Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY225495 Unique Reference Number 18 April 2007 Inspection date Alison Edwards 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 registered in 2002. She lives with her parents in a house on a residential cul-de-sac in a town in south eastern Derbyshire. The childminder's mother is listed as a childminding assistant. Children use the ground floor of the house for play, with access to the first floor bathroom. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five minded children at any one time when working alone, or six minded children when working with an assistant. There are currently 10 minded children on roll.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health and well-being are promoted effectively. They are cared for in clean and well-maintained premises where risks of cross-infection are effectively minimised. For example, children are encouraged to wash their hands using liquid soap and individual towels after using the toilet and before meals. Parental permission for emergency medical treatment is maintained and the childminder holds current paediatric first aid training, so helping to ensure that minor

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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 or more serious accidents or illnesses are managed in children's best interests. Careful records of children's individual health and dietary needs are maintained, so helping to ensure these can be met. Children regularly enjoy a variety of activities to help promote their movement skills, such as use of wheeled toys or slides in the rear garden, or involvement in active play at local play parks or toddler groups. They show growing dexterity as they manipulate jigsaw pieces or build towers with interlocking plastic bricks. Children are able to rest or sleep according to their needs in the quiet sitting room or on a comfortable sofa in the playroom.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged to develop healthy eating habits by provision of healthy snacks such as fresh and dried fruits. They begin to learn about healthy foods, for example through use of colourful posters identifying different fruit and vegetables. Main meals such as chicken hotpot or cottage pie and vegetables help ensure children are offered a substantial and balanced diet. Drinks are readily accessible to children, so helping to ensure they take sufficient fluids.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. A bright and attractive playroom provides a safe and stimulating base for children's activities. External doors and windows are kept secure to ensure children are unable to leave the premises unsupervised. Children are comfortable and relaxed when sitting at a low table to use items such as jigsaws or construction sets. Labelled storage crates and low shelves enable children to access a wide range of good quality toys and play things safely and independently. Furnishings and equipment, for example a sturdy play kitchen, are in clean and good condition and suitable for children's interests and stage of development. Children regularly enjoy outdoor activities in the fresh air in the securely fenced rear courtyard as they use a selection of equipment such as a slide or wheeled toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Arrangements to promote children's safety are generally effective. Clear evacuation procedures are in place, and smoke detectors and a fire blanket are fitted to minimise risks from fire. Stairgates are used at the kitchen door and base of the stairs to manage children's access to other areas of the premises. Most potentially hazardous items, such as medicines and kitchen knives, are inaccessible to children. However, some household cleaning materials, such as disinfectant, are kept on a windowsill in the utility room, so posing a potential risk to children. Children begin to show growing awareness of simple ways to keep themselves and others safe. For example, a pre-school child spontaneously talks about the need to sit still when having lunch in a café when people are clearing tables.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is aware of what child abuse and neglect mean and recognises her responsibility to act on any child protection concerns. She has attended relevant local training, including aspects of working with other local agencies to support families and children in need. This helps ensure she has a sound awareness of the local and national procedures to be used in order to safeguard children's welfare effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a balance of activities both indoors and outside at the childminder's home, and through attendance at facilities within the local community, so helping to promote their development and learning. For example toddlers show focussed attention when looking at simple picture books and building differently shaped plastic bricks, so helping to develop their dexterity and their awareness of communication, shape and size. They enjoy using their

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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 movement skills when pedalling wheeled toys or using a slide in the rear courtyard. Regular attendance at local toddler groups enables them to develop their social skills with other children and adults. Visits to the library help them become familiar with aspects of their local neighbourhood. The childminder spends time playing and talking with the children, helping to extend their interests. For example, she talks with them about the number of caterpillars in a book, and acknowledges their excitement when turning the page to see emerging butterflies pop up. The childminder is familiar with use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to help ensure younger children's development and learning is supported through caring and meaningful relationships and daily experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are relaxed and confident in their dealings with the childminder, readily beginning to talk about their experiences and needs. They begin to show awareness of others' needs, for example when they spontaneously comment that it is good to share things, or negotiate over use of a favourite book. Many toys and play things are readily accessible to children on low shelves or in labelled stacker crates, so enabling them to develop independence in selecting and putting away their activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individuality is respected because the childminder takes account of information from parents regarding any specific health, care or dietary needs. Children are helped to recognise and respect diversity because a selection of posters, books and toys reflecting different skin tones, clothing and cultures are used. The childminder is familiar with the value of working closely with parents and any other relevant professionals to support the care of children with any identified disabilities or learning needs. She has undertaken training to develop awareness of issues such as drug and alcohol use and their potential impact on children's welfare as part of a local scheme to provide childminding support to families in need in the local community.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Initial discussion and use of written agreements helps ensure that the childminder and prospective parents establish shared expectations for children's care. Informal discussion on arrival or departure enables parents and the childminder to share relevant information about daily events and experiences. Photographs and brief notes of some aspects of children's activities provide additional information for parents about their children's play and learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are settled and relaxed in the comfortable environment where a well-organised playroom provides a stimulating and attractive base for their daily activities. The childminder shows a continuing commitment to developing her understanding of how to promote children's welfare and development through attendance at relevant Level 3 early years training and other local short courses. Required records, such as children's registration and attendance details, are methodically organised to underpin children's care. A well-organised folder provides easy reference to the policies and procedures used to support the management of the childminding service. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to implement a number of recommendations to improve the childcare provision. These included maintaining a valid first aid qualification,

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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 implementing clear procedures regarding administration of medication, and establishing an exclusion policy relating to children with contagious or infectious illnesses. These are all now in place, so helping to ensure children's health and welfare are supported effectively. The childminder was also asked to establish emergency evacuation procedures and to ensure awareness of local child protection procedures. Clear evacuation procedures are now in place and the childminder has developed awareness of local and national procedures to safeguard children's welfare through attendance at local training, so helping to ensure children's safety is maintained. Additionally, the childminder was asked to extend provision of children's activities, particularly imaginative play, and to provide resources reflecting positive images and promoting

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Improvements since the last inspection

equality of opportunity. Children now enjoy access to a varied selection of resources promoting imaginative play including a play kitchen and accessories, dressing up clothes, and small world toys such as cars and animals. Posters and books are in use reflecting positive images of different lifestyles and cultures, so helping children recognise and respect diversity.

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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 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): • improve safety arrangements by ensuring household chemicals are inaccessible to children.

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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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