Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY243311 Unique Reference Number 03 January 2008 Inspection date Susan June Stone 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 good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives with her husband and four school-aged children in an end-terraced house in the Waterford area of Radstock. The whole of the house is available to use for childminding. There is a garden at the back of the house for outdoor play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2002. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. At present she is caring for six children, most on a part time basis, one child is cared for full time and two of the children are aged over eight years

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes the children out on a daily basis to the local facilities including the toddler group and soft play centre. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and the local childminder's network group.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family pets include a dog, a budgie and two hamsters.

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 good. Children are cared for in a clean family home where they enjoy the benefits of a routine that ensures the appropriate balance of rest and play. Children learn suitable procedures for their personal health and hygiene through daily routines and examples set by the childminder. The childminder ensures that tables are wiped before food is eaten and she has good procedures in place for changing nappies. The children are familiar with the routine for washing their hands. They know they must wash their hands before meals and snacks, and after using the toilet. They use liquid soap and have their own separate hand towels which are washed regularly. The childminder also encourages the children to use tissues to wipe their noses when they have the sniffles.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder ensures the children have balanced, nutritious meals and snacks each day. This helps to promote the children's healthy growth and development. Food provided by parents is suitably stored and reheated if necessary. The childminder ensures that all special dietary needs are discussed with parents and addressed. Drinks of juice or water are available to the children throughout the day.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder's first aid training and awareness of dealing with sick children, ensures that an emergency situation and children's health care needs can be consistently met and dealt with effectively. The childminder has a written sickness policy which is shared with parents. This indicates when children will not be cared for due to illness or infection. The childminder also provides opportunities for the children to benefit from the fresh air; such as using the local play park or playing in the garden, which helps to contribute to the children’s good health and physical development.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a secure family home where space is well organised to allow the children to play in comfort. She ensures that suitable security measures are in place to ensure the premises remain secure while children are present. This helps to ensure children's safety at all time, and allows the children to move about freely and safely under her close supervision. The childminder assesses potential risks to the children and puts procedures and practices in place to minimise these. She has risk assessed her home with particular regards to the building work recently completed, ensuring the children’s safety was not compromised. She has appropriate safety equipment in place such as a fire blanket to use in the kitchen and sufficient smoke detectors fitted appropriately around the house. She has gates to deny access to certain areas of the house and safety plugs in electric sockets that are not used in some parts of the house,

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

but this is not the case in the new playroom as some electric sockets are exposed and accessible to children.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder provides a range of safe and well maintained furniture and equipment which means that the varying needs of the children can be met. The toys and activities are stored so the children can select them for themselves, enabling them to make decisions about their play. The children have their own playroom where toys and resources are stored in boxes and crates at ground level and on shelves. Children choose toys independently for their play from the range of toys available to them. The childminder monitors and supervises the toys that the

p.3

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 children play with to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted. The childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection procedures and a clear understanding of her role in the protection of children, ensuring the children's safety is always a priority.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. A good range of play opportunities and activities are available to the children, which are age appropriate and that the children enjoy. The younger children benefit from regular outings to different toddler groups and the soft play centre. These outings give the children opportunities to indulge in new and different experiences. They also help them to develop their social skills as they interact with other children and adults. Discussion indicates that suitable activities are also provided for the children attending after school. The childminder identifies their likes and dislikes, and provides appropriate activities to accommodate these. Opportunities are provided for the children to play together and for them to relax and unwind after their school day.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing good relationships with the childminder. Their self-esteem is reinforced well by the childminder valuing each child and supporting their needs. They are happy and at ease in the childminder's house, where they make themselves at home. Children relate well to the childminder, consequently, they are secure and confident in her care. The childminder interacts well with the children and she is involved in their play at an appropriate level. She allows the children to decide what they wish to do and follows their lead. The children enjoy playing the ‘crazy bug’ game with the childminder, each trying to catch the most metal balls with the dangling bug strapped onto their heads. The childminder is encouraging and reassuring and offers lots of positive praise and reinforcement. She says ‘well done, who’s a clever boy’ as they counts the balls collected. The children also enjoy looking at books and making puzzles

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

with the childminder. They look for the straight edged pieces to complete the outside of the puzzle and use the picture to help decide where the pieces may possibly go. When looking at a book they talk about the different parts of the body and about different foods that are healthy to eat. Children relate well to the childminder, consequently, they are secure and confident in her care.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a good understanding of the development needs of young children. She offers a range of activities and opportunities which provide sufficient challenges for the children attending. This means the children's learning and development is promoted. The childminder is aware of the Birth to three matters guidance and has attended local authority training with regards to this. She is beginning to introduce the framework to encourage individual learning and development for the youngest children cared for.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are valued and respected. They are relaxed and secure within the childminder's home. The childminder interacts well with them, encouraging the children to feel included and part of the household. She seeks detailed written information about each child's needs and takes appropriate steps to ensure all children are well cared for and supported. The children have access to a range of resources like books and play people that offer positive images of diversity, which contributes to the children developing a positive attitude and respect

p.4

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 for others. The childminder provides regular opportunities for the children to develop an understanding of their local community and the differing roles of people within it. This includes visits to the local toddler group, park and other local amenities.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and are learning to understand why some behaviour is not acceptable, due to the childminder's positive approach to behaviour management. She has clear expectations of behaviour and promotes good behaviour through her calm approach, and frequent praise and encouragement. The childminder uses appropriate explanations when behaviour does not meet expectations, which means the children are able to understand why their actions or behaviour are not acceptable. The children learn what is right from wrong, and manners, like saying 'please' and 'thank you' are actively encouraged.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed an information portfolio about the care on offer which is shared with parents. The childminder and parents work together to meet the children’s needs. Time is allowed daily to talk and share any necessary information concerning the children. This allows for the children’s individual needs to be identified and addressed. Records regarding the children's care are in place and written agreements with parents help to ensure that children's individual needs are met.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming family home where space is used effectively to meet children's play and care routines. The children feel welcome and at home when they are with the childminder, who organises time to ensure the children have access to a range of experiences and activities to help meet their needs. The childminder ensures the children are well cared for using her sound knowledge and understanding of childcare. She continues to attend training and workshops provided by the local authority to help develop her childminding practice.

p.5

Organisation

Policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. The childminder ensures all information kept for the children remains confidential. Parents' views are respected and the daily exchange of information and discussion helps to contribute to the consistency in the children’s care. Most documentation required by Ofsted is in place and suitably maintained. However, written permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment has not been obtained from parents for some of the children cared for.

p.5

Organisation

Overall the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

There were three recommendations from the last inspection which were to; ensure accurate recording of children's attendance, to ensure books are made available to minded children, and to ensure procedures are in place to prevent the spread of infection. The childminder now uses a diary to record children's attendances, where their actual arrival and departure times are recorded. This systems ensures that the recording of children's attendance remains accurate. With regards to the availability of books, in the new playroom the childminder has a bookcase full of age appropriate books that the children are able to freely access. The children enjoy sharing books with the childminder when being cared for at her home. The childminder has clear procedures in place with regards to the spread of infection. She has a sickness policy which is shared with parents that indicates when children will be excluded due to illness and

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

infection. She also has clear practice in place with the children to help them develop an

p.5

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 understanding of maintaining their own personal hygiene. Which all contributes to helping prevent the spread of illness and infection.

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.6

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.6

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 good. 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 written permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment is in place for all children cared for • ensure all exposed electrical sockets are made safe or inaccessible to children

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