Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY345161 Unique Reference Number 08 May 2007 Inspection date Charlotte Jenkin 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 has been registered since 2006. She lives with her husband and two young children in a four bed-roomed terraced house in the Oakhurst district of Swindon. She is registered to care for four children under the age of eight years, and currently cares for five children on a part time basis. The childminder uses the whole house for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play available. The childminder lives close to local schools, parks and all amenities. The family has one cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children play and rest in warm, clean and welcoming premises. Children's health is well protected as the childminder records all accidents to children accurately, as well as keeping records of all medication administered to the children in her care. Children are encouraged to learn about the importance of hand washing routines, with the childminder reminding them to do this after using the toilet and before eating. The childminder has a sound understanding of the need to maintain good standards of hygiene in the home, and this reduces the risk of cross infection.

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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 The childminder has a clear sickness policy in place which is shared with parents formally. This helps prevent children from being exposed to unnecessary illness.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a positive attitude towards healthy eating through the nutritious snacks and meals they are offered in the setting. The childminder shares her weekly menus with parents, to ensure they are happy with the food their children are provided with. Freshly cooked meals and fruit are offered to ensure children receive nutritious and balanced meals, and parents are welcome to provide food for their children if they so wish. The childminder gains information from parents regarding children's dietary needs and preferences. This information is recorded and any needs are catered for. Children's dietary needs are, therefore, successfully met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is supported well by a childminder who encourages the children to develop physical skills according to their age and stage of development. She ensures they have plenty of space for movement, encouraging skills such as crawling and standing up. Children have frequent opportunities for fresh air and exercise, with daily walks to the local school and park. Children have access to the large climbing equipment daily on the way home from school, and also visit places for walks, to feed the ducks and soft play centres. In the garden they have access to appropriate equipment, and indoors they engage in dancing activities and play in the ball pit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in welcoming and child friendly premises, where space has been organised to meet their needs. Children, therefore, have areas for eating, resting and plenty of floor space for play. Children have access to a wide range of toys and equipment that help support their development in all areas. These are stored at low level to encourage the children to choose the toys they wish to play with. This helps encourage their confidence and independence. The childminder ensures that toys are safe and developmentally appropriate for the children by checking them for safety and storing older children's toys upstairs during the day. Thus, children play with toys that are safe, suitable and age appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in safe premises where most risks have been identified and safety measures implemented to minimise them. For example, safety gates prevent access to the kitchen and stairs, sockets are covered, potentially hazardous materials are in locked cupboards and sharp objects are out of reach. Hence, children move around the premises freely and play in safety. All fire precautions are in place, weekly records of smoke alarm testing are kept and the evacuation plan is practised and carefully monitored for its effectiveness. On outings children's safety is promoted through the use of suitable safety equipment, and the childminder ensures play areas they visit are safe and suitable for the children's use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted by a childminder who has a solid knowledge of child protection issues and the procedures to follow in the event of concerns. She formally shares her child protection duties with parents, helping promote the children's well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and content in the childminder's care. They demonstrate a secure bond with her, readily requesting comfort, for example, a cuddle. The childminder responds to these requests, ensuring the children have their needs met, hence supporting their self-esteem. The

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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 childminder interacts very well with the minded children, helping them make sense of new words and supporting their language development well. For example, when drawing, talking about the crayons, explaining when children try to communicate the crayon is on the floor, and repeating this to them. Children become confident in their attempts to communicate, regularly making noises to express themselves and their needs. Children readily explore the toys and make choices regarding those they wish to play with. For example, the dolls and drawing. The childminder recognises when children communicate their wish to play with toys, for example, when one child points to the activity chair. She acknowledges this and helps the child sit in it to play. Children begin to make connections, as they happily push the buttons on the toys,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

knowing it will make sounds. They communicate their joy, smiling and repeating their actions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have access to a suitable range of activities that promote their development in all areas. Children have access to art and craft activities, role play, free play as well as trips out in the local environment. The childminder is developing her knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework and offers the children activities that support their development in most aspects of this. However, she lacks knowledge of how specific activities benefit the children and has identified this as an area for future training and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are cared for by a childminder who develops close relationships with the children in her care, knows their individual needs and supports these well. She gains information to support children through changes in their personal circumstances and this helps to promote their self-esteem. Children have access to a suitable range of resources that promote positive images of diversity in their daily play, although there are limited positive images of disability. Children have regular opportunities to socialise with other children, with frequent trips to the local toddler group and soft play centres.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are encouraged to develop skills in turn taking and sharing with gentle reminders from the childminder during their play. She demonstrates a sound knowledge of age appropriate methods to use for managing children's behaviour, and regularly offers the children praise and encouragement. She discusses behaviour management techniques with parents to ensure children receive consistent messages, hence helping them to learn right from wrong. The childminder is a good role model to the children, being calm in her manner and respectful to them. She has recorded significant incidents, although these are not confidentially written to promote the children's welfare.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder's sound relationship with parents, enabling her to respect the children's individual routines and care for them in line with parents' wishes. The childminder exchanges information with parents daily, both verbally and in writing. Child care issues are discussed, information regarding children's general well-being, individual areas for support and their routines, and this enables the childminder to offer the children continuity of care. Parents receive formal information regarding the childminder's policies, and the procedures she is required to follow. This ensures they know how their children will be cared for.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a suitable and appropriately qualified childminder. She is newly registered and has not yet attended any training to support her professional development. The

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 childminder maintains the required adult to child ratios at all times, and this ensures the children receive suitable adult support and have their individual needs met. Children, therefore, appear relaxed and at ease in the comfortable environment where they are secure in the childminder's care.

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Organisation

The childminder has all formal policies and procedures in place, which are shared with parents and implemented in a way that promotes the children's welfare, care and learning. All necessary consents have been gained from parents regarding the routines and activities their child participates in. This protects the children's well-being and ensures they are cared for in line with parents' wishes. All required documentation is stored securely, well organised and available for inspection.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration no complaints have been made to Ofsted that has 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 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 the range of activities offered to the children to ensure they cover all aspects of the Birth to three matters framework and support their development in all areas of this • ensure all incidents recorded are confidentially written to promote the children's welfare

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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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