Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY246494 Unique Reference Number 03 July 2007 Inspection date Judith Reed 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 2002. She lives with her husband and one child of school age in Alresford, Hampshire. The whole of the house is used for childminding and 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 a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding seven children on a part time basis. The childminder walks to and from local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are healthy as they learn about health and hygiene through daily routine. The childminder implements effective hygiene practices, including encouraging the children to help themselves to tissues to wipe their noses and reminding children to wash their hands before

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 having lunch. Children use individual hand drying towels. The childminder helps children clean themselves after lunch with individual baby wipes. She follows excellent routines when changing nappies and ensures children use their own personal changing mats to prevent any cross infection. The childminder carefully records all accidents and medication administered ensuring that documentation is signed as required. The childminder keeps a well stocked first aid kit and holds permission for emergency treatment for each minded child. She has prepared a comprehensive sickness policy and ensures parents are aware of her procedures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children experience frequent opportunities for physical exercise. They walk to and from local schools and are taken to the park regularly, or to feed the ducks. The childminder provides bicycles, tricycles and scooters for older children to use in the garden. Other outdoor activities also include playing in the sand pit, throwing or kicking balls, skipping with ropes, playing with tents and tunnels or sit and ride toys. Children also really enjoy dancing to music.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are actively encouraged to have a healthy and nutritious diet. The childminder educates children about healthy eating and encourages children to have regular drinks of water. Children relish snack lunches of celery, cucumber, tomatoes and carrot sticks with hummus dip and pitta bread. The childminder sits with the children and has the same food for her lunch. Some children bring packed lunches and the childminder supplements their sandwiches with additional vegetables, with their parents agreement. Older children are offered a plate of various fruits or crackers, as an after school snack. Morning snacks are frequently taken while attending local groups and always include a drink, fruit, raisins or cheese and crackers. All children join in cooking activities and prepare flapjacks, pizza and pasta sauces. These are often served as part of a meal.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in secure environment where the childminder ensures the front door is locked when children are present. Children mainly play in the kitchen/dining room, hall and lounge room. They can easily access the downstairs toilet independently. Children move around the home freely and they are protected from the risk of accidental injury by the use of safety equipment. Stair gates are available when required and the garden is well fenced and secure. The childminder has smoke detectors on all floors of her home and a fire blanket is available. She ensures children are aware of fire evacuation procedures, although these are not practised or recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are actively encouraged to access toys and equipment from storage around the dining area. The childminder has also created a small book of photographs showing the toys she stores upstairs, in the loft room. Children can select the toys they wish to use, from the photographs, and the childminder will bring them downstairs. The childminder ensures toys are safe, clean and suitable for the children present. She extends the range of toys and books available by using the library and the childminding network toy loan service.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded as the childminder has an understanding of child protection procedures. She makes parents aware of her child protection procedures and keeps necessary documentation to hand. The childminder understands her professional duty regarding safeguarding children.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very settled and happy with the childminder. They are engaged in their play and the childminder plays with them. Children enjoy having a wide choice of toys and they ask to have the dressing up box, as this is a favourite activity. Children plan what they are going to wear, such as being a mermaid. They go with the childminder to bring down all the dressing up clothes and shoes in a large chest. Children dress in a number of different costumes. One child removes her skirt before putting on a dress, a glove, shoes and wings. She says "I wanted to be a mermaid, but mermaids don't have wings". Another child asks for help to put on the dragon costume. Children discuss the noise the costume makes saying "It rustles". The child dressed as a dragon begins to roar and laugh with the childminder. The childminder acts being scared, which makes the children giggle more. A child is uncomfortable with the roaring and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the childminder reminds them that in the story they have recently shared the dragon only eats vegetables. The childminder says that the dragon is not frightening when she laughs, and begins to tickle her. The childminder has a warm and close relationship with the minded children. She is very aware of their feelings. Children enjoy their imaginative games. The childminder offers to make a den for the dragon. She ties a piece of fabric across two chairs and the children go underneath. They all discuss how nice the house is and who may come to visit such as relatives and friends.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children agree that they would like to play a game and choose from the selection available in the drawer. They choose a Noddy game and the childminder encourages them to choose their own tokens. Children learn to take turns and to count the moves in the game. They concentrate well and complete the game together. They change out of their dressing up clothes and explore the masks in the dressing up box. The childminder talks about the mask and asks children what it is. They say it could be a kangaroo, which leads to conversation about going to the zoo.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children ask for a story and they settle comfortably with the childminder on the settee. The childminder reads a story which is chosen by the children and involves the children by asking questions about the pictures. She finds another different book the children have not seen before. The children are enthralled by the story. They carefully observe the pictures and take turns answering questions about the story.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder makes children aware when their parents are due to collect them. She helps them change out of the dressing up clothes and be ready for their parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated as individuals and the childminder knows them well. She ensures all children are offered equal access to the suitable toys and equipment. Children begin to develop an understanding of diversity through the range of toys and books available. They take part in several cultural celebrations including Independence Day, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Easter. The childminder has an equal opportunities policy in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are valued and respected. The childminder has little experience in caring for children with learning difficulties or disabilities, but has a positive attitude towards additional needs. She would work closely with parents and therapists to ensure children's individual needs are met.

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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 Children behave very well and good manners are actively encouraged. The childminder gently reminds children to say please and thank you as necessary, for example, when asking for help with the dressing up clothes. She praises children's good behaviour. The childminder remains calm and uses her tone of voice to let children know when she is unhappy. A clear behaviour management policy is in place and shared with parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive relationships are formed with parents which contributes to both parents and children being confident and settled with the childminder. The childminder has established good business relationships with the parents. She ensures they have read copies of her policies and procedures which help her business run smoothly. The childminder values open communication and gives full written or verbal feedback each day. Parents are encouraged to keep the childminder fully informed and can telephone during the evening if necessary. The childminder has a complaints policy for parents but has not prepared a complaints record.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel at home and settled in the well organised environment. Children have space to play and they are regularly taken to toddler group, childminder group meetings and fun days. The childminder ensures she remains within her ratio at all times, although most children attend for part time hours. She keeps a clear register, ensuring it is up to date and accurate at all times.

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Organisation

Children's care is enhanced due to the additional training undertaken by the childminder. She has completed all parts of the course for childminder's providing a National Vocational Qualification at level three. The childminder has taken food hygiene training and registered as a food business. She ensures her first aid training is up to date at all times. The childminder works hard to keep up her good standards of practice and is aware of the National Standards. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The childminder is very well organised and stores all records in a confidential manner. She keeps necessary forms and information to hand as required.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint and to request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder provides a clear complaints procedure for parents, including the contact information for Ofsted. She has obtained written permission from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment for each minded child. Children are safe at all times.

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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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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): • develop and record regular fire evacuation practice • provide a complaints record for parents.

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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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