Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY346435 Unique Reference Number 14 June 2007 Inspection date Jean Williams 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 outstanding. 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 2006. She is registered to care for three children under eight. There are currently two children on roll who both attend the setting part time. The childminder lives with her husband and their three young children, in Old Windsor in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The minding is generally confined to the ground floor of the property with access to the first floor bathroom and a bedroom where children or babies can rest. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder is a member of the National Child Minding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health is thoroughly protected by the very good established routines that the childminder has in place. Children are provided with their own towels and are encouraged to wash their hands appropriately before meals and after using the bathroom. The childminder also gives the children very clear explanations about germs and the effect that they have on the body. The childminder sets good examples to the children through the regular routines

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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 that are carried out in the home such as ensuring work surfaces are cleaned before use and the table is cleaned after meals or any craft activities that have taken place. Children's health and welfare is thoroughly protected because the childminder has good procedures in place for the recording of accidents and medication. Written parental consents are also in place as is required.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have access to regular drinks and are able to help themselves, when they are thirsty from their own individual beakers or sports bottles. The childminder takes innovative steps to interest the children in healthy eating by incorporating interesting activities into the daily routine, such as making fruit smoothies. She offers home cooked foods that include fresh meat and vegetables. She also provides the children with fresh fruit and rice cakes at snack time. The children made their own choice of fruit at snack time and enjoyed biting into the red apples that they chose.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for daily exercise which enables them to develop their physical skills. They enjoy play in the garden and have fun using the swings and the slide. They have access to an interesting variety of play equipment which includes a double swing, wheeled toys and footballs. The childminder and the children walk to school daily, sometimes the children use their scooters or bikes to travel to school which stimulates the development of their physical skills. Children also enjoy exciting trips to the park where they collect treasure or try and match the fallen leaves to the trees. They enjoy making use of the open spaces to run and jump and expend their energy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The children benefit from being cared for in a welcoming home that is child orientated, clean and comfortable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They have easy access to an extremely good selection of very interesting, safe, well maintained toys and play equipment, such as the wooden train which the children enjoyed running round the tracks also the shop which had been made into a Greengrocers with plenty of play fruit and vegetables for them to sell to the childminder. The puzzles were popular, as well as the farm fuzzy felts which the children used to make their own farms and they made sure the dogs were sitting in the kennels. The toys are stored safely and enable children to make independent choices. The childminder rotates the toys according to the programme she has planned, this means that the equipment and play materials are used effectively and children experience a superb variety. Children sit on the floor to play, or make constructions on a low table which means that they can see what they are doing and they are able to play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder ensures that safety for the children in her care remains a high priority. She is exceptionally vigilant in ensuring that she carries out ongoing risk assessments to ensure the safety standards in the home and garden are fully maintained, such as the barbecue and patio heater are stored in a gated area that is not accessible to the children. The childminder has been proactive in ensuring that available space in the house is used to its full extent, which means that the children are able to play safely and unhindered. The childminder devotes her time to the children. She supervises them closely, to ensure they are safe as they play and reminds them to take great care, such as the child who was trying to fit into the baby swing in the garden and was gently reminded in a very positive, calm way, that that was not a safe thing to do.

