended her own skills and professional development. This has been achieved through attending short courses in child protection, first aid, ‘Birth to three matters’ and the Foundation Stage.

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Organisation

The system of registration is effective. It clearly shows actual children present at all times. This is achieved by the childminder recording the times that children arrive and depart. This promotes children's safety.

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Organisation

The management of time and resources is good since the childminder ensures that the equipment encourages children's overall development and activities are frequently changed. This provides children with a well-structured day. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection two recommendations were set. These were to consider planning for a suitable place to evacuate to in case of an emergency and enhance knowledge of and have regard for the Code of Practice (2002) for the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs. Since the last inspection the childminder has reviewed her procedure for emergency evacuation and identified a suitable place to evacuate to. This promotes the children's safety in the event of an emergency. The childminder now has regard for and has spent time looking at the Code of Practice for the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs and has increased her overall knowledge. This means that children with special needs can be cared for appropriately.

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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.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND 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.

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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): • make sure that all areas used by the children are safe including the outdoor area.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • increase knowledge and understanding of making assessments of children's development and ensure this is used to inform future planning • implement a system of children's initial assessments that includes parents to determine their starting points on entry to funded nursery education and keep parents formally informed of any future developments in their child's learning.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 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.

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