Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY222251 Unique Reference Number 04 July 2007 Inspection date Alison Jane Williams Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been a registered since 2002 and she is a member of the National Childminding Association. She lives with her two school aged children. They live in a three bed roomed terraced property in the Milton area of Portsmouth, close to local shops, schools and park. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding with toilet and washing facilities provided on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have no pets.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding six children under eight and four children over eight years old, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The premises are registered for overnight care.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group and takes children to the library and various community parks.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy an appropriate range of physical activities and go outside regularly to reap the benefits of fresh air and exercise. Good use is made of community parks and indoor play facilities, to enable children to develop their large muscle skills. Children walk to and from school and enjoy playing ball games in the childminder's garden.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual dietary needs are meet by agreed arrangements between the childminder and parents and the childminder ensures she is aware of children's of special requirements or allergies. Children are provided with a selection of snacks including biscuits, crisps and a range of fresh fruit. The childminder has a suitable understanding of healthy eating and she talks to the children about foods which are good for them, helping to develop their awareness. Children's individual cups and beakers are replenished regularly, to ensure they are never thirsty and they can choose to have water or squash to drink.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a warm and comfortable home. The childminder takes appropriate steps to ensure she maintains a clean and healthy environment for children. For example, anti-bacterial spray is used on kitchen surfaces and the floors are swept and vacuumed twice daily. Children are beginning to understand the importance of good personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times and learn self care skills. The childminder wears disposable gloves when changing nappies and has clear policies in place for the exclusion of children after sickness and diarrhoea, helping to prevent the spread of infection.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are protected from harm or neglect, as the childminder has an appropriate understanding of child protection issues and procedures. She would recognise the possible signs or symptoms of abuse and would contact the relevant parties if concerns were identified, helping to kept children safe from abuse.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play and move about the home safely, as the childminder supervises them at all times. Resources are within easy reach of children allowing them to access toys and play materials safely and independently. The equipment and resources are clean and suitability maintained as the childminder visually inspects them daily to check nothing is broken or damaged and cleans toys regularly with anti bacterial spray. Reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that hazards have been minimised and safety devices such as safety locks and gates are in place to prevent children accessing the kitchen cupboards or the stairs. The premises are secure, the front door is kept chained at all times, the garden is fenced and the back gate bolted, to ensure children are kept safe from unannounced visitors. Children are developing an appropriate understanding of how to keep themselves safe as they learn to cross the road safely and have

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

practiced a fire drill, so they know how to evacuate the premises in the event of an emergency.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled. They move around confidently and freely and make themselves at home. They able to make their own choices of activities, which encourages and develops

p.3

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 their independence. They enjoy varied opportunities for creative play such as cutting and sticking, junk modelling, painting, colouring and play dough and they use natural and recycled materials during art and craft activities. Children of all ages enjoy taking part in simple cookery activities such as making fairy cakes, chocolate cookies and a child's special birthday cake. Older children are encouraged to follow a recipe, weigh and measure ingredients and help to wash and dry up afterwards. While younger children mix ingredients and help with simple tasks such as putting out cake cases. Children enjoy frequent outings to local places of interest such as the Spinnaker Tower and the Portsmouth museum and they regularly visit the sea front and the toy library and go swimming. Older children enjoy the time at the end of the school day

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

when they can relax or be active in accordance with their needs and interests. They can watch television, play on the Play station, read books, play outside, do their home work or learn how to knit and do cross stitch.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have regular opportunities to develop their understanding of others and to learn to socialise with their peers during visits to several local children's groups and time spent with other childminder's. They learn about the people, places and services in their own community, through visits to the shops, the library and the park. Children's awareness of the wider world is extended through discussion and the use of an appropriate range of resources, which reflect positive imagines of diversity such as dolls, books and dressing up clothes.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children recognise the need to share and take turns and their behaviour is generally good. The childminder manages children’s unwanted behaviour according to their level of understanding, age and stage of development. She praises and encourages positive behaviour, by way of a reward system and star charts, helping children to develop a sense of right and wrong.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has established positive relationships with parents. She is flexible with regards to children's attendance, so the needs of working parent’s needs are met. They liaise closely and have on going discussion.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is suitably qualified and experienced to care for children. Consistent daily routines, help children feel confident and secure. They are able to move freely and confidently around the range of activities available both inside the home and in the garden. They feel happy and relaxed and the childminder treats them as part of her family. The childminder discusses her policies and procedures with parents, in order to inform them of the provision of welfare and care. Children's health, safety and well being is promoted, because all of the legally required documentation is in place and has been maintained to a suitable standard. The childminder displays her registration documents and has a satisfactory understanding of the requirements of her registration, in order to keep children safe. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection quality and standards of care was inadequate and the childminder was told to complete the following actions.

p.4

Improvements 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 To ensure children's good health is promoted and appropriate measures are taken when they are ill; complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children and ensure the contents of the first aid box are maintained as determined in the first aid training course. The childminder has now increased her first aid supplies to ensure she can deal with any accident that occurs while children are in her care. Although, she has not obtained an appropriate first aid qualification, she is booked to attend a first aid course on 15 and 22 September 2007.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

To ensure proper fire safety precautions are in place; provide a smoke alarm, which conforms to BS EN safety standards on all levels on the property in working order and ensure the location and storage of the fire blanket complies with fire safety officer recommendations. The fire blanket is now located in an appropriate place on the kitchen wall and smoke alarms are fitted in the hallway and first floor landing, helping to ensure children's safety is not compromised in the event of a fire.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

To ensure a record is in place of complaints in line with Children Act Regulations. The childminder has now up-dated her complaints procedure and a record of complaints made by parents is now in place. However, since the last inspection there have been two anonymous complaints made about the childminder. While these have been investigated and there was no evidence that the national standards were not being met and the provider continues to remain suitable for registration, they have not been record in the complaints log.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

To ensure records are maintained to include information on children and their parents required under Children Act Regulations, information to support children's welfare and care and written parental agreements and consents. Individual child record forms have now been complete for every children under eight in the childminder's care, to ensure she has appropriate personal and contact details for all children and their parents. Childminder finds out about the children’s needs and preferences through on going discussion with the parents and obtains their written consent to seek emergency medical treatment or advice, to transport children in a vehicle and take them on outings. This helps to ensure children's individual needs are met and parents wishes are taken into account.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

To ensure a record of children’s attendance is maintained to include a daily record of the names of the children being looked after and their hours of attendance. An accurate record of children's attendance is now maintained. The childminder ensures this is completed appropriately to include children's fully names, times of arrival and departure and hours attended, so she has clear records in place, should an emergency occur or an historical record be required.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.6

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): • ensure a sufficiently detailed record is maintained of all complaints

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6