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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 Children are gaining a very good awareness of their own safety through timely reminders to be careful when playing and moving around the home and garden. They are also learning about road safety when out with the childminder, who has adopted the programme from school called 'clever crossing'. Children are given some independence but are taught not to run too far ahead and to stay within the sight of the childminder, she has given them markers such as certain trees in the road where they know they must stop and wait until every one has caught up.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected by the childminder's thorough knowledge of child protection issues and the action to take if she has concerns. A comprehensive written policy and clearly written information is in place. This is included in the childminder's policy pack which is shared with parents. Parents sign to acknowledge that they have received and read the information.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy and very settled in the childminder's care. They enjoy an excellent range of activities and social experiences which encourages their confidence and stimulates their development further. They have access to a wide and varied range of very interesting, challenging play materials and equipment which are attractively presented and stored, inviting children's interest. Children's independence is encouraged as they make their independent choices of what they wish to play with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have developed close relationships with the childminder and with one another. They are fully engaged in their choices of toys and play things, sharing their achievements with the childminder and seeking help when they feel they need it. The childminder responds to their requests proactively and shares in their achievements with delight, giving encouragement to extend the activity, such as the child who was lifting items with the crane saying "do you think it will be able to lift this heavy thing"? The childminder responded, "try it and see what happens". The child was delighted when it was a successful manoeuvre. The children enjoyed mis-matching the puzzles and as a result made funny pictures, they shared these with the childminder who joined in with their amusement, encouraging them to experiment further. One child enjoyed the dressing up clothes and carried out the activities dressed in a hat, flowing dress and play

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

shoes she was much admired by the childminder and supported in her play to ensure she was not engaged in anything that may become dangerous, due to the clothes she was wearing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children receive excellent support from the childminder in their play. She plans a weekly programme of interesting activities such as art and craft, cooking and water play when the children sail boats or learn about volume from pouring activities. Their language is encouraged by the childminder's enthusiasm, she engages with the children discussing what they are doing. The children use the childminder's name frequently, asking questions and talking about what they are doing or are going to do. The childminder inspires confidence in the children by preparing them for any changes in their usual routine such as the child who was being collected early in order to go to the dentist. The childminder had a lovely conversation with the child about what the dentist would do, and how they would think the child had wonderful white teeth because they were so good at cleaning them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs and personalities are very well known and catered for by the childminder when planning the activities and daily routines. Children have regular opportunities

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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 to learn about diversity through frequently using a range of appropriate resources, such as books, small world people and play vegetables. The children had been learning about Chinese New Year at school and through clever planning the childminder followed the theme of dragons which the children enjoyed making. The childminder is making an interesting collection of photographs which show the children participating in every day activities such as painting and sand play they gain much pleasure from looking at these and recalling the occasions. The children also talk freely about their own families which the childminder encourages by joining in the conversations. This enables the children to develop their own identity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children thrive in the childminder's care. They are highly valued by the childminder, who uses only positive language when talking to them. She helps them to share and take turns, encouraging them by using the timer. She assists them to set the time and supports them at the hand over time. For instance one child wanted a toy that another child was using. The childminder reminded both the children about sharing and taking turns and suggested they use the timer, she helped them locate the timer and set it, when the bell rang and the child using the toy gave it to the other child they said, "it's all right you can have it, I am busy now". Both children were given warm praise for their behaviour by the minder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has formed cohesive working relationships with parents. All required written parental consents are in place, which means that children's safety and welfare is protected. The childminder has produced a comprehensive information pack that she gives to parents at the start of the childminding placement. This contains copies of her policy documentation and clear information about her household and the service that she offers. Parents sign to confirm that they have read the contents of the pack and they agree with the childminder's policies. The required written contracts are also signed and in place. Parents are invited into the setting at arrival and departure times. The childminder gives verbal and written feedback to parents about their child's day. She makes it very clear that the written diary does not replace the daily verbal communication.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Both children and parents benefit by using the services of a very well organised and committed, enthusiastic childminder. She welcomes them warmly into the home, consequently they are confident and relaxed whilst in the environment. The childminder is organised, and calm, she plans her daily routine in advance and devotes her time willingly to the children, ensuring that their individual needs are met. As a result children gain from a wide variety of interesting activities and experiences which makes the setting a fun place to be.

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Organisation

The childminder's written records far exceed requirements. Documentation is well organised, suitably stored to maintain children's confidentiality and easily retrievable. Information relating to the childminding service is clearly displayed ensuring that parents remain properly informed. The childminder has a very strong commitment to increasing and updating her childcare knowledge through regularly attending short courses and is currently undertaking a course about the Birth to three matters framework. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the childminder's first inspection since registration.

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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

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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. 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

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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